Importing a Car to Czech Republic

Importing Your Car to Czech Republic? Car Import from the USA to Czech Republic starts at a cost of $1,395 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 4-6 weeks, depending on the make and model of the car, the port of origin, and the method of shipment. Below, we explore everything you need to know about importing your car to Czech Republic in our 2024 guide.

Importing a Car to Czech Republic: Checklist

Vehicle Import Options

Importing a Car to Czech Republic: Costs & Time Frame

Importing a Car to Czech Republic: Methods

Additional Services

Ports Served in the US and Czech Republic

Cleaning Your Vehicle of Biosecurity Concerns

Plating Your Vehicle in Czech Republic

Other Czech Republic/US Shipping Options

Here’s a rough breakdown of the process you’ll need to go through to ship your car overseas to the Czech Republic.

As you engage in the process of car import to the Czech Republic, some of the most important questions to consider include:

• Whether you plan to keep the car in the Czech Republic permanently or if it’s just a temporary move,
• Whether you have been the car owner for at least 6 months.
• Whether you’re importing a new or used vehicle.

These questions and more will determine whether your car is eligible for international shipping to the Czech Republic. Your actual tax rate is based on these details.

When importing cars, you should never assume your international shipping scenario is the same as someone else’s. Importing classic cars or used cars may have eligibility requirements that differ from those for importing newer vehicles.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a vehicle to the Czech Republic, fill out our free quick quote form.

Vehicle Import Approval

Upon arrival of your vehicle shipment to the Czech Republic, the vehicle must be declared in Customs.

You’ll need the following documentation:

• Sales Contract / Bill of Sale
• Registration certificate or any equivalent official document;
• Invoice, if there has been a sale
• Form of identification, for example Identity Card or Passport
• Proof of Residency
• Personal or Company Declaration
• Inspection Certificate (if required)

Factors to Consider

• All vehicles shipped overseas to the Czech Republic must comply with the legal and technical requirements stipulated by the Czech government.
• Cars imported into the Czech Republic must undergo a certified inspection by the Technical Inspection Unit, ensuring that the vehicle meets certain standards of road readiness. In particular, it must meet European emission standards, which are vastly different from US standards.
  Once your car has met the standards set out by the government, you can obtain a government-issued certificate permitting you to import your vehicle into the country.
• Czech law obliges any user of a motor vehicle to take out a third-party car insurance policy (Povinné ručení, or POV). You must produce a certificate of insurance resulting from the obligation of automobile insurance.

Taxes & Duties for the Czech Republic Car Imports

Before car import to the Czech Republic from the USA, verify your vehicle’s specifications and compliance with Czech requirements.

If you are importing a vehicle to the Czech Republic from the USA, your car will be subject to local customs duties at a rate of 10% and a value-added tax or VAT of 19%. These charges must be paid before your vehicle is cleared for import. The specific amount of taxes and import duties payable will vary and depend on your shipment details.

However, in certain circumstances, you might be able to gain exemption from paying duties and taxes on your shipped vehicle.

• If you are importing your car from a country within the EU, you will not be required to pay customs duty. In this situation, you will just be required to pay the difference in VAT between the two countries.
• US citizens who are moving to the Czech Republic from the USA and importing a car when they relocate may import the car as part of their personal effects so long as they have been the owners for over 12 months and have used the car for a minimum of 6 months prior to importing it. In such situations, VAT tax and duties will not be levied.
• You do not need to pay the import tax if you plan to stay in the Czech Republic for less than 1 year.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to the Czech Republic, fill out our free quick quote form.

International car shipping from USA to Czech Republic can be performed using shared containers, a sole container or a roll-on/roll-off service.

Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) – Vehicles are loaded onto a ship that contains a cargo area built like a very big parking garage. This international car shipping option tends to be cheaper as other than the shipping cost, you are required to pay only port charges and customs clearance charges.

Transits tend to be faster than with the shared container service as the vessels depart on a weekly basis.

Shared container service – This method for car import to Czech Republic requires multiple vehicles to be loaded into one shipping container, allowing you to share your shipping container with other customers. While there are more fees involved to ship a car from the USA to Czech Republic with shared container service than with the roll-on/roll-off shipping method, due to the fact that the container must be processed, these charges are shared between the various customers who are using the shared containers. Such fees include a trucking charge, terminal handling charge, customs clearance, and charge for unloading the vehicles at a bonded warehouse.

One disadvantage is that you might face a longer wait before your vehicle departs, as the container must have a full load before import to Czech Republic.

Full container load – You have the added benefit of a fully enclosed container, just like our shared container service, but the 20 ft container is dedicated solely to your vehicle. Since there’s no wait for other cars to be loaded, you’ll enjoy a shorter wait before departure. However, additional terminal handling fees and other charges won’t be shared with other vehicle owners.

Our most selective customers prefer the high level of safety and expediency offered when importing vehicles with dedicated container shipping. When your vehicle is received, we’ll photograph and document the vehicle’s condition as well as the loading process. Your vehicle will be loaded using our modern steel loading system, which is not only environmentally friendly, but doesn’t rely on outdated wood ramps and nails that other shipping companies use, which can damage your vehicle.

After your car is loaded onto your own private container, it is locked and secured. This will ensure no one gains access to your car before reaching its final destination. Since the vehicle is fully enclosed in a secure container, we invite our customers to pack and transport other items inside the vehicle, such as household goods. However, everything must be loaded securely, as we won’t be responsible for loss or damage of any kind.

Once your vehicle reaches its destination in Czech Republic, our agent will unlock the container, document the vehicle’s condition, and photograph the entire unloading process. Every step of the import process is not only handled carefully but documented for your peace of mind.

Compared to our roll-on/roll-off shipping option, enclosed container shipping is not only more secure when importing to the Czech Republic, but much faster due to frequent departures each week.

Sourcing vehicles – Overseas clients who wish to buy a vehicle can turn to our long list of car buyers developed in our nearly thirty years in the auto industry, who can find and purchase vehicles for an additional fee or commission.

Other services – Some of the auto transport services we offer in overseas territories include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the USA and a full vehicle inspection report.

Departure Ports – United States

The location your vehicle will depart from depends on the method of auto transport to the Czech Republic, where your vehicle is located, your budget, and which services the nearest port offers. We have multiple departure locations from which we can ship cars from the USA, including Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Miami, Savannah, and more.

Destination Terminals – Czech Republic

Here are the entry terminals in the Czech Republic that we can ship a car to.

Before importing your vehicle to the United States from the Czech Republic, the undercarriage must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods.

CFR Classic can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement. We do not recommend washing the interior of the vehicle as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient.

Once your shipment has been cleared through customs, you must register your shipped vehicle with the Czech authorities if you plan to stay in the Czech Republic for longer than 12 months. For this, you will require the following documentation:

• a copy of the Customs Declaration
• Registration Certificate
• Czech Residency Permit
• Certificate of Technical Inspection
• Proof of Identification, such as an Identity Card or Passport
• Proof of Car Insurance

Once issued, your Certificate of Technical Inspection will only be valid for 3 months, so you must complete the registration process within this time.

Importing a Car from the US to Czech Republic
Importing a Car from Czech Republic to the US
Car Shipping from USA to Czech Republic
Car Shipping from Czech Republic to USA
Cargo Shipping from the US to Czech Republic
Cargo Shipping from Czech Republic to the US
Moving Household Goods from the US to Czech Republic
Moving Household Goods from Czech Republic to the US

This information was updated in January 2024. All information, time frames, pricing, and regulations are subject to change. Please contact a sales representative for the most current rates and information.

Back to Top.