Shipping a vehicle for the first time is a daunting task and dipping your toes into the shipping industry can be confusing. Having shipped a vehicle multiple times I’m here to help!
How do I ship a car to Europe?
- Determine how you want to ship your vehicle
- Pick a route
- Get quotes from shipping agents
- Arrange the documentation required
- Find a forwarding agent at the destination
- Prepare and clean your car
- Deliver your car and wait
- Get green card insurance
- Fly to your destination and pick up the car to start exploring
These are the 10 steps you will need to go through in order to ship a car or any other vehicle to Europe. These steps also apply to shipping from and to different continents. In the rest of this article we explain the steps and the choices you have to make when planning the shipment of your car.
Step 1. Determine how you want to ship your vehicle
Container vs RORO vs Airplane
Can you ship a car in a container?
Yes, you can ship most cars inside a container if it is not too wide or tall to fit. Most standard sedans and SUVs have no problem with the size limits. Shipping your car inside a container will insure it arrives without any damage. It is the safer way to ship a vehicle across the ocean.
But there are two other options to send your car to another continent. You could ship your car on a Roll-on Roll-off ship. This is basically a floating parking garage that sails around the world delivering cars and other rolling vehicles. If your car doesn’t fit inside a container this is the best option to go with.
It is usually 20-30% cheaper to ship with RORO but it also comes at a higher risk. You will need to hand over the keys to the shipping agent and there will be many people driving your car on and off the ship. If you have some camping equipment or other things in your car there are plenty of stories of items gone missing, if the shipping company even allows items to stay in the car, as well as the risk of adding a scratch or dent to your car.
The last option is sending your car by plane. You might be wondering: Can cars be shipped by plane? Yes, a car can be shipped by airplane and it is the fastest and safest way to get your car to the other side of the planet. However air freight prices are based on both size and weight, which can raise the costs very quickly. The average fare for a car will be between US$15.000 and US$20.000.
For cars that are worth more than $1 million, most insurance companies require air freight. If you are riding a motorcycle, shipping a 300kg (660lbs) bike by air, prices are much more reasonable.
Step 2. Pick a shipping route
Popular Shipping Routes
The second step in the process of shipping your car is to decide from where to where you want to send your vehicle. On the map below you can see the ports of call that are often used on both sides of the ocean.
Choose a port on the East Coast to save on time and money. Popular ports are Halifax, Baltimore and Brunswick. Other options are New York and Boston.
In Europe, the first ports of call will be Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg. Other options are Liverpool, Southampton, Tilbury and Bremershaven.
When shipping in a container you can pick any harbour you want, these are just the ones used often and will have more options when it comes to finding a good offer and a helpful agent. RORO ships have a strict shipping schedule with predetermined ports of call so your options are a bit more limited.
Step 3. Get quotes from shipping agents
Costs
How much does it cost to ship car from USA to Europe?
It depends on the size of the car and the type of shipping, but on average you will pay something between US$ 750 for a small sedan on a RORO ship and US$ 3500 for a private 20ft container to send your car across the ocean by sea.
As we discussed previously, shipping your car with a Roll-On Roll-Off vehicle carrier is cheaper then by container because the space is used more efficiently. The costs of RORO shipping are based on either categories of vehicles, Cubic Measurement (LxWxH), length of the vehicle or the weight of the shipment. It depends on the carrier how the price is calculated.
Cars waiting in the port, ready to be shipped by RORO
Shipping by container can be just as complicated, depending on the size of your vehicle you might want to ship it as a Consolidated Shipment meaning you allow the Forwarding Agent to put other things in the container as well. This can be another car or boxes, fridges etc. If you are traveling and want to reduce costs it is normal to find other travellers to share a container with. Motorcycles are always a great addition to a container to reduce the costs for both parties. Sharing a container can reduce the costs by 33% - 50%.
Besides the bare costs for shipping your vehicle you will have to take into account that you will have to pay a fee for the following as well (depending on which your agent will charge for your vehicle)
Carrier Charges
- OTHC, Origin terminal handling charges
- Bill of Lading, Legal document required to ship your car
- BAF, Bunker Adjustment Factor to cover for fluctuations in fuel prices
- CAF, Currency Adjustment Factor to cover for exchange rate changes while at sea
- LSL (low sulphur surcharge)
- Other charges
Outgoing / Export- Customs clearance fees and related charges
- Dangerous goods documentation
- Fumigation costs
- Additional local handling fees
Incoming / Import- Customs clearance fees and related charges
- Documentation Fees (i.e BL)
- THC, terminal handling charges
- Cargo Dues
- Wharfage
- Lashing charges
- Other local handling fees
Each port decides on its own rates which can differ drastically from port to port. The charges may depend on the size of the vehicle, the weight of the vehicle of a fixed price.
Get at least 3 quotes
On the bottom of this article you find a list with trusted vehicle shippers. Fill out their online quotation forms or send them an email and include as many details about the vehicle you are shipping as possible, but at least the length, width, height and weight.
Ask them for possible dates, recommended routes and the prices for your car and the type of shipment you want (roro or container). You might find that large shipping companies don’t reply at all. The shipment of a single vehicle is of no interest to them. Or they will send you a ridiculous high quote ensuring you never contact them again.
By getting at least three quotes you can compare prices and pick the one that you feel is the best value for money. That doesn’t always mean the cheapest, in my experience it is worth paying for easy communication with a smaller agent who is eager to help you simplify your shipping experience.
Important to note is that these quotes almost never include the incoming port fees. To get a quote for that ask the shipping company for their preferred agent at the destination port and apply for a fee so you are not surprised by a huge bill when picking up your vehicle. It happens to a lot of people so don’t be like them.
Step 4. Arrange the documentation needed
Procedure and documentation
What documents do I need to ship my car?
The required documents for shipping a car are
- The original registration and title
- A photocopy of your car insurance
- A photocopy of your passport
- A copy of your Carnet de Passage if you have one
After accepting a quotation from an agent, you will go through the motion with them in order to arrange your documents. This is not the most difficult part as they will instruct and assist you in getting the right documents in order. The list above is usually all you need to provide.
As well as arranging a time and date of where and how to drop off your car. There are also companies who are able to come and pick your car up from your doorstep at an extra charge.
Do I need insurance to ship a car?
No, you don’t need to pay for insurance to ship a car by road or by sea. Shippers are required to have a liability insurance, however the coverage is minimal. If you want to extend the coverage in case of damage or loss of the vehicle then it is possible to get an extra insurance.
The costs of Total Loss insurance are typically between 1.5%-2.5% of the estimated value of the vehicle.
Are American cars allowed in Europe?
Yes, you are allowed to drive your American plated car around in Europe for 6 months without having to register or pay. After this period you are required to import your car to one of the member states or leave the European Union Customs Area.
Step 5. Find a forwarding agent at the destination
Surprise charges at the destination port
When you start reading about personal experience shipping a car or motorcycle overseas, you will quickly learn about the murky waters of destination port charges. It is a mystery to most and will remain a mystery until the end of times.
The destination port charges are never included in the shipping quote you have just accepted. Finding out how much you will need to pay in advance proves difficult because it depends on a lot of factors.
It depends on the time the boat has to wait before it can dock in the port, it depends on how long the car has to be stored before you pick it up. It depends on if your container/car gets checked during a random customs check. It depends on the customs decision if the car is clean enough or needs to be fumigated (again). Most of those factors cannot be controlled by the agent and are therefor only to be paid at the pickup of your car.
Get a forwarding agent before you arrive at the destination to communicate your goals and wishes.
Step 6. Prepare and clean your car
Vehicle preparation
It is now getting close to the shipping date and it is time to clean your car. A quick trip through the car wash won’t cut it. Clean your car inside and out. Take off everything that is reasonable to take off and vacuum and wipe it clean until your car shines as if it just came out of the factory. This is because it is undesirable to bring foreign plants and animals onto the continent.
Europe is not particularly strict when it comes to clean cars, but especially Australia and New Zealand (since they are islands) are very, very, very! strict.
Step 7. Deliver your car and wait
Patience
Deliver your car to the port and the agreed address with the agent. This is usually a building in the neighbourhood of the port. There, you will hand over your keys and say goodbye to your vehicle.
How long does it take to ship a car to Europe?
Shipping from the East Coast of the USA it takes about 10 days for the ship to arrive in Europe. From the West Coast the journey usually takes about 20 days. Add loading and unloading days, waiting and other delays to the time for a realistic estimation of 2 weeks.
Unlike what you might read, the shipping industry is old fashioned and delays are very common. Anything can happen from bad weather to mechanical breakdowns to a traffic jam at the destination port. When you plan to travel around Europe with your vehicle make sure to schedule in some time to allow for such a delay and don’t get too frustrated when it does happen. Pick a nice beachside resort and enjoy a relaxing start of your trip.
Step 8. Get green card insurance
To be allowed to drive your car in Europe you will need to get a green card insurance for it. This insurance is valid in almost all European countries. A list of the countries is found on the back of the card. You can get it as a third party insurance, semi or full coverage.
Here are some insurance companies who issue green cards for non-eu registered vehicles:
- Arisa Assur - GERMANY
- ADAC - GERMANY
- Tourinsure - GERMANY
- Alessie - NETHERLANDS
- Motosapiens - BULGARIA - It doesn't mention anything on their website but send an email to inquire.
- Lobagola - CROATIA
Step 9. Fly to your destination and pick up the car to start exploring
You can track the ship your vehicle is on online for free on vesselfinder.com or similar websites. Use the search functionality to search for the name of your ship and it will show you the destination and the ETA.
Contact your forwarding agent when you arrive in the country to confirm the ETA and get the details on where to go to pickup the car.
Be prepared to pay the inbound costs when picking up your car from the port. Otherwise there is not much left to start enjoying your adventure.
Shipping agents around the world
GERMANY
Seabridge
https://seabridge-tours.de/index.php
Manfra Tours
Olaf from In Time
https://www.intime-ham.com/en/index.html
Stefan Knopf
URUGUAY
Eduardo Gustavo
https://www.planetauruguay.com/kessler-sanchez-eduardo-gustavo-montevideo-F1209C70518
Questions that might interest you
Can you drive from the USA to Europe?
No, you cannot drive from the USA to Europe because both continents are divided by water. Even though Russia and Alaska are very close together there is no road or ferry connecting the two. To get your car across the ocean you will have to ship your vehicle and fly yourself.
Can you drive from Alaska to Russia?
Can I ship a car from Europe to US?
Yes, shipping a car from Europe to the USA is possible. Put your car in a container or on a vehicle carrier, pay the fees and wait for it to arrive on the other side of the ocean. Popular ports are Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Halifax, Baltimore and Brunswick but there are more possibilities.
Can 2 cars fit in a 20ft container?
It depends on the size of the cars, but a generally 2 average sized cars won’t fit in a 20ft container back to back. Two low sedans can be stacked on top of each other with the use of a racking system although most companies won’t recommend this due to the increased risk of damages to the vehicles.
Just google vanning plan and look at the images to get some inspiration on how to fit two cars into a 20ft container.
How many cars can a 40 ft container hold?
Three to six depending on the size of the cars. Five to six small cars such as a Fiat 500 fit in a 40ft container. Four to five middles class cars like a Honda Civic, four bigger cars like a Ford Mondeo and about 3 pickup trucks can be held by a 40ft container.
How much does it cost to ship a car internationally?
It depends on the size of the car and the type of shipping, but on average you will pay something between US$ 750 for a small sedan on a RORO ship and US$ 3500 for a private 20ft container to send your car across the world by sea.
How much is it to put a car on a plane?
The average fare for a ride on an airplane for a car will be between US$15.000 and US$20.000 depending on the size of the car, the route and the time of year. This is the fastest and safest option to transport a car across the world.
How much does it cost to ship a vehicle from Europe to US?
It depends on the size of the car and the type of shipping, but on average you will pay something between US$ 750 for a small sedan on a RORO ship and US$ 3500 for a private 20ft container to send your car across the ocean by sea.
How can I ship a car from USA to Europe?
Shipping a car from the USA to Europe can be done via container or RORO. Expect to pay anything between US$ 750 and US$ 2500 depending on the size of your vehicle and the type of shipping. Get quotes from different agents, arrange the paperwork and wait for your vehicle to arrive at its destination.