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Ship Your Car to Germany.  
IT'S YOUR DREAM CAR. 
Let'S GET IT HOME.

A door-to-door white glove shipping service to get you driving your car when you want.

Ship your car to Germany with West Coast Shipping, a US-based car shipper with a decade of experience in shipping cars to Europe. We are one of the largest car shipping companies in the US, with locations in California and New Jersey. We handle ground transportation, vehicle documentation, export, and import clearance, and shipping overseas by container, air freight, and Roll-on/Roll-off. 

Car Shipping To Germany

 

The popularity of classic cars has exploded over the years. German car buyers come to the US market in search of cars due to greater availability, better condition, and lower prices. Some buyers also make the trip to the US and turn their search for a car into a vacation. While others buy remotely from reputable dealers, or through our escrow service.

The availability of consolidation also makes shipping a car from the US to Germany an affordable option. Because of the high demand for US cars, we have a steady stream of containers departing for Germany. Single vehicles are quickly consolidated into shared containers, saving you over 50% on international shipping costs.

Typical Costs Involved In Shipping a Car To Germany:

  • The cost to ship a car to Germany is around $1,000 to $1,800
  • Destination charges are approximately $550, depending on the import agent
  • Optional Cargo Damage Protection is available - learn more

Instant Quote

Get an instant quote to ship your car to Germany by using our shipping calculator.

We ship thousands of cars from the US to Germany each year. Whether you are moving to Germany, buying a vehicle from the US, or relocating your POV, we can help with US Car Import to Germany.

We pick up cars from anywhere in the US, clear US customs, and ship cars overseas. You have the option of shipping your car in a container via ocean freight, Roll-on/Roll-off, or Air Freight. When shipping to Germany in a container, the cheapest destination port is Bremerhaven. From there, we can arrange transport of your vehicle to any German city, including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, or Cologne.

At The Destination

After your vehicle is shipped to Germany, it will take anywhere from 14 to 30 days to arrive in Germany (depending on where in the US it was shipped from). The agent in Germany will be responsible for clearing import customs, collecting the container from the port of Bremerhaven, and taking it to their location for unloading. After your vehicle is unloaded, your agent will prepare the vehicle for you. Car import agents can also deliver the vehicles right to your door. You always have the option of collecting the container from the port yourself, as long as you notify us to place you as the receiving party in Germany. You will then be able to collect the container and take it to your location for unloading.

Fees at Destination

The destination agent will charge you directly for their executed work at the destination. Their services will always include charges for the following procedures:

  • Terminal Handling Charge in the port
  • Trucking of the container to their unloading facility
  • Unloading of the container and removal of dunnage
  • Return the empty container to the port
  • Custom clearing procedure

Additional charges may include the following:

  • Delivery of your cargo to its final destination
  • Charges for customs inspection
  • The suction of R12 fluid in AC (only if applies)

GET THE GERMAN CAR IMPORT GUIDE

  • Where do I find American cars for sale?
  • How does the shipping process work?
  • How do I protect myself against risks during overseas shipping?
  • What type of cars am I allowed to import to Germany?

Download the German Car Import Guide to get answers to your questions about importing a car to Germany.

VIEW THE GUIDE

GUIDES

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR EXPORT

Vehicle documentation:

  • Original vehicle title
  • Bill of sale

International residents:

US citizens:

READY TO SHIP?

PAYMENT OPTIONS

We accept wire transfers, checks, and ban deposits only. Read more about banking fees when paying from overseas.

We do not accept credit card payments.

Cost To Ship A Car To Germany

The average cost to ship a car to Germany from the USA is between $1,000 to $1,800 per car. This is the port-to-port shipping cost and does not include vehicle collection, destination fees, import duties, and cargo damage protection. Get an instant rate using our shipping calculator.

Unlike other international car shipping companies, we do not outsource our loading to others. We do everything from documentation to loading your vehicle in-house, using our own employees with decades of experience.

Don’t want to ship your car in a container? We also offer car shipping services to Germany via Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) service. However not all ports around the world accept RoRo ships, and since the vehicle has to be driven on and off the ship, nearly all classic car shippers choose to ship in a secure container instead. 

Shipping your car via Air Freight to Germany will be more expensive than other methods of shipping. Prices can range anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on the season, flight route, and most importantly vehicle size. When shipping cars by air cargo, the price is calculated by the volume the vehicle takes up in the container.

See our German Car Import Guide for more details on all of the charges you can expect when you import a car to Germany from the USA.

IMPORTING A CLASSIC CAR?

Germany is one of the largest importers of classic cars from the United States. However, many customers choose not to ship classic cars to Germany because of the more expensive import rate. You can save on import duties by importing your classic cars to France which charges 5.5% or Belgium which charges 6% VAT. Since the countries are all a part of the European Union, you are free to transport your classic to Germany without having to pay import duties again.

 

Car Import Regulations

As of 2018, the import duty on cars is 10% plus 19% VAT. When importing classic cars over 30 years old to Germany there is no import duty and the VAT is just 7%. If you are moving to Germany you can avoid paying the import duties on your car entirely, find out more.

You can import a car to Germany free of charge if you meet the following requirements if you:

  • Lived outside the EU for at least the past 12 months

  • Plan to permanently move to Germany

  • Plan to register the vehicle in your name

  • Owned the vehicle for at least the past 6 months

  • Will not re-export or sell the vehicle within 12 months

How To Register A Car In Germany

You must first make sure your car meets all German safety standards. You will then have to pass the local TÜV, known as technischer Überwachungsverein in Germany. Once you pass the TÜV, you will have to register your vehicle at the local Motor Vehicle Registration Office, or Kfz-Zulassungsstelle. You will have to bring the following documents with you in order to register your import car in Germany:

  • Customs clearance certificate

  • TÜV certificate

  • Passport

  • Official German registration, or Meldebestätigung 

  • Vehicle insurance certificate

  • Bill of sale

  • Original license plate
After you register your vehicle, you can apply for German license plates. 

Import Cars To Germany

Our goal is to make the import of US cars to Germany as simple as clicking a button. We provide a full car import service which includes purchasing the car via escrow in the US, collecting the vehicle, loading the cars into a container, then shipping by ocean, air, or RoRo, and delivering the car to your door in Germany. We are not a car shipping broker - we employ our own loaders, own our own warehouse, and work directly with the ocean carriers to ship your cars to Germany.

Using our online car shipping to Germany calculator, you will get the most competitive rates on vehicle transport and international shipping. We import cars, motorcycles, boats, and auto parts to Germany from the USA. We collect your vehicle from any location in the USA, and ship to Germany from both US coasts. 

The most popular method of importing a car to German from the USA is in a shipping container. Our expert shipping team loads your cars, motorcycles, boats, auto parts, and household goods into a container from either California or New Jersey. The containers are then shipped to the port of Bremerhaven, Germany. Transit time from the West Coast is abt. 30 days, and from the East Coast shipping takes abt 14 days.

We specialize in classic cars and utilize specialty loading methods to ensure no part of your car is scratched or damaged during shipping. Every step of the loading process has been meticulously tested to ensure the car arrives overseas in the same condition it departed in. 

LEARN MORE

Documents Required for Export

Shipping your car from the United States requires the clearance of US customs. This step requires a few documents to be submitted to prove to the US government that you own the car. Here are the documents required:

  • Bill of Sale for the vehicle

  • Original Vehicle Title - if it currently has a lien on it, you must also provide a lien release letter

  • Power of Attorney form

  • Completed online shipping form

  • Copy of Passport (if you are an international citizen without a US passport)

  • Copy of EIN letter if you are a US citizen

Please note that certain states may not issue titles for classic cars.  For example, Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont do not issue titles for older vehicles. 

 
Car shipping to Germany

Shipping Options
CONTAINER

By using a container for shipping, we can load anywhere from 1 to 6 cars (depending on size), the vehicles can either run and drive, or be project cars. We offer consolidation when shipping to the port, saving you money by shipping your vehicles along with other cars in the same container. When shipping high-value vehicles, we can load them in their own dedicated 20ft or 40ft containers.
GET CONTAINER RATE
RORO

Shipping via Roll-on/Roll-off is another option when shipping cars overseas. However, unlike with containarized car shipping, you cannot ship anything inside of your vehicle, and the car be in run and drive condition to be able to drive on and off the ship. The ports which support RoRo vary widely, and so do the rates.
GET RORO RATE
AIRPLANE

If you require your vehicle overseas as quickly as possible, we recommend shipping the car via Air-Freight service. Compared to lengthy shipping times and possible port delays when shipping in a container or via RoRo, shipping your car by Air is the quickest shipping options. Transit time is estimated at around 3 to 10 days, depending on the documentation and customs requirements.
GET AIR RATE
Motorcycle Shipping to Germany
How Motorcycles Are Shipped Overseas

Motorcycles are a popular import from the US, and most customers use a container. You can fit up to 8 motorcycles in a 20ft container and up to 16 in a 40ft container. They are securely strapped and braced. This makes it the perfect solution for wholesale buyers and dealers. Use the shipping calculator on this page to get a quote, or contact us.

Another option is shipping your motorcycle via air freight to any international airport. It's a more expensive option, and it requires a custom crate to be built around the bike. However, air freight will minimize transit time.

GET MOTORCYCLE QUOTE

Dream Cars Delivered Worldwide

Leading dealerships, auctions, museums and events ship their vehicles, motorcycles, and special projects around the world with West Coast Shipping. We have the expertise to handle them all.
Ferrari 458 Red
CARS
Classic Cars
CLASSIC CARS
Motorcycle
MOTORCYCLES
Wooden Boat
BOATS
Force India Formula 1
EVENTS

About Us

We pride ourselves in safe and reliable international car shipping for consumers, dealers, collectors, and wholesalers around the world. We speak English, German, French, Dutch, Russian, Arabic, & Spanish.
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"Professional service at unbeatable prices. We have tried WCS with a number of cars from NJ and CA to Bremerhaven and we are happy with the results. They handled our classic cars with care and responded rapidly to any of our emails. All together they offer a great service!"

READ MORE REVIEWS

WEST COAST SHIPPING IN THE NEWS:

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Read Our Guides
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"With West Coast Shipping, I am always on top of what's going on in the industry. Their guides are a great resource for beginners and seasoned car professionals alike. I have learned so much since I partnered with West Coast Shipping 5 years ago."

READ MORE REVIEWS
First Time Car Buyer Guides
Northern California Classic Car Buyers Guide
Classic Car Values: Tools to Estimate What Classic Cars Are Worth
A Beginner's Guide to Shipping a Car Overseas
Where to Find US Classic Cars for Sale
International Car Shipping Guides

How To Ship a Car Overseas in 6 Steps
Is Your Car Protected During Transport?
All the Paperwork Required to Export Your Car Without a Hassle
5 Tips to Avoid Getting Scammed When Buying Cars from the US

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