A $50,000 classic built in Germany pays about $5,236 in US duty and entry fees in 2026. Build the same car in Britain and the bill is $6,486, so the country that built the car matters more than the port you ship from.
Our view: most buyers spend their time comparing freight quotes, when the duty line decides more of the landed cost. Since July 24 2026, CBP applies Section 301 duties by country of origin, which means where the car was built, not where you bought it.
| Car | US duty | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| EU-built, 25 years or older | 10% combined (2.5% base counted inside) | HTS 9903.05.39, CBP CSMS #69326983 |
| UK-built, 25 years or older | 12.5% (2.5% base plus 10%) | HTS 9903.05.81, CBP CSMS #69326983 |
| EU-built, under 25 years | 15% all-in | Section 232, US-EU framework |
| Every formal entry | MPF 0.3464% ($34.58 minimum, $670.86 maximum) | FY2027 user fees, from Oct 1 2026 |
| Every ocean import | HMF 0.125% | 19 CFR 24.24 |
Sources: CBP CSMS #69326983 (July 23 2026), Federal Register, Sep 25 2025, Federal Register, Jul 31 2026.
One open question: the same CBP notice lists a general exemption for passenger vehicles under U.S. note 52(f) of chapter 99. Whether a 25-year-old classic falls under it, and pays only the 2.5% base, is the point to settle with your licensed customs broker before you bid. We budget the 10% and treat 2.5% as the upside.
CBP puts it plainly: "motor vehicles less than 25 years old must comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in order to be imported permanently." EPA adds its own line at 21 years, and reads its rule to mean the engine must be identical to the one originally installed.
We would buy on the right side of that line every time. A car one model year too young is not a cheaper version of the same import. It is a different project, and only models NHTSA lists as eligible can go through a Registered Importer at all. Check the build month on the door sticker or the title before you pay, not after. Our 25-year rule guide covers the details.
For a classic, we pick a shared container. The car rides strapped inside a box, non-runners are fine, and boxed spare parts can travel with it on the paperwork. RoRo makes sense for a large, running vehicle on a lane with regular sailings, and less sense for anything you would hate to see driven by a stranger.
Air is the fast option for a car with a show date or an auction deadline. The flight itself is the short part; the paperwork is what sets the date, so documents ready before pickup matter more than the mode. Our car import calculator prices the lane for your car.
That list comes straight from CBP's importing a car page. A licensed customs broker files the US entry. Our own team handles every document on our side and lines them up before the car sails. Our European import checklist goes step by step.
We ship door to door, by ocean or air. Cars arrive through our own warehouses in California, Florida and New Jersey, covering all of the US for imports and exports. Bought at a dealer in Munich, at an auction in Paris or at a show in Padua? The same plan applies, and you can read how we ship a collector car.
Duty depends on where the car was built: 10% for an EU-built car 25 years or older, 12.5% for a UK-built one and 15% for an EU-built car under 25. Add MPF (0.3464%) and HMF (0.125%) plus freight, which the car import calculator prices by lane.
2.5% is the base rate. Since July 24 2026, CBP guidance applies a combined 10% to EU goods and 12.5% to UK goods. CBP also lists a passenger vehicle exemption under note 52(f), so confirm the rate for your car with a licensed customs broker.
Only if it meets all FMVSS, or if NHTSA lists the model as eligible and a Registered Importer brings it into compliance. EPA rules also apply until the car is 21 years old.
The original bill of lading, the bill of sale, the foreign registration, EPA form 3520-1 and DOT form HS-7.
A shared container for most classics: the car is enclosed, it can be a non-runner and parts can travel with it. RoRo suits large running vehicles on lanes with regular sailings.
Found the car at a dealer in Stuttgart, a sale in London or a show overseas? Price your lane with our car import calculator and we will plan the rest, door to door.
It's your dream car. Let's bring her home.