Importing cars to the US involves navigating a maze of fees and compliance requirements. From harbor maintenance charges to customs bonds, understanding these costs is critical for budgeting and avoiding delays. This guide breaks down the four most critical terms: HMF, MPF, DTHC, and Customs Bonds, with 2026 rates and what each one means for your budget.
For a full import walkthrough, see our pillar article:
Shipping American Muscle Cars Overseas: A Complete Documentation Guide
A federally mandated fee of 0.125% on the value of ocean freight imports. It supports the maintenance and development of US ports and harbors.
Rate: 0.125% of the declared cargo value
Applies To: All ocean freight imports into the US
Excludes: Air and land shipments
Example:
A $50,000 classic car shipped via ocean will incur an HMF of $62.50.
A fee imposed by US Customs to offset the cost of processing imported goods.
| Entry Type | Rate | Min/Max |
|---|---|---|
| Formal (>$2,500) | 0.3464% of value | $34.58 – $670.86 |
| Informal (≤$2,500) | Flat fee | $2.77 |
Note: CBP adjusts the MPF minimum and maximum for inflation each October. The percentage does not change.
A $80,000 vehicle import pays $277.12 in MPF (0.3464% of $80,000).
Fees charged at the destination port for unloading and processing containers. These are negotiated directly by the shipper and can vary significantly—ranging from $0 to $800 per container depending on volume, port, and carrier.
| Port | 20ft Container | 40ft Container |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $293 | $585 |
| New York/New Jersey | $273 | $546 |
| Miami | $254 | $507 |
A financial guarantee to US Customs that all duties, taxes and conditions of entry will be met. CBP releases a car before it has verified everything; the bond covers that window. It is not a tax and not paid to CBP. A licensed surety company issues it, and what you pay is a premium that is a small fraction of the bond's face value. If the importer does not pay the duties or complete the compliance steps, the surety pays CBP and then collects from the importer.
A bond is required on any formal entry, which means any vehicle whose entered value is above the $2,500 informal-entry threshold, any commercial or resale import, and any vehicle entered through a Registered Importer under a compliance bond. In practice that is nearly every car WCS clears: a $30,000 classic through standard customs channels triggers formal entry and the bond. Your customs broker arranges it through a surety as part of the entry filing; the premium appears as a line on the broker's invoice. Confirm before the vessel arrives that the bond is in place, because a car that lands without one cannot be entered and sits on the pier accruing storage until it is.
Guarantees payment of duties and taxes to CBP
Ensures regulatory compliance with import laws
Protects the government in case the importer defaults
Non-refundable: Bond fees are premiums paid to surety companies and are not returned, even if no claims are made.
Required for all commercial entries, even one-time shipments.
Two numbers get confused. The bond amount is the face value CBP can claim, set at roughly 10% of the entered value (declared value plus estimated duties) for a single-entry bond. The premium is what you actually pay the surety, a small percentage of that amount.
| Vehicle declared value | Bond amount (about 10% of entered value) | Typical premium |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $3,000 – $4,000 | $100 – $300 |
| $60,000 | $6,000 – $8,000 | $200 – $500 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 – $12,000 | $300 – $800 |
Premiums vary by surety, by the importer's history, and by whether Section 232 or Section 301 duties are counted in the entered value.
| Bond Type | Coverage | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Entry | One-time use | Premium of roughly $100 – $800 depending on vehicle value (see table above) |
| Continuous | Unlimited annual use | Flat rate, about $650/year, covering every entry for 12 months |
A car under 25 years old that needs modification to meet US standards enters under a separate bond posted by the Registered Importer, not by you. It guarantees the RI will finish and certify the work within the period CBP sets under 19 CFR Part 591, historically 120 days from entry. If the RI misses the window, CBP can call the bond, the car can be ordered exported at your expense, and in the worst case destroyed. RIs that take on more cars than they can process have put importers in exactly that position, so before you commit, ask the RI for its current average processing time, how many vehicles it has in compliance now, and whether CBP has ever executed one of its bonds. An RI that will not answer is the answer.
Sample Cost Breakdown: Importing a 1969 Camaro Z/28 from Germany
| Fee Type | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Value | – | $85,000 |
| Duty (2.5%) | 2.5% of $85,000 | $2,125.00 |
| HMF | 0.125% of $85,000 | $106.25 |
| MPF | 0.3464% of $85,000 | $294.44 |
| DTHC (NYC) | – | $546.00 |
| Customs Bond | Single-entry premium | $300.00 |
| Total Fees | – | $3,371.69 |
This article is updated every December 1 to reflect changes in US Customs regulations, fee adjustments, and trade policy shifts. Bookmark this page or subscribe to our newsletter to stay current.
We help importers navigate this complex process efficiently:
Automated Calculations: Use our Import Calculator to get instant HMF/MPF estimates
Customs Bonds: Your account manager confirms with the broker that the bond is issued before the vessel docks at Newark, Oakland or Miami
Port Coordination: Leverage our relationships with US ports to negotiate DTHC discounts
Ready to begin your US import journey? Contact West Coast Shipping's import specialists today for a personalized consultation and discover how simple bringing your dream car home can be.
For the duty side of the bill, see US tariffs on imported cars and what duties classic car imports pay today.