Every set of PCS orders to Germany covers exactly one POV, shipped through the Vehicle Processing Center. The second car, the motorcycle, or the project build rides on your dime. Whether you're headed to Ramstein, Grafenwöhr, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, or Vilseck, this guide covers what the government handles, what you pay for yourself, and the road from a stateside driveway to German plates.
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Our own warehouses in California, Florida and New Jersey. Our own loading teams. Bremerhaven customs agents on the other end.
What Your Orders Cover
The government ships one POV at its expense through the Vehicle Processing Center network, booked via PCSmyPOV. You turn in at a stateside VPC and pick up in Europe, typically Bremerhaven.
Everything else is on you: a spouse's car, a motorcycle beyond your entitlement, a project car, a non-runner the VPC won't accept, or door delivery to your German address instead of a VPC counter. That second category is what we handle.
The 0% Duty Change
Last year, a second POV meant 10% EU import duty plus 19% German VAT on the vehicle's value. Under the 2026 EU–US trade agreement, US-built vehicles now clear at 0% duty through 2029.
Your entitlement POV is unaffected. It enters duty-free under SOFA with the AE Form 550-175A from your base customs office, same as always. The change matters for the car you're paying to ship yourself. A US-built Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Tesla, or even a South Carolina–built BMW X5 now skips the duty entirely. VAT can still apply depending on how the vehicle is imported, so ask us about your situation before booking.
Classics do even better. Cars 30 years or older clear at 0% duty with a reduced 7% VAT, and qualify for H-Kennzeichen historic plates. Build location decides eligibility, not the badge. Check your VIN with our US-Built Car Finder.
Transport Options and Rates
| Option |
Transit |
Typical Cost |
| Shared 40-ft container |
25–35 days |
$3,200–$4,800 |
| Dedicated 20-ft container |
20–30 days |
$5,000–$6,500 |
| Roll-on/Roll-off |
18–28 days |
$2,800–$3,800 |
| Air freight |
3–10 days |
$11,000–$18,000 |
Two families on the same orders can split a 40-ft container and save roughly $1,000 per car. Container keeps the vehicle enclosed and lets you ship a set of winter tires with it. RoRo is cheaper, but the car rides exposed and empty.
Should You Bring the Big Truck?
An honest word before you book. German parking garages are built for a Golf, village streets near Grafenwöhr are narrow, and a Ram 2500 will not fit in most of them. Plenty of families ship the truck anyway and are glad they did, especially out in Bavaria where driveways are real. Just know what you're signing up for, and measure before you commit to a car that spends three years hunting for parking.
The flip side: Germans love American metal. A Mustang or a square-body Chevy draws a crowd at every Tankstelle, and if it's 30 years old it registers as a classic. Bring the fun car.
Timeline From Orders to the Autobahn
Plan on 9 to 12 weeks door to door: a week for booking and documents, a week for pickup and loading, 4 to 5 weeks on the water, then customs, TÜV, and registration on the German side. Turn in 60 days before your report date. A rental in Germany runs €500 or more per week while you wait for a late car.
The paperwork list is short: PCS orders with POV authorization, the title or a lienholder letter, your license, EPA Form 3520-1, DOT Form HS-7, and a Power of Attorney. We file the US export declaration and coordinate German clearance with our Bremerhaven agents.
Arrival: Customs, License, Registration
Your entitlement POV clears with the AE Form 550-175A. A second US-built POV clears at 0% duty under the new agreement.
Then comes the on-base sequence, and it runs in a fixed order. First the USAREUR-AF driver's license: study the drivers handbook and pass the orientation exam, online or in person. Second, the vehicle safety inspection at your garrison: bring shipping documents, stateside registration, and proof of insurance, pay the $35 fee, and drive out on temporary tags. Third, permanent registration within 30 days of inspection. Fourth, pick up your fuel ration card at the Exchange. German pump prices run roughly double stateside, and the card is the difference.
Registering on German plates instead, for a spouse without SOFA status or a car you plan to keep German-side, means a full TÜV inspection: brakes, lights, emissions, tire tread of 1.6 mm or more, headlight beam pattern. Tinted front windows and loud aftermarket exhausts are the usual failures on American cars. Our TÜV guide for American cars covers the fixes.
What It Actually Costs
A 2019 Ford Mustang GT, shared container, Oakland to Bremerhaven to Ramstein:
| Line Item |
Cost |
| Enclosed truck to Oakland |
$650 |
| Ocean freight, shared container |
$3,750 |
| Port and documentation fees |
$480 |
| German clearance and handling |
$620 |
| Delivery to base area |
$450 |
| Total |
$5,950 |
Add $200–$350 for German liability coverage before registration. US-built, so duty on this one: $0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship a second car on military orders?
Yes, at your own expense through a commercial shipper. If it's US-built, it enters at 0% duty through 2029.
Can I ship a lifted truck?
Yes, if total height clears the 2.58 m container door. Taller rigs go RoRo, and oversized tires may need attention for TÜV.
What about a leased or financed vehicle?
You need a lienholder letter authorizing export and European registration. Most finance companies issue one within 7 to 10 business days.
Are US plates valid in Germany?
Off-base, no. You drive on temporary German plates first, then permanent USAREUR-AF plates.
Can someone else pick up my car at the VPC?
Yes, with a notarized power of attorney, a copy of their ID, and the DD Form 788.
How long does the whole process take?
9 to 12 weeks door to door by ocean. Air freight compresses it to under two weeks.
Do I need a German driver's license?
No. SOFA personnel drive on a USAREUR-AF license, earned by passing the orientation exam at in-processing. Study the handbook before you fly; the road-sign section catches people.
What is the fuel ration card?
A card from the Exchange that lets SOFA members buy fuel at contracted rates instead of German pump prices, which run roughly double stateside. Pick it up as soon as your car is registered.
Ready to begin your Germany PCS journey? Contact West Coast Shipping's Germany specialists today for a personalized consultation and discover how simple shipping your car overseas can be.
Related reading: Car Shipping to Germany · Military POV & OCONUS Car Shipping Guide 2026 · TÜV Inspection Guide for American Cars · Temporary vs. Permanent Car Imports to Germany
