Moving to France is a big step, and deciding whether to take your vehicle with you is often one of the most difficult choices. Bringing your own car or motorcycle can make daily life in France more familiar and convenient, but it also adds logistics, costs, and paperwork that you need to plan carefully. This dedicated guide focuses on what it really means to move to France with your vehicle, from prices and timelines to documents, customs, and choosing the right shipping setup for your situation.
If you want a broader overview of the topic—including vehicle choices and import options—make sure to read the main hub article, Moving to France with Your Car: Costs, Rules & Top US Vehicles. That article connects this “moving” guide with a deeper look at which US cars actually make sense on French roads and how temporary vs. permanent imports differ.
West Coast Shipping has been helping drivers, expats, collectors, and students move their vehicles to France since 2007 using container and air freight. The France car shipping page gives you instant starting prices and route options, so you can quickly see whether bringing your vehicle is realistic for your budget and timeline.
Whether you are relocating for work, joining family, starting a degree, or retiring to the French countryside, there are several reasons people choose to ship their vehicle instead of selling it in the US:
Familiar, trusted vehicle
You already know how your car drives, how reliable it is, and what to expect on long trips. That familiarity can be a major comfort when everything else in your life is changing.
Potential cost savings vs. buying in France
Depending on the type of car you own and the local market, replacing your vehicle in France can be expensive—especially for certain American models, classics, and performance cars. In those cases, shipping may be more cost‑effective than buying local.
Unique or sentimental vehicles
Many people are attached to a particular car or bike: a classic you restored, a family vehicle with history, or a special‑order model that’s hard to replace. Shipping lets you keep that connection while starting a new chapter in France.
Flexibility outside big cities
In rural areas or smaller towns, public transport can be limited. Owning your own vehicle often makes commuting, grocery runs, and weekend trips much easier than relying solely on trains and buses.
To understand whether keeping your specific model makes sense in France, the main Moving to France with Your Car article walks through which US vehicles tend to work best and what to think about for fuel, size, and emissions.
When you move to France with your vehicle, total cost is a combination of ocean transport, handling fees, and any import charges applied by French authorities. West Coast Shipping focuses on keeping the shipping and logistics side clear and predictable so you can budget the rest with your customs and tax advisors.
For standard cars shipped in shared containers, current example starting prices and typical sailing windows include:
New York → Le Havre
Prices start at around 1,050 USD for port‑to‑port container service, with typical sailing times around 15–18 days from departure to port arrival (not including export preparation, consolidation, and inland transport).
New York → Fos‑sur‑Mer
Prices start at around 1,150 USD, with typical sailing windows around 25–29 days from vessel departure to port arrival, again excluding inland and consolidation steps.
These examples are meant as illustrative starting points so you can gauge whether shipping fits your budget. Actual quotes depend on:
Vehicle size, weight, and value
Season, carrier, and space availability
Whether you use shared (consolidated) containers or a dedicated container
Inland pickup and delivery distances
Current market rates and surcharges
For the most up‑to‑date starting prices from your ZIP code, use the calculator on the France car shipping page. For a deeper breakdown of how France shipping prices are usually structured, you can also review the dedicated article on car shipping prices to France.
The process feels complex at first, but it usually follows a clear sequence that West Coast Shipping manages for you on the logistics side.
Start by entering your origin, destination, and vehicle details into the calculator on the France car shipping page. You’ll see starting ocean rates and typical sailing windows to France, which you can then refine with a tailored quote from the team if you’re seriously planning your move.
The main Moving to France with Your Car article is a useful companion at this stage because it explains the trade‑offs between vehicle types, import options, and long‑term running costs.
Most people want their vehicle to arrive in France shortly after they do. That means working backward from your expected arrival date to allow:
Time for pickup and domestic transport to the export warehouse
Export preparation and, when needed, consolidation in a shared container
Ocean transit from the US port to Le Havre or Fos‑sur‑Mer
Customs processing and any local handling at the destination
Article timelines like How To Ship a Car to France can help you understand typical export and transit windows so you can align them with your flights, housing, and job start or semester dates.
Once you confirm your booking, West Coast Shipping can usually:
Pick up your vehicle from your US address, dealer, or storage location
Transport it to one of their US export facilities in California, Florida, or New Jersey
Complete standard export paperwork and prepare your car for loading
If you’re also moving household goods, containers can sometimes be structured to accommodate multiple vehicles or a mix of cars and other cargo—see the multi‑vehicle export and France import playbook for examples of how multi‑car moves are commonly organized.
For most relocations, container shipping is the default:
Your vehicle is carefully secured inside a metal container, alone or with other vehicles.
Shared containers reduce per‑vehicle costs and are commonly used for single‑car and motorcycle moves.
Dedicated containers can be preferable for high‑value or multi‑vehicle shipments.
You can read more about typical loading practices and protections in WCS’s article on prepare your vehicle for international shipping.
When your container arrives in France, local agents work through the customs process in line with French rules at that time. After clearance, you typically have a choice between:
Collecting the vehicle at or near the arrival facility
Arranging onward delivery to your new home in France or a local storage facility
From there, you’ll work with local authorities and professional advisors on registration and compliance steps so your vehicle can be used in France.
For what to expect after your car lands in a new country, the more general WCS guide Driving Abroad: What To Do After Your Car Arrives provides a helpful overview.
Not everyone moving to France has the same timeline or status. Your profile influences how you structure your move and how you might approach import options.
If you’re relocating for a job, retirement, or family, and expect to stay for several years or permanently, you will usually want to plan your vehicle move as part of a long‑term relocation:
Think about whether your car makes sense in your destination city or region (size, emissions, fuel, parking).
Consider how you’ll handle registration, inspections, and any ongoing compliance once the car is in France.
Decide whether you’re likely to keep the vehicle long term or sell it later in Europe.
The main Moving to France with Your Car hub article is especially useful for expats, because it connects the shipping process with vehicle selection and long‑term planning.
If you’re planning to spend several months or a couple of years in France but aren’t sure how long you’ll stay overall, you’ll want to assess whether bringing your vehicle is flexible enough for:
A stay that might be shorter than expected
A potential move onward to another European country
A return to the US with the same car
West Coast Shipping can support your logistics in and out of France, but questions about how long you can keep your vehicle under particular arrangements must be answered by customs, registration authorities, or licensed professionals.
Students moving to France for 1–2 years often value the independence of having a car, especially if their university is outside a major city. When planning a move as a student:
Work backward from the start of your academic program so the car arrives after you have housing sorted.
Consider where you’ll store the vehicle during holidays or gap periods.
Think about whether you’ll keep the car in France, move to another country, or ship it back to the US after your studies.
Here too, using the calculator on the France shipping page early in the process helps you understand whether the cost and timing work alongside tuition, housing, and other moving expenses.
A well‑prepared vehicle is more likely to move smoothly through each stage of the process. While specific requirements vary by shipment and carrier, these steps are commonly recommended:
Mechanical check‑up
Address obvious leaks, starting issues, or brake problems. Running vehicles are usually easier to handle at each handoff.
Clean inside and out
A clean vehicle helps with inspection, condition reports, and photos taken at the warehouse before loading.
Remove loose personal items
Many carriers restrict or prohibit loose personal belongings inside vehicles. You should rely on your written booking documents for what is and isn’t allowed.
Document the condition
Take dated photos of all sides, the interior, and any pre‑existing damage before pickup. Keep copies of your title and any other requested documents in a safe place.
The WCS article on how to prepare your vehicle for international shipping gives a detailed checklist you can follow step by step.
When you zoom out, moving to France with your vehicle comes down to a few key decisions and habits:
Start planning early
The earlier you get indicative pricing and timelines from the France car shipping page, the easier it is to coordinate with visas, housing, and job or school dates.
Think about your destination, not just the shipping lane
Life in central Paris is very different from life in a village in Provence. The main Moving to France with Your Car hub article explains why vehicle size, fuel type, and emissions ratings matter in that decision.
Use professional advisors for everything beyond logistics
Customs, tax, registration, and residency rules are complex and change over time. West Coast Shipping focuses on the transport side, while customs brokers, tax advisors, and legal professionals help you interpret and apply French rules to your specific case.
Keep expectations flexible
Vessel schedules, port congestion, and regulatory changes can affect both timing and costs. Building in a time and budget buffer helps prevent stress later.
This article is general informational content about international vehicle logistics and West Coast Shipping’s services for people moving to France. It is not legal, tax, customs, financial, or regulatory advice, and does not create any client, advisory, or fiduciary relationship.
All references to routes (for example, New York to Le Havre or New York to Fos‑sur‑Mer), starting prices, transit windows, duties, VAT, inspections, or registration steps are illustrative and based on typical scenarios and information available in early 2026. Actual shipping rates, port charges, storage costs, import duties, VAT, inspection requirements, and processing times vary by carrier, lane, season, vehicle, documentation, and regulatory changes, and can change without notice.
Descriptions of customs treatment, tax exposure, temporary versus permanent import options, technical inspections, and registration paths are high‑level summaries of commonly discussed approaches, not guarantees that the same outcomes will apply to your shipment. Import rules, environmental policies, tax rates, and documentation requirements are determined solely by French customs, tax authorities, ANTS, and other competent regulators, and they may be updated at any time.
Before making any decisions about purchasing, shipping, importing, or registering a vehicle, you must verify current rules directly with French customs and other relevant authorities and consult qualified professional advisors, such as licensed customs brokers, tax professionals, and legal counsel. Professional consultation is required for any decisions involving import classifications, duties, VAT, registration status, or long‑term compliance. West Coast Shipping’s role is limited to arranging logistics services (export, transport, and related operational coordination) and providing general information; WCS does not provide legal, tax, or customs classification services and cannot guarantee any particular customs, tax, or registration outcome.
If you’ve decided that your next chapter includes both France and your current vehicle, the next step is to see what it costs and how long it will take for your specific route. West Coast Shipping’s calculator on the France car shipping page gives you instant starting prices from your US ZIP code, plus typical sailing windows to major French ports.