Ship Car from Copart USA to France: 2026 Timeline & Rules

January 28, 2026 at 11:27 AM

Disclosure & Disclaimer (January 2026): This article is provided by West Coast Shipping (WCS) and describes WCS services and typical workflows for shipping Copart vehicles from the USA to France. All prices, duties, and timelines are illustrative examples based on public guidance and WCS internal data as of January 2026. Actual rates and procedures may change without notice. This article is not legal, tax, or customs advice. Users are responsible for complying with all export regulations, EPA/DOT rules, French customs requirements, and destination‑country import laws, and should consult licensed customs brokers or legal professionals for their specific situation. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. The French tax and regulatory information below reflects WCS’s understanding as of early 2026 based on French public guidance and client experience; always verify details with French authorities before acting.

Buying at Copart is often one of the most affordable ways to source U.S. vehicles for the French market. But turning a Copart win into a road‑legal car in France requires managing tight auction pickup windows, U.S. export formalities, French import taxes, and Contrôle Technique before registration.

This guide walks through the process WCS typically follows when clients ship car from usa Copart auctions to France—from hammer fall to French plates. For the broader strategy that includes multi‑vehicle consolidation and export‑port selection, see the main 2026 playbook on multi‑vehicle export and France import.

Step 1: Win at Copart and Beat the Storage Clock

Once you win a vehicle at Copart, the logistics clock starts immediately. The auction‑focused articles on auction car transport and car auction shipping costs highlight three practical points:

Payment must clear before pickup. Copart only releases a vehicle once full payment posts and a gate pass is issued.
Free storage is limited. Based on WCS observations at U.S. Copart yards as of early 2026, free storage after payment is often around three business days, though exact terms vary by location and account type. After the free window, Copart’s published policies generally apply daily storage charges, which WCS commonly sees in the rough range of $20–$30 per day depending on yard and membership tier.
Many vehicles are non‑running. Copart units frequently need forklifts or winches for loading, which affects both cost and handling risk.

Because these policies are set by Copart and can change at any time, always confirm the current rules for each yard directly. Operationally, WCS treats Copart pickups as a top priority to minimize storage fees and avoid title or gate‑pass complications.

Illustrative timing: 2–5 business days from auction payment to successful pickup when documents are in order.

Step 2: Move the Vehicle to a France‑Focused Export Warehouse

After pickup, the vehicle moves by truck to one of WCS’s export warehouses in California, Florida, or New Jersey, chosen based on the car’s location and your preferred French lane. For most France‑bound shipments, WCS often consolidates in New Jersey or Florida, as explained on the ship cars to France country page.

At the warehouse, standard steps include:

Check‑in and photography for condition records
Matching the vehicle to its title, bill of sale, and export authorizations
Assigning the unit to either a shared or dedicated container depending on your plan

If you are exporting multiple Copart vehicles—or blending Copart with dealer and private‑seller purchases—the consolidation methods described in the multi‑vehicle export coordination article can lower per‑vehicle ocean cost by grouping cars in the same box.

Illustrative timing: 3–7 days for U.S. inland trucking and warehouse intake.

Step 3: Consolidate and Load for Container Shipping

For Copart vehicles, WCS generally recommends container shipping to France rather than RoRo. The complete guide to container shipping for vehicles and the ship salvage cars service page outline why this method is well‑suited to auction units:

It accommodates non‑running or damaged cars more reliably.
It protects loose parts and accessories inside a sealed container.
It makes multi‑vehicle consolidation practical for regular buyers.

Inside the warehouse, staff group vehicles by destination port and size, using guidelines from the shipping container car capacity overview. Depending on dimensions and configuration, a 40‑foot container typically holds two to four vehicles.

Loading steps include:

Positioning each vehicle to maximize space and maintain access points
Blocking and bracing wheels and frames
Securing any loose parts in the container
Sealing the container and preparing documents for terminal gate‑in

Illustrative timing: 2–4 days for consolidation, loading, and delivery to the terminal once all vehicles and paperwork are ready.

Step 4: Ocean Transit From USA to France

WCS routinely ships car from usa to France using container services to ports such as Le Havre and Fos‑sur‑Mer. Transit times depend on the U.S. departure port and carrier service. As of early 2026, internal WCS examples show typical ranges such as:

New York/New Jersey → Le Havre: roughly 15–18 days
New York/New Jersey → Fos‑sur‑Mer: roughly 25–29 days
Florida → Fos‑sur‑Mer: roughly 18 days
California → Le Havre: roughly 36–42 days

These numbers are approximate and can shift with routing, weather, and schedule changes. The articles on best international car shipping ports and comparing quotes from multiple ports show how WCS uses this information to select between East Coast, Florida, and West Coast gateways for France‑bound shipments.

Step 5: Clear French Customs – Duties, VAT & Documents (Illustrative)

When the container arrives in France, vehicles must clear customs before release. According to French customs guidance and WCS experience as of early 2026, typical tax elements for permanent import of a non‑EU passenger car include:

Import duty: Often 10% of the customs value (CIF) for many passenger vehicles originating outside the EU, though the exact rate depends on the HS code and any applicable trade measures.
VAT (TVA): The standard French VAT rate is 20% as of early 2026 and is usually applied to the customs value plus import duty.

Classic vehicles over 30 years that meet French and EU criteria as “collectors’ items of historical or ethnographic interest” may qualify for reduced or zero duty and a reduced VAT rate. Public sources and WCS client cases commonly reference reduced VAT around 5.5% for qualifying antiques, but actual eligibility and rate depend entirely on how French customs classifies the vehicle, so you must verify this with your customs broker or French authorities before relying on it.

Typical documentation for a Copart vehicle includes:

Original U.S. title or export‑ready ownership document
Copart bill of sale / invoice
Bill of lading
Customs declaration and value support (purchase proof, exchange rate, shipping costs)
Importer identification and French address

The French auto tariffs guide for US cars and the ultimate guide to shipping cars to France provide additional detail on duty/VAT scenarios and exemptions.

Step 6: Prepare for Contrôle Technique – French Technical Inspection

Before a permanently imported vehicle can be registered, it generally must pass a Contrôle Technique, the French roadworthiness inspection. While the precise checklist is set by French regulations and updated periodically, WCS experience and public guidance show that Contrôle Technique typically covers:

Braking, steering, suspension, and structural integrity
Lights, indicators, and reflectors
Tyres and wheels
Emissions and exhaust noise
Safety equipment (seatbelts, warning lights, horn)
Identification details such as VIN and chassis number

US auction vehicles often need specific adaptations to satisfy French standards:

Headlights: U.S. beam patterns may require adjustment or replacement with EU‑approved units to prevent glare for oncoming traffic.
Speedometer units: A km/h display is expected; cars that only show mph often need cluster reconfiguration or replacement.
Rear indicators: Many European markets favor amber rear turn signals; U.S.‑style red combined brake/turn lights may be flagged.
Emissions: Older or significantly modified engines sometimes need exhaust work or additional after‑treatment to meet French thresholds.

Contrôle Technique is carried out at approved centers, not repair garages. If the car fails, inspectors issue a report listing defects; owners generally have a fixed period (commonly around two months) to complete repairs and return for a partial re‑test.

Based on WCS client experience in recent years, many importers budget about €70–€120 for the inspection itself and anywhere from several hundred to a few thousand euros for lighting, instrument‑cluster, and emissions‑related modifications, depending on make, model, and condition. Actual costs vary widely by vehicle and workshop.

Step 7: Register the Copart Vehicle in France (Carte Grise)

Once customs and Contrôle Technique are complete, the vehicle can be registered for French road use. Registration is handled online through the ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés) portal. French public sites and WCS’s France guides indicate that, as of early 2026, you will typically need:

A completed Cerfa registration form (for example, form n°13750*07 or its current version)
Proof of identity and French address
Customs clearance document and proof of duty/VAT payment
Original U.S. title and bill of sale
Valid Contrôle Technique report (usually less than six months old)
A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or other documentation supporting technical approval where EU type‑approval is not straightforward

The ultimate guide to shipping cars to France and the article on why importing a car from the US to France is smart explain how CoC and alternative approval paths work for U.S.‑spec vehicles that differ from European models.

Registration fees (Carte Grise) depend on region, fiscal horsepower, emissions band, and vehicle age, but many importers plan for a few hundred euros for this step when building their budgets.

Illustrative timing: 2–4 weeks from submission of a complete file to receipt of the Carte Grise in straightforward cases.

End‑to‑End Example: Timeline From Copart Auction to French Plates

Actual timelines depend on yard responsiveness, consolidation strategy, carrier schedules, and how quickly documents are provided. Based on recent WCS projects, a typical Copart‑to‑France journey might look like this:

Auction payment → yard pickup: 2–5 business days
Inland transport to export warehouse: 3–7 days
Consolidation, loading, export clearance: 2–4 days once everything is ready
Ocean transit USA → France: about 15–29 days depending on port pair and sailing
French customs clearance and depot release: 3–7 days in uncomplicated cases
Contrôle Technique plus repairs: 1–3 weeks, depending on appointment availability and parts
Registration (Carte Grise): 2–4 weeks after filing a complete application

Many buyers therefore see a rough 6–11 week window from Copart payment to full French registration, with longer timelines possible if there are issues with documents, transport, or technical compliance.

End‑to‑End Example: Cost Structure for a Copart Car to France

To plan your bids, you need a realistic sense of how costs stack up from Copart hammer price to driving on French plates. The example below uses illustrative 2026 numbers for a mid‑priced car shipped in a shared 40‑foot container from New York to Le Havre; it is not a quote or tax advice.

Copart purchase price: for example, $25,000
Copart auction and buyer fees: often several hundred dollars (e.g., $400)
Inland transport to an East Coast export warehouse: depends on distance (e.g., $650)
Consolidation/loading service in a shared container: for example, $200
Shared 40-foot container ocean freight (per-vehicle share, four vehicles per container, New York → Le Havre): WCS examples are approximately $1,050 per car
French port and handling fees: often a few hundred dollars (e.g., $350)
Import duty and VAT: calculated from customs value and current French rates (for many non‑EU passenger cars, duty is around 10% and VAT 20%, but confirm for your HS code and classification)
Contrôle Technique inspection: commonly around €70–€120
Compliance modifications and repairs: widely variable; many importers plan €800 or more for lighting and cluster changes
Registration fees (Carte Grise): a few hundred euros depending on region and fiscal horsepower

The France country page and the French auto tariffs guide are useful references when plugging current numbers into your own spreadsheet.

How This Fits Into the Larger 2026 Export Strategy

Shipping one Copart vehicle to France is complex; scaling up to multiple lots or combining Copart with dealer purchases requires a bigger plan. The main 2026 article on multi‑vehicle export and France import explains how:

Multi‑vehicle consolidation reduces per‑unit costs
Dynamic export‑port routing balances inland and ocean costs
French customs, Contrôle Technique, and registration fit into an end‑to‑end workflow

Use this Copart‑specific guide as a tactical checklist inside that broader framework.

Get a Copart‑to‑France Shipping & Duty Estimate

Before you bid at Copart, it pays to see your full logistics and tax picture. Use the international car shipping calculator to model container rates from WCS warehouses in California, Florida, and New Jersey to French ports, then layer in duties, VAT, and Contrôle Technique estimates so you know your total landed cost before you ship car from usa.