The short answer is yes. Shipping a car to Europe on a temporary basis is entirely possible, and for the right situation it can be a practical and cost‑effective approach. The longer answer is that "temporary" means very different things depending on whether you are a tourist planning an extended road trip, a military family on a multi‑year posting or an expat on a fixed‑term contract.
Each situation has its own legal framework, its own time limits and its own documentation requirements. Getting them mixed up is surprisingly common, and the consequences range from unexpected tax bills to registration headaches that take months to untangle.
This guide walks through the three main temporary import scenarios for US car owners heading to Europe, how container shipping fits into each one and what real freight costs look like from US ports to key European destinations. For a broader look at shipping vehicles to Europe including oversized cargo and classic exemptions, West Coast Shipping's Europe car shipping page covers the full picture and provides live rates and route options.
Temporary imports are just one part of the overall vehicle shipping process to Europe. In our Shipping Oversized Vehicles, Temporary Imports & EU Homologation Guide, we break down how temporary, permanent and oversized vehicle imports all fit together, including key EU regulations and homologation requirements.
When a US‑registered vehicle enters Europe permanently, it goes through full import customs, which means duty and VAT are assessed on the declared value, and the car typically needs to be re‑registered locally to be driven legally on public roads.
Temporary import is different. Under various frameworks, a foreign vehicle can be present on European roads for a defined period without triggering full customs duty or requiring local registration. The vehicle remains registered in the US, retains its American plates and must leave when the permitted period ends.
The tax and duty advantages of temporary status are real, but they come with conditions. Fail to meet those conditions and the full import tax liability can land retroactively, often with penalties added. This is why understanding which framework applies to your situation matters before the car ever leaves the US.
The EU's Temporary Admission (TA) regime is designed for non‑EU residents visiting Europe with their own vehicle. Under this framework, a US citizen can bring a personal car into any EU member state without paying import duty or VAT, provided the car is re‑exported before the permitted period expires.
For most EU countries, the standard window is six months within any twelve‑month period. The vehicle does not need to be re‑registered locally and can be driven across EU borders freely during that time.
The core rules to follow are:
The car must remain registered in the US throughout the stay
It cannot be sold, permanently transferred or lent to an EU resident
The driver should carry proof of US registration at all times
In some cases, particularly for higher‑value vehicles, a carnet de passages en douane may be requested at border crossings
For a typical summer road trip or an extended European stay of a few months, tourist temporary admission works well and involves minimal administrative burden. The car travels to Europe, the owner drives it and it ships back when the trip ends.
The tourist framework becomes more complicated when someone plans to stay longer than six months, or when the car is left with a friend or family member who is an EU resident. Both situations can trigger a customs assessment that treats the car as if it had been permanently imported.
Someone planning to spend eight or nine months in Europe with their car needs to plan the exit and re‑entry carefully, or explore whether a different framework applies. A customs broker familiar with the specific destination country is worth consulting before committing to an extended stay.
US military personnel stationed in European NATO countries are covered by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), a treaty framework that governs the legal status of US forces and their dependents abroad. For vehicle shipping, SOFA allows service members to import a privately owned vehicle (POV) for personal use during their tour without paying local import duties or registration taxes.
This is a significant benefit. Without SOFA, a US car imported into Germany, for example, would attract 10 percent EU import duty plus 19 percent German VAT calculated on the combined total of the vehicle's value, shipping costs and the import duty itself. Under SOFA, those costs do not apply during the assignment period.
Key points about SOFA vehicle imports:
Coordination typically happens through the base transportation office, which handles the relevant customs forms for the host country
Vehicles must usually arrive within a specific window of the service member's posting start date
Each NATO host country implements SOFA slightly differently, so procedures in Germany differ from those in Italy or Spain
The vehicle must be for personal use, not commercial activity
West Coast Shipping has dedicated experience with military POV moves to Europe and covers the Germany‑specific process in detail in the military car shipping guide for Germany. That article walks through documentation, port options and typical timelines from the date orders are received to vehicle delivery at the destination.
Container shipping is by far the most common method for military POV shipments to Europe. It provides better physical protection for the vehicle than RoRo and allows some personal items to be included in the container, subject to the relevant base and customs rules.
For a service member shipping a personal truck or SUV from a Florida or New Jersey port to Bremerhaven or Rotterdam, a consolidated container slot is typically the most practical and cost‑effective option. It is also the method most base transportation offices are familiar with coordinating.
RoRo remains an option for oversized vehicles such as large trucks or commercial vehicles that exceed container dimensions. For standard personal cars and most SUVs, container shipping is the recommended approach.
Expats moving permanently or semi‑permanently from the US to Europe may qualify for a "transfer of residence" relief, which can exempt their personal vehicle from EU import duty and VAT under certain conditions. This relief applies when someone genuinely moves their primary residence from a non‑EU country to an EU member state, bringing their belongings with them.
To qualify, the applicant typically needs to demonstrate:
Residence outside the EU for at least twelve consecutive months before the move
Ownership of the vehicle for at least six months before the move
The vehicle is for personal use and will not be sold within a specified period after import
When these conditions are met, the car can enter the EU duty and VAT free as part of a household goods removal. The relief effectively treats the vehicle as personal property being relocated rather than a commercial import.
The transfer of residence relief sounds straightforward, but in practice it requires careful timing and documentation. Several common situations create complications:
Someone relocating on a fixed‑term work contract may not qualify as a genuine permanent resident, putting the relief out of reach
A person who has owned the car for only a few months before moving may not meet the six‑month ownership threshold
Re‑selling the vehicle within the restricted period after import can trigger a retroactive tax demand
One possible explanation for many expat import problems is the assumption that any move abroad automatically qualifies. In reality, a customs broker who knows the specific destination country's implementation of the EU relief is essential to confirm eligibility before the car is shipped.
Perhaps the most common source of confusion is the expat on a two‑ or three‑year fixed‑term assignment. This person does not fit neatly into any single framework. The tourist TA six‑month limit does not cover a three‑year stay. The transfer of residence relief may not apply if the move is not treated as permanent. And SOFA does not apply to civilians.
In these situations, the most practical options typically involve:
Full permanent import with duty and VAT paid, accepting the cost as part of the relocation
Purchasing or leasing a local vehicle in Europe and leaving the US car at home
Exploring national‑level temporary admission rules in the specific destination country, some of which offer longer windows or different conditions than the standard EU framework
Getting clear advice from a customs broker in the destination country before the car ships is not optional in these cases. West Coast Shipping can handle the export process and coordinate with European import agents for the destination‑side clearance once the right framework is confirmed.
The ocean freight cost is the same whether the car is being imported temporarily or permanently. The shipping method and route determine the cost; the customs framework is a separate matter handled on arrival.
For standard passenger cars and most personal vehicles, container shipping from New York to key European ports looks like this based on recent planning examples:
New York to Bremerhaven: approximately 1,050 dollars in about 30 to 33 days
New York to Antwerp via Rotterdam: approximately 1,050 dollars in about 17 to 20 days
New York to Southampton: approximately 1,150 dollars in about 14 to 16 days
New York to Valencia: approximately 1,150 dollars in about 24 to 30 days
New York to Fos‑sur‑Mer: approximately 1,150 dollars in about 25 to 29 days
New York to Amsterdam: approximately 1,050 dollars in about 17 to 20 days
Note: These prices and transit times are approximate and subject to change based on vehicle type, shipping method, carrier schedules, fuel surcharges and market conditions.
For departures from Florida or California, transit times and costs will differ. The Europe page calculator lets you input your actual origin and destination for a live estimate.
For the vast majority of personal vehicles traveling to Europe on a temporary basis, container shipping is the right method. Standard cars, SUVs and motorcycles fit comfortably within container dimensions and benefit from the protection and flexibility containers offer.
RoRo is the appropriate method when a vehicle is genuinely too large for a container, such as an oversized motorhome, a commercial truck or heavy machinery. For personal vehicles within normal size limits, container shipping is recommended regardless of whether the import is temporary or permanent.
Regardless of which temporary import framework applies to your situation, a few preparation steps apply across the board:
Confirm which framework covers your situation: tourist TA, SOFA or transfer of residence
Consult a customs broker in the destination country before booking shipment
Have your US vehicle registration and title ready
Carry a carnet de passages en douane if your broker recommends it for your destination and vehicle value
Document the car's condition thoroughly with photos before handover to the shipper
Confirm the planned return date or exit plan if using tourist temporary admission
For military families, add coordination with the base transportation office to that list. For expats, add proof of twelve consecutive months of non‑EU residence and six months of vehicle ownership if applying for transfer of residence relief.
One aspect of temporary imports that often gets less attention than it deserves is the return trip. A car shipped to Europe temporarily needs to come back or be formally imported if plans change. That means either booking a return container shipment or going through full EU import procedures at the point the temporary status expires.
West Coast Shipping handles both directions and can coordinate return shipments from European ports back to the US. Planning for the return early, especially for tourist TA situations with a fixed six‑month window, avoids last‑minute logistics pressure.
The choice of destination port affects both transit time and inland transport costs after the car arrives. For the main European destinations:
Germany: Bremerhaven is the primary vehicle import port, with good onward connections across Central Europe
Netherlands and Belgium: Rotterdam and Antwerp are both major hubs with short transit times from New York
UK: Southampton handles the majority of personal vehicle imports from the US
Southern Europe: Valencia serves Spain and southern France, while Fos‑sur‑Mer is the main option for direct delivery to France's Mediterranean region
For military postings to a specific base, the base transportation office will usually specify which port and which process to use. For tourists and expats, the port choice is typically driven by where the car will be used most and which overland connections make the most sense.
Understanding which temporary import framework applies to your situation is essential, but it’s only one piece of the process. For a complete overview of vehicle shipping to Europe, including oversized vehicles, homologation and long-term import considerations, explore our Shipping Oversized Vehicles, Temporary Imports & EU Homologation Guide.
Whether you are heading to Europe for an extended road trip, relocating for a military tour or moving for a few years on a work assignment, the first step toward a smooth vehicle shipment is getting accurate route and cost information for your situation.
Use West Coast Shipping's Europe car shipping page to access the shipping calculator, compare container options from New York, Florida or California to your preferred European port and connect with the team to discuss which temporary import framework fits your plans.