0% import duty on US-built cars: what changed in July 2026
The EU's 10% duty on passenger cars dropped to 0% for vehicles originating in the United States on July 1, 2026, under Regulation (EU) 2026/1455. The Council adopted it on June 25, 2026, and the 0% rate runs through December 31, 2029.
The catch: the customs office handling the import decides whether to grant it. Current guidance ties the 0% to a certificate of origin, which new cars usually have and a classic built 30 years ago usually does not. Origin also follows the assembly line, not the badge.
Built in the US
Bowling Green Corvette · Detroit-built Viper · Wixom Ford GT · Spartanburg BMW Z3 M Coupe · Marysville-built second-gen Acura NSX
Built outside the US: 10%
Brampton-built Dodge Challenger · Australian-built Pontiac GTO · Canadian-built 1998 to 2002 Camaro. No matter how American they look in the driveway.
Not sure where your car was built?
Search by make, model, or year with our US-Built Car Finder, then confirm origin by the VIN. Takes about a minute.
Proving US origin is what customs looks at. Our own team prepares the US export paperwork that shows where the car was built, and the customs office at Bremerhaven decides whether the 0% applies.
Read our full breakdown of the Turnberry deal and the cars that gain most →
How much does it cost to ship a car to Germany from the USA?
Three numbers decide your total: ocean freight, German destination charges, and taxes at the border.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Consolidated container, port-to-port | From $1,100 (New Jersey) to $1,850 (California) |
| Destination fees in Germany | From $600 |
| Import duty, US-built cars | 0% since July 2026, if customs accepts US origin |
| Import duty, other origins or origin not accepted | 10% of customs value |
| Import VAT, standard | 19% of vehicle + shipping + duty |
| Import VAT, collector cars 30+ years old | 7% under heading 9705 |
Container consolidation cuts shipping costs by sharing container space with other vehicles: a dedicated 20ft or 40ft container is available when you want the car to travel alone. We ship door to door by ocean or air: US pickup, loading at our own warehouse and final delivery in Germany.
We accept wire transfer, ACH, check or Zelle. Read about banking fees when paying from overseas.
Calculate your shipping cost ↑How our Germany car shipping process works
Car transport
We collect your car anywhere in the US, open or enclosed, and bring it to our nearest warehouse in California, Florida, or New Jersey. Drop-off is always an option.
Container loading
Our own employees load and secure your car at our own warehouse. No third-party yards, no outside labor touching the vehicle.
Export clearance
Our own team handles every document for US export, including the paperwork that shows where the car was built. German customs decides whether the 0% EU duty applies.
Delivery in Germany
Our agents in Germany handle import customs at Bremerhaven and deliver the car to your door, or you collect it at the port.
Classic cars: the 30-year rule and 7% VAT
Germany treats genuine classics kindly. A car at least 30 years old, in original condition, and no longer in production qualifies as a collectors' piece under tariff heading 9705: 0% duty and import VAT reduced from 19% to 7%. In 2026, the 30-year line sits at 1996.
Once registered, cars over 30 can apply for the H-Kennzeichen historic plate: a flat annual road tax and access to city emissions zones that newer cars can't enter.
One caution: original condition does real work in that definition. A heavily modified car or a restomod can fail the 9705 test and lose the reduced VAT, even when it's well past 30. The 0% EU duty for US-built cars is a separate rule: it does not depend on the 9705 test, but it does depend on customs accepting the car's US origin, and current guidance asks for a certificate of origin that most 30-year-old classics do not have.
Wholesale car shipping to Germany for dealers and importers
Dealers, auctions, and wholesale importers moving multiple cars a month get dedicated container programs from our California, Florida, and New Jersey warehouses: vehicle collection, export clearance, consolidation of cars and parts, your carrier bookings or ours, and the option to use your own import agent on dedicated containers.
Protect your car in transit
Most US auto insurance policies do not cover international transport. Our optional Cargo Damage Protection covers your car from arrival at our US warehouse through loading, ocean transit, and delivery in Germany. Without it, carrier liability is capped at $500 under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act.
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