Car import blog
Practical articles about importing cars from the USA, Canada, Japan, the UAE and the UK: real costs, auctions, customs, registration and the mistakes to avoid.
How much does it really cost to import a car from the USA?
Import a car from the USA to Europe: real cost breakdown of auction fees, transport, freight, customs duty, VAT, port fees and registration – with an example.
5 min readHow to buy a car at Copart or IAAI from Europe
How to buy at Copart or IAAI from Europe: registering, brokers, deposits, bidding, payment deadlines and storage fees explained step by step.
4 min readSalvage title cars from the USA: what you need to know
Salvage title car in Europe: what clean, salvage, rebuilt and parts-only titles mean, whether you can register it in the EU and how to budget repairs.
4 min read Customs & taxesCustoms duty and VAT on imported cars, explained
Import duty on cars in the EU explained: customs value (CIF), duty rates 10% / 22%, import VAT, procedure 4200 and a worked example.
4 min read RegistrationRegistering an imported car: documents and steps
How to register an imported car in the EU: documents, technical inspection, lighting and speedometer changes, approval and registration tax.
4 min read Shipping & portsBremerhaven, Rotterdam or Antwerp? How to choose the port of clearance
Bremerhaven vs Rotterdam vs Antwerp for car import: how the port changes import VAT, fees, sailing time and delivery – and how to find the cheapest of 43 EU ports.
3 min read
Importing a JDM car from Japan: auction sheets, grades and costs
Import a JDM car from Japan to Europe: how USS and TAA auctions work, how to read an auction sheet and grades, right-hand drive rules and total costs.
3 min read Buying12-point checklist before you bid on a car abroad
Checklist for buying a car at auction in the USA or Japan: 12 checks on VIN history, title, damage, fees, transport, taxes and registration.
3 min read