Methodology
How we calculate the cost of importing a car
Carglo prices every step from the auction to registration with the same rules the authorities and carriers use. Here is where the numbers come from and where they are estimates.
Rates and rules last reviewed: 2026-10-25
1. What the calculation includes
The purchase with auction or dealer fees, transport to the port, ocean freight and insurance, port and customs agency fees, customs duty, import VAT, national taxes, delivery to your address, and the inspection and registration in your country.
Every result has three scenarios – optimistic, expected and pessimistic – because transport prices and some fees vary.
2. Customs duty and VAT
Duty rates follow the EU Combined Nomenclature (TARIC): 10% for passenger cars, up to 22% for pickups and vans, and the historic-vehicle rules for cars over 30 years old. The customs value is the price plus transport and insurance to the EU border.
Foreign prices are converted with the customs exchange rate valid for the month (rates of the penultimate Wednesday of the previous month), other amounts with the current central bank rates.
3. National taxes
Registration and excise taxes are modelled from each country's law: engine size, CO₂, power, weight, age and value, as the country requires. For Cyprus, Greece, Croatia and Malta the tax depends on official calculators – there we ask for the amount or show a range.
When you enter CO₂ and power from the documents, the result is exact; otherwise we estimate them from the engine and fuel.
4. Transport and fees
Inland haul in the country of purchase is priced from the distance between the pickup region and the departure port with typical carrier tariffs. Ocean freight, port and agency fees are typical prices for each route and EU port.
These items are estimates – a forwarder's quote for your car can differ, which is why we show a range.
5. Choosing the port
The calculator prices every EU port door to door – freight, port fees, the VAT of the port country and delivery to your address – and proposes the cheapest. You can choose another port and compare.
6. What the calculation cannot know
The real condition of the car, hidden damage, auction price changes, exchange rate movements after the quote and individual decisions of the authorities. The result is information, not a customs decision or tax advice.
7. Independence
Carglo does not sell, buy or ship cars and takes no commission from importers for the result. We earn from the paid PDF report. Found a mistake or an outdated rate? Write to cargloapp@gmail.com – we correct it.