Customs Clearance When Importing a Car from the USA

The customs duty for importing a car from the USA depends on the type of vehicle: 10% for passenger cars, 0% for classic cars, 22% for trucks. It's calculated based on the value of the car + shipping + insurance. The country of entry, engine type, or engine size does not affect the duty. You can file a customs declaration yourself, but most people use a customs agency (cost: €500–€1000), which handles everything — documentation, clearance, loading, photos, protection, and customs/VAT formalities. This saves time and reduces the risk of errors.

Amount of Customs Duty and Tax Base

When importing a car from the USA to the European Union, one of the main costs is the customs duty, which is based on the total value of the vehicle. The duty rate does not depend on the port of entry, engine size, or engine type — only on the type of imported vehicle:

Vehicle Type	Duty Rate
Passenger car	10%
Classic car	0%
Truck	22%

The customs value is the total amount of the vehicle’s purchase price plus the costs of transportation and insurance up to the point of arrival in the EU port. This means that the customs duty is calculated based on the total cost you incur when purchasing and transporting the car to Europe. The customs value includes:

• Purchase price of the vehicle – the auction price or value stated in the sales contract.
• Transportation costs – shipping charges from the USA to an EU port, including road, sea, or air freight.
• Insurance costs – any fees related to insuring the vehicle during shipment, which also count towards the VAT base.
• Other import-related charges – such as loading fees, storage, or additional customs documentation costs.

The customs duty does not include VAT, which is calculated and paid separately.

For example: If the vehicle price is $10,000 and shipping costs are $1,000, the customs value will be $11,000.

The Process of Filing a Customs Declaration for a Car Imported from the USA

Filing a customs declaration is a formal procedure that involves:

• preparing all necessary documents (e.g., purchase invoice and proof of transport),
• completing the import declaration form,
• calculating the customs value and the amount of duty due,
• making the payment to the appropriate customs authority account.

In theory, you can complete the customs declaration yourself. However, in practice, the process is complex, bureaucratic, and requires a solid understanding of customs and tax regulations. Any mistake in the declaration can result in delays, extra costs, or even refusal of vehicle clearance.

That’s why nearly all importers use the services of specialized customs agencies. These agencies handle document preparation, submission for EU customs release procedures, calculation of duties and taxes, and formal declarations. This ensures the process runs faster and more securely, and you receive confirmed documentation for customs and VAT payments — without worrying about formal errors.

The cost of hiring a customs agency is approximately €500 to €1000 and usually includes not only the customs declaration but also local port fees, container transport to the warehouse, unloading, post-unloading vehicle photos, wheel installation (if required), damage protection film (if needed), customs clearance, loading onto a car transporter, VAT declaration, and customs inspection.