Importing a car from the USA involves a range of costs that should be considered during the planning stage. The final turnkey cost is the total amount of expenses, including the purchase price, transport, customs duties, VAT, excise tax, repairs, and registration of the vehicle. These costs can vary depending on the type of vehicle, its damages, and specific import requirements.
To make planning easier and avoid surprises, you can use our import calculator to calculate cost of delivery. The tool will automatically calculate all the costs and provide an estimated final price of the vehicle in Poland.
The first and primary cost is the vehicle purchase price at the auction, which depends on the technical condition of the vehicle, its damages, and the model's popularity. The purchase cost can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of PLN, and in the case of damaged vehicles, it can be significantly lower.
In addition to the vehicle price, every auction involves additional fees:
More → Payments and Penalties on Copart and IAAI Auctions
Shipping a vehicle from overseas is a crucial stage in the import process and directly affects both the timeline and final costs. It consists of two main stages:
More → Ground Transportation to the Port of Departure in the USA
More → Ocean Freight from the USA to the EU
Remember, electric, hybrid, and oversized vehicles come with additional shipping costs.
Customs obligations for importing cars from the USA include customs duty, VAT, and excise tax. These costs depend on various factors such as the vehicle’s value, type, and engine capacity.
More → Customs Clearance When Importing a Car from the USA
More → VAT When Importing a Car from the USA
More → Excise Duty for Importing a Car from the USA
After customs procedures are completed, the car is prepared for transport and loaded onto a shared carrier (car transporter). The vehicle is first taken from the unloading port to a transfer yard, and then delivered directly to the address specified by the customer in Poland.
The average transport cost ranges from PLN 1,500 to 2,500. For more remote locations (e.g., southeastern Poland) or larger vehicles, the cost may reach up to PLN 3,000. If the customer chooses individual transport (a dedicated trailer for a single car), the price may be higher, but delivery time is shorter.
More → Ground Transportation to Poland
Once the vehicle is imported from the USA, it will need to be adapted to meet European technical standards and road regulations. This includes adjusting the lights, installing rear fog lights, and converting the speedometer from miles to kilometers. In modern cars equipped with matrix headlights and digital speedometers, adaptation involves reprogramming the lights and speedometer without the need for soldering or purchasing new parts.
If the vehicle was involved in an accident, necessary body and mechanical repairs must be made so the car can pass the technical inspection and be approved for registration in the country.
Repair and adaptation costs depend on the extent of the vehicle’s damage and how easily it can be adjusted to meet EU regulations.
More → Importing Cars from the USA and EU/Polish Regulations
The final element of the cost calculation for importing a car from the USA is completing technical inspections and registering the vehicle in Poland. After repairs and adaptations, the vehicle must undergo a mandatory technical inspection, including an accident inspection for damaged cars. Once a positive result is obtained, registration can be processed at the vehicle registration office. This requires providing a full set of documents, including the purchase receipt, title of ownership, proof of customs and tax payments, and a certificate from the vehicle inspection station. Only then will the car be registered and approved for use on the road.
The total cost of this stage is approximately 400 PLN.
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