Ship Car To Amsterdam
Car Shipping Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the Capital of the Netherlands, filled with beautiful, never-ending canals, scenic parks, and historic buildings. It’s one of the top tourist destinations in the Netherlands and has become a very popular place for expats from the United States to relocate permanently. When you have relocated to Amsterdam and need to import your own personal car to the city, you’ll need the services of a professional international automobile transport company to prepare and ship the car overseas for you. Unlike moving from one state to another in the United States, you must carefully plan to ship a motorcar internationally. Your shipping agent will have the facts on customs regulations for Amsterdam and all of the information necessary to let you know what your shipping options will be and what information the company will need from you before shipment. The agent will also go over the shipping cost in great detail so you will know beforehand what you must pay before and after the automobile ships to the Netherlands.
New Deals are now available for shipping all types vehicles using our vetted reliable shippers. Compare price estimates & Unlock up to 25% off.
Cost & Time Examples For Shipping a Car to Amsterdam
- Shipping a car from the U.S. to Amsterdam costs $1,200–$2,500, with East Coast departures running $900–$1,000 less than West Coast routes.
- Total transit to the Port of Amsterdam averages 3–6 weeks, with ocean freight alone taking 10–14 days from East Coast ports.
- Tax-exempt import requires Dutch RDW registration, 12 months prior EU residency, and vehicle ownership of at least 6 months before arrival.
| To/From | Ground | Ocean | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam to (New York port) to New York, NY | $275 | $1900 | 5+16 days |
| City limits to (California port) to Los Angeles | $360 | $2800 | 5+28 days |
| Las Vegas, NV to (California port) to the area | $460 | $2800 | 5+28 days |
| Phoenix, AZ to (California port) to Amsterdam | $560 | $2800 | 6+28 days |
| Seattle, WA to (California port) to local area | $550 | $2800 | 6+28 days |
| Local delivery to (New York port) to Charlotte, NC | $575 | $1900 | 6+16 days |
| Chicago, IL to (New York port) to Amsterdam | $675 | $1900 | 6+16 days |
| Miami, FL to (New York port) to the area | $925 | $1900 | 7+16 days |
| City limits to (California port) to Dallas, TX | $1,025 | $2800 | 7+28 days |
| Houston, TX to (New York port) to Amsterdam | $1,075 | $1900 | 7+16 days |
*Prices and times are estimated. They can vary depending on the season and the type of vehicle.
*Save on ground transport costs by delivering the vehicle to the nearest port.
*Allow an additional 10 days to process the documents.
*Prices are for one car in a dedicated 20ft container. This is the safest and most reliable way to transport a vehicle internationally. Other items may be included in the container to help save you money when moving.
*Using the RoRo (roll on, roll off) method is less expensive, and shipments can be completed in fewer days. Contact us now for a free RoRo quote.
Ways to Ship to Amsterdam
The best way to ship a car internationally is through Roro or container shipping. Both types of shipping include loading your motorcar onto a cargo ship at an exit port in the United States and then shipping the car by sea to Amsterdam. Roro will take the least time to ship as the vehicle is driven onto the cargo ship, secured for travel, and simply driven off when it reaches Amsterdam. When you use a container your automobile must be loaded inside of the container and then loaded onto the cargo ship to be transported overseas. Due to periodic customs checks, containers may need to be opened, which can sometimes cause container conveyance to take slightly longer than when shipping with Roro. Some people also prefer to ship by air instead of by sea. Air Shipping is the fastest type of international shipping available for shipping a car overseas. Once you speak to your transport agent, you can work together to decide which type of shipping will best suit your motorcar or any other personal items you may need to ship to Amsterdam when you ship the automobile.
Customs Policies for Importing a Vehicle to Amsterdam
Many people often move to Amsterdam and plan to purchase a car once they relocate. They find out all too often that purchasing a motorcar once they relocate is usually far more expensive than just having their own personal car shipped to them at their new location. When you need to have your personal vehicle with you for travel throughout the beautiful city of Amsterdam, you must follow some simple customs regulations that the Government has set in the Netherlands for automobile importation. Some of the policies are as follows:
Legal residents of Amsterdam must have their car registered locally once it is in the city. If you are only going to be in Amsterdam for a short time, however, you may drive with your license plate and registration from the United States. To register your motorcar, you will need to locate the nearest RDW office. The RDW is the Netherlands' national road traffic authority. You will be able to import your vehicle from the United States without having to pay any taxes when importing as long as you have applied for and received a tax exemption permit that must be applied for in advance of import from the customs office. They will generally approve the tax exemption if you have lived in Amsterdam for at least 12 months prior to the importation of the car to the country. You also must have legally owned the vehicle for no less than six months. If you are not approved for an exemption, you must pay import taxes based on your automobile value when it reaches the customs inspection checkpoint. You will also need to pay a Value Added Tax (VAT), a Green Tax (BPM), and import duty fees when the motorcar is imported.
You can contact the Netherlands Embassy for more information on import regulations for Amsterdam as well as useful information on traveling within the city, lodging, and entertainment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ship a car from the USA to Amsterdam?
Shipping a car from the USA to Amsterdam normally involves U.S. pickup, export clearance, ocean freight to the Netherlands, Dutch customs release, and final inland delivery. A1's international car shipping service covers the main overseas transport options. Rotterdam is a common vehicle gateway for this corridor, so a car bound for Amsterdam may be discharged there and moved inland afterward. Direct Amsterdam discharge depends on the carrier, vessel schedule, and service selected.
How much does it cost to ship a car to Amsterdam from the USA?
As of September 30, 2026, shipping a standard operable car from the USA to Amsterdam typically requires about $2,000-$3,500 in transport charges, with port-to-port ocean service commonly around $1,100-$2,200. U.S. inland pickup, destination handling, and final transport to Amsterdam account for much of the difference between the two figures. West Coast origins generally cost more than East Coast departures. Dutch taxes, registration, storage, and unusual vehicle handling are separate. A1's international car shipping cost calculator can narrow the estimate for a specific shipment.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car to Amsterdam?
For an operable standard car, direct RoRo often has the lowest base ocean rate, but U.S.-to-Netherlands routing can make a shared container just as economical or cheaper. RoRo works best when your departure port has a practical sailing to a Dutch vehicle terminal; indirect routing can erase some of the savings. Shared containers divide container space and freight cost among several vehicles, which lowers the per-car charge. Compare both methods using the same origin, destination, vehicle size, and included port fees before choosing.
How long does international car shipping to Amsterdam take?
International car shipping from the USA to Amsterdam typically takes about 4-7 weeks from pickup to final delivery. Current Netherlands services show roughly 18-35 days of ocean transit for many U.S. sailings, with East Coast departures generally shorter than West Coast routes. Pickup scheduling, container consolidation or vessel cutoffs, export processing, Dutch customs release, and the inland move to Amsterdam add time around the sailing. A missed vessel or customs inspection can extend the overall schedule.
What documents do I need to ship a car from the USA to Amsterdam?
For a used U.S.-titled car, prepare the original title or qualifying ownership document, AES/EEI export filing, identification, and carrier paperwork required for the shipment. U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires the export documents for a used self-propelled vehicle at least 72 hours before vessel export, with the vehicle presented as required by the export port. Dutch registration also requires original foreign registration documents and identification, plus Customs documentation for applicable non-EU imports. A1's international car shipping document guide covers the common paperwork.
Can I bring my car from the USA to Amsterdam without paying Dutch import duty?
A personal car can qualify for the Dutch relocation exemption when you move from the USA and meet the required conditions. Dutch Customs requires at least 12 consecutive months of residence outside the EU and at least 6 months of prior ownership and use of the vehicle. You must generally import it within 12 months of establishing residence and avoid transferring, leasing, or lending it for 12 months after import. The vehicle still requires a Customs declaration, Dutch registration, an RDW inspection, and the applicable BPM exemption procedure.
Share on Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Share on X
Dave C. 
Courtney J. 
Jeff D. 
Maria L. 
Google 
Instagram 
BBB 
