Table of Contents

Taxes & Duties When Shipping A Vehicle To Germany
Typical Shipping Prices – How Much Does It Cost?
Cost & Time Examples For Shipping a Car to Germany
Popular Germany Shipping Destinations:
Required Documents For Shipping A Vehicle To Germany
Germany Auto Transport Resources
Shipping Of Heavy Equipment & Oversized Cargo To Germany
Other Services
Related Information & FAQs

Taxes & Duties When Shipping A Vehicle To Germany

Shipping A Car To Germany.

Typical Shipping Prices – How Much Does It Cost?

The typical shipping costs for a car from the U.S. to Germany are $1,800 to $3,900, with much of the cost depending on which part of the U.S. you’re shipping from.
Both container and RORO shipping are generally available to Germany within the price range mentioned above.

Cost & Time Examples For Shipping a Car to Germany

To/From	Ground	Ocean	Days
San Jose, CA to (California port) to Bremerhaven	$200	$3,000	5+30
Denver, CO to (California port) to Bremerhaven	$775	$3,000	7+30
Boston, MA to (New York port) to Bremerhaven	$400	$2,100	5+12
Portland, OR to (California port) to Bremerhaven	$475	$3,000	6+30
Phoenix, AZ to (California port) to Bremerhaven	$550	$3,000	6+30
Detroit, MI to (New York port) to Bremerhaven	$575	$2,100	6+12
Chicago, IL to (New York port) to Bremerhaven	$675	$2,100	6+12
Los Angeles to (California port) to Bremerhaven	$350	$3,000	5+30
Memphis, TN to (New York port) to Bremerhaven	$800	$2,100	6+12
Miami, FL to (New York port) to Bremerhaven	$925	$2,100	7+12

*Prices and times are estimated. They can vary depending on the season and the type of vehicle.

*Save the ground transport cost by delivering the vehicle to the nearest port.

*Allow an additional 10 days to process the documents.

*Prices are for 1 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.

It can be complicated to ship a vehicle internationally, but the import and export laws of Germany are more or less consistent with the United States, which makes the process a little easier than it would be from some other parts of the world. As a general rule, the duty on imported autos in Germany is 10% and there’s also a value added tax (VAT) of 20%. For motorcycles, the duty is usually between 6% and 8%. For more information about the value-added tax in Germany, this resource has a good explanation.

*Note that the value added percentages on vehicle imports can fluctuate slightly depending on a number of factors.

Germany has strict environmental standards, which can cause an unexpected expense for people that are having a car shipped to the country. There are also restrictive environmental zones in the country, which require a sticket if you’re going to operate a vehicle in the area.

If you’re becoming a permanent resident of Germany and forfeiting residence in the U.S., you may be able to import a vehicle without paying duties. This is contingent on being a new resident and having been outside of the country for 12 months consecutively.

Something that shouldn’t be overlooked when transporting a vehicle to Germany is that many of the roads are smaller and narrower than in the U.S., which can make it difficult to navigate with the larger, wider vehicles that are more common in the States.

Popular Germany Shipping Destinations:

A-1 Auto Transport ships vehicles worldwide. Click Here or call 1-800-518-8708 to get a free, no obligation to buy price quote to ship your car.

Required Documents For Shipping A Vehicle To Germany

The paperwork needed to ship a car to Germany is pretty standard as far as import and export laws for vehicles. Here’s what you’ll need to make sure everything goes smoothly when moving your car, truck or motorcycle to the country.

Original title & registration.
Passport.
Export permit (from U.S.)
Proof of insurance.
Bill of lading.
German driver's license.
Proof of ownership.
German registration (Anmeldebestatigung)

If you have questions about required forms or documents before shipping a car to Germany, your auto transport company should be able to explain the details and give you any assistance you might need along the way, including forms, documents, laws, duties, permits, licensing and taxation.

How to register your vehicle in Germany.

Germany Auto Transport Resources

U.S. Embassy In Germany - Information and resources for U.S. citizens in Germany, including citizenship, visas, security and general assistance with living in Germany for residents of the United States.

Getting Around In Germany - Learn the rules of the road for Germany, including right-of-way, licensing, legal and parking issues, traffic regulations and other resources for driving in the country.

Shipping Of Heavy Equipment & Oversized Cargo To Germany

Shipping heavy equipment or oversized cargo to Germany requires precision and a logistical aptitude that come with decades of overseas shipping. At A-1 Auto Transport, we have that experience to get your cargo to Germany and help you through all the permitting and regulatory processes along the way. Depending on what your shipping, there are going to be different procedures to get it there. Size, weight, and industry all play a part in the process and we are happy to have a wide array of successful transports in our history. Just in recent experience we have shipped:

Pile drivers
Pavers
Cranes
Large trucks and heavy vehicles
Engineering equipment
Agricultural equipment & machinery
Forklifts
Hydraulic equipment
Engines
Tractors, combines & other farm equipment
Backhoes and excavators
RVs and motorhomes
Industrial equipment

There are several ways to ship your oversized cargo and/or heavy equipment to Germany. The following methods are the most popular, yet we are open to special cases and welcome a call concerning those.

Lift On/Lift Off (LoLo) is a common form of transport for inoperable cargo like boats, crated equipment, or machinery. A bit more expensive than container and RoRo shipping due to the use of a crane and the precision involved.
Roll On/Roll Off, also known as RoRo Shipping is the most inexpensive way to transport heavy equipment or oversized cargo overseas. Given that your cargo is wheeled and operable, it will be stored within the ship’s hull. This shipping method requires the use of a ship’s ramp and there are height restrictions depending on the vessel and hull size.
Flat Rack shipping is a form of international transport that allows the most flexibility when it comes to your oversized cargo. Comes in variations of a flat rack, or a shipping container sans walls to allow your cargo to be attached to the corner points of the container frame. Your heavy cargo will be secured and then placed on the back of the ship. Since this type of shipping exposes your cargo to the elements you may want to consider having it shrink wrapped.
Container shipping is what most people are familiar with as it’s easy to see ships stacked high with shipping containers. As far as oversized cargo is concerned, 40ft shipping containers may be too small for your purposes. This is the most expensive and secure form of shipping we have available. It will protect your cargo from the outdoor elements.

Other Services

Related Information & FAQs

Written By:Joe Webster

Joe Webster began his journey in the auto transport field by attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Marketing.

After college, he started his career in the auto transport industry from the bottom up and has done virtually every job there is to do at A-1 Auto Transport, including but not limited to: Truck Driver, Dispatch, Sales, PR, Bookkeeping, Transport Planner, Transport Manager, International Transport Manager, Brokering, Customer Service, and Marketing. Working with his mentor Tony Taylor, Joe Webster has learned the ins and outs of this industry which is largely misunderstood.

With over 30 years experience in the industry, we've been helping people ship their vehicles, motorcycles, RV's, heavy equipment, household goods and more across the country or overseas without a hitch. Ask us anything.

Table of Contents

Taxes & Duties When Shipping A Vehicle To Germany
Typical Shipping Prices – How Much Does It Cost?
Cost & Time Examples For Shipping a Car to Germany
Popular Germany Shipping Destinations:
Required Documents For Shipping A Vehicle To Germany
Germany Auto Transport Resources
Shipping Of Heavy Equipment & Oversized Cargo To Germany
Other Services
Related Information & FAQs

Satisfied Customers

“Tracey, I want to congratulate you on the wonderful job you did earning my business. Of course I was very disappointed with how my former transport company was handling my account after working with them for such a long time. I have terminated my relationship with them and will no longer display there banner on any of my sites. A-1 Auto transport is now displayed with confidence on all Wholesale Logistic sites. What a breath of fresh air it has been working with you and your company. As customer service is the only thing that matters at Wholesale Logistics I now have a comfort level I have not had in a long time when it comes to shipping my vehicles. The professional and courteous manner displayed by you along with your "get it done" attitude has convinced me that I have made the right choice. I look forward to a long term profitable relationship between A-1 and Wholesale Logistics ! Thank You - D. Dietrick Wholesale Logistics Inc”

D Dietrick

★★★★★

“I had a great time transporting my car to California thanks A1 Auto Transport. Joe’s quote was reasonable and his reasoning and explanations were spot on. He couldn’t make it to the pickup, but he did call to make sure things were ok. The driver inspected my car, and I appreciated his professionalism. While it was on its way, Joe regularly sent me updates on its location through text. He estimated it would arrive in 5-6 days, and it was so. I was also given the contact information of my driver, so I could call both him and Joe if I ever felt the need to. My car got to Sacramento, California on the 5th day, and it was great to see it was well. There wasn’t any damage done to it during transit. This fact, Joe’s updates, and the fact that they met their deadline makes me recommend A1 Auto Transport as one of the best auto transport companies out there. It’s the 3rd company I’ve used to move a vehicle, and it will likely also be the 4th.”

I had a great time transporting my car to California thanks A1 Auto Transport

★★★★★

“Thank you for the careful attention to our request for a quote. We did not win the auto auction on E-Bay and chose to purchase a car locally. I appreciate your prompt response to our request for a quote, great follow-up, and then, the convenience of being able to remove our name from future mailings when we realized we would not need your service. I am very impressed by your customer service. With appreciation, - Susan Heim”

Susan H.

★★★★★

“I was having a hell of a time with a broker, so I started looking for alternatives. From the first moment Joe picked up the phone, I knew this was the company I needed. There was something about the tone of his voice, the way he explained everything that reassured me. After my husband’s dad passed away, his mother wanted to leave her vehicle to our son. It was a barely driven Pontiac, and at 18 years old, it was all our son needed. But how were we supposed to get it to him to Delaware? I searched online and spoke to a broker who promised he’d find a carrier within 2 days. 4 days later, I called back to learn he’d forgotten all about our arrangement. He asked for 2 more days, but I was over it. A friend from work wanted to help and found A1 Auto Transport online. We both went through the site, and we were sold. Joe was very attentive and the door to door service was awesome. 2 years later, our son wanted to move closer to home, so we once again called A1. The car didn’t fare too well to my son’s driving. It was in need of multiple repairs, and he was worried something might happen during transport. I explained to Joe the situation, and after getting all the details on the Pontiac’s condition, he agreed to help. Just in case, the driver inspected it carefully and was even more careful loading it onto the truck. I called a couple times to check its condition and the driver also sent me regular texts letting me know it was ok and how much he had to go until the destination. My son was technically the client, so I was happy he took the time to inform me as well. I give A1 Auto Transport my honest praise and thanks for their great service!”

We needed to get a barely driven Pontiac to Delaware

★★★★★

“I considered selling my car when I moved to Washington. It was old and rusty, but I grew attached to it. So, I called a couple companies to transport it to my new home, but they both fell through. The first one couldn’t decide on a schedule. He would constantly change the pickup date till I got frustrated and canceled. The second was insufferable, very rude on the phone, even worse in person. They started picking a part my car asking me why I still have it. If that’s their opinion of my vehicle, how can I trust they’ll take care of it? If something happened midway, why wouldn’t they just blame it on the car instead of paying up? So, I cancelled this company as well and turned to A1 Auto Transport. From the get go, they were very different from my past options. Their website was very professional and up to date, full of useful information. I requested a quote using their online form, and I got an email response within an hour. Surprisingly fast! If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought they were lacking customers, but the email spoke for itself. In just one email, everything I needed to know was there, including a contact number I could use to get more information or confirm the transport. I called and got things rolling. I was very pleased with the driver. He followed standard procedure and represented his company well. Can’t remember his name, but props to him! The car arrived in Washington 6 days later in excellent condition. From what I understand, the transport was delayed a bit by a storm, but since the time window was 4-6 days from the beginning, I don’t really care. You have my full support and recommendation!”

You have my full support and recommendation!

★★★★★