Question 1

What are the major freight-handling ports in the Netherlands for receiving car shipments?

Accepted Answer

You can opt for any one of these four very important ports in the Netherlands:

Rotterdam Port: This seaport is considered to be the world's busiest one for the past several decades, with an annual storage/holding capacity of 400 million tons! The port hosts thousands of vessels every year. The high volume of import material necessitates a huge workforce; around 70,000 people are employed in various capacities in the city.

Amsterdam Port: This port is more popular with cruise ships and has a rich history entwined with seafaring. However, the port is spacious enough, the second-biggest in the nation, to handle container shipping on a large scale. It handles several import-export businesses such as the cocoa trade. Amsterdam is the leading supplier of the chocolate industry.

Zeeland Seaports: As the name lets on, this is a duo of Vlissingen and Terneuzen ports. These ports are strategically located between Antwerp and Rotterdam. They are expected to become even more important in the future for inland shipping.

Groningen Seaports: This is a combo of the Eemshaven and Delfzijl ports. The two combine to become the largest seaport duo of the nation's northern region and have a decent shipping capacity and strategic importance, i.e. they are linked with the Eems river that flows into Germany.

Question 2

How much will I have to pay for shipping a car from the U.S. to the Netherlands?

Accepted Answer

There is no fixed estimate on the cost of shipping vehicles from the USA to the Netherlands and vice versa because the costs vary based on prevailing conditions and the nature of the package being shipped. However, a general estimate for container shipping across the seas is between $1,600 and $4,100 – but once again, this is not a fixed range.

The primary variable (although not the only one) is the over-seas distance of the optimal route in every case. For instance, the travel route from New York port to Amsterdam is cheaper in comparison to the route between California port and Amsterdam.

There is another important factor to consider here: the shipment option you choose, i.e., you can opt for the "roll-on, roll-off" or container shipping option. The former involves driving an operable vehicle on-board, fastening it to the ship, transporting it overseas, and then driving it off-board.

This is preferable for people seeking to save solid bucks, plus it is reliable and applicable in most cases. In contrast, container shipping is better suited for shipping non-operable/non-runner vehicles and offers greater protection but for a higher cost.

Lastly, you can minimize the shipping costs by choosing to pick up your vehicle from the port rather than having it delivered to your doorstep.

Question 3

Why is there so much variance in the shipping cost of cars from the USA to the Netherlands?

Accepted Answer

The shipping costs for cars varies even on fixed routes; these differences are created due to the following factors:

The details of the vehicle, i.e., its model, make, size, etc.
The date/batch of manufacturing, i.e., the age of the car
The monetary value of the car, based on its current condition
The distance needed to be covered both over-land and over-seas for the transport, i.e., as noted earlier, the New York port to Amsterdam route is cheaper than the California port to Amsterdam route.
Your selected shipping option will also affect the cost, i.e., the roll-on/roll-off shipment method is cheaper than container shipping.
The customs duties and taxes levied on the car's price, and the shipping dues will also affect the final cost.
Insurance coverage fees will also count if you opted, for instance, protection.
The equipment and materials used in the shipment process will also cost you.

Question 4

How should I prepare my car for shipping from the USA to the Netherlands?

Accepted Answer

First of all, your car needs to be completely clean, both the exterior and the interior.

Get it serviced and ensure that there is nothing inside the vehicle; none of your personal belongings should remain inside. Be sure to go through everything very carefully before you ship the car because there will be customs inspection and whatnot to deal with later on.

Also, if your car is operable, you'll have to fill up the gas tank to ¼ of the total capacity, no more than that. This will be the case if you plan on using the roll-on, roll-off shipment method, in which case the car should be operable, and there should be none of your belongings inside the car.

You'll also have to make sure that the undercarriage of your car is not contaminated with foreign soil. For this, you can order it to be steam cleaned – this is a legal requirement for the vehicle's entry into the Netherlands, do not ignore this, please.

Of course, you could cut yourself some slack and contact A1 Auto Transport to manage the process for you.

Question 5

Why do I need to clean the undercarriage of my car before exporting to the Netherlands?

Accepted Answer

You've probably heard this from an official website, and yes, it is important.

While overall cleaning is legally required for a vehicle's entry, some countries demand extra care for biosafety. Cleaning the undercarriage is much more than just a general cleanliness issue.

The authorities in the Netherlands are cautious about what gets in, i.e., invasive species. If the undercarriage is contaminated with foreign soil, then any number of pests or invasive species of microbes, animals (cysts), or plants (seeds) may find their way into the Netherlands.

The local ecosystems will be less than prepared to handle such an intrusion, creating a major environmental and biosafety hazard for all. Thus you need to get the undercarriage cleared off any foreign soil via steam cleaning or any other suitable method.

The A1 Auto Transport Company will help you get it all in order, and once you hand the project over to us, we'll handle the rest.

Question 6

How many shipment options do I have for transporting a car, and which one do you think will be more suitable for me?

Accepted Answer

You have two major choices when it comes to car shipments: open-air shipment and closed-air shipment. Both of these options are applicable for different situations. None is better than the other but based on your specific case. It would make more sense to opt for one over the other.

The open-air shipment option/roll-on, roll-off shipping apples to operable (runner) cars. In this case, the car is driven on board, fastened to the deck, transported, and then driven off-board upon arrival. This is the cheaper of the two options and is applicable for runner cars only.

In contrast, container shipping involves sealing the car in a container – thus "closed air" and then shipping it as such. This method does afford extra protection to the vehicle but for a greater cost, so if you're willing to pay extra, this one might be for you.

However, in most cases, people transporting runner cars prefer the roll-on, roll-off shipment option because it is simpler, reliable, and less expensive.

Question 7

I am new to this, can you break down the whole process of shipping a car from the USA to the Netherlands?

Accepted Answer

If you're new to the whole shipment process, then no worries, we'll guide you through the whole thing. Here is a summary/break-down of the whole process:

Research – this is a preliminary step:
Go through the official websites of the Netherlands to understand their import requirements before you start.
Ensure that the vehicle you plan on shipping to the Netherlands will be allowed to enter, i.e., it complies with their entrance requirements.
Documents – you'll need the following documentation for your car shipment:
Contract of sales
Vehicle registration
Other necessary paperwork
Evaluate the cost of shipping the car to the Netherlands – here's what you need to factor in:
Charges for the freighting
Insurance coverage dues
Charges for storage and transport
Delivery fees (if you choose to have your vehicle delivered to your place)
Customs duties
Taxes levied on your car's price and the shipment price
Fee for cleaning the car: both exterior (including the undercarriage) and interior
Import processing fees
Customs broker's fees, if you chose to procure the services of such a professional
Cost of shipping the vehicle
Find a well-reputed international car shipping company that can ship the vehicle to the Netherlands, i.e., A1 Auto Transport is a trusted and reliable establishment in the business. We have been serving clients internationally for years now.
Pre-shipping activities – be sure you get these right:
Determine the closest departure port for your car
Choose the destination port
Clean the vehicle thoroughly
Make sure that the undercarriage is free from any contamination (from foreign soil)
Ensure that none of your personal belongings are inside the car
Ship the vehicle – your auto transport company will guide you through the process.

Question 8

Can you give me a checklist of documents I need to ship a vehicle from the USA to the Netherlands?

Accepted Answer

Here's what you need to have at hand. Make sure you tick every entry in this list:

The sales invoice with all the details and the cost sum
Driver's license or a valid passport (a proof of your identification)
Vehicle registration documentation
Documents proving compliance with the given legal standards, i.e., a certificate of conformity
Documentation proving ownership
Insurance documents (for the past six months)
Receipt for VAT (value-added tax)
Proof of having a residence outside the E.U. for the past year/12 months
Lading bill

Be sure to check the official websites of concerned departments for any updates in the policies/documentation requirements before going ahead with the shipment process. It is better to be prepared.

Question 9

What happens when my vehicle is shipped to the Netherlands?

Accepted Answer

Here is a summary of what happens when your car is shipped to the Netherlands:

Customs Inspection – the Customs department will check the details of your case to see whether you deserve a tax exemption, based on the following criteria:
Whether or not the car forms a segment of your household effects.
Whether or not you'll use the car as you did abroad (if it is your car), i.e., before your relocation.
Whether or not the vehicle was bought at least six months before your relocation to the Netherlands and you used it in that duration.
Whether or not you lived abroad for a full year before moving to the Netherlands.
After approval from the Customs – there are two possibilities here:
You may receive the certificate of clearance without having to pay tax.
Or, you may have to pay the due BPM tax.
After paying your dues (if any), you'll be able to collect your car.
Before registration – you can't operate the vehicle unless it is registered in the Netherlands. You can't even keep it on a public road. Instead, have it stored in a private storage space until the rest of the process is completed.
RDW Inspection – the Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer/National Vehicle Authority will see whether your vehicle complies with the nation's legal import requirements:
The legal requirements are not very intensive in comparison to other countries.
All cars in the Netherlands must have fog lights on the rear.
You might have to have them installed (since most non-EU cars don't have them by default).
The inspection will be arranged at any nearby RDW station.
You may make an appointment at your earliest convenience.
You'll have to pay an inspection fee.
Registration – the RDW will facilitate you here as well once your vehicle clears the inspection criteria.

Question 10

If I import my car to the Netherlands after being relocated, do I have to pay import duties/taxes for my own car?

Accepted Answer

If you were relocated to the Netherlands, i.e., because of your job, you could import your car to the country without having to pay any import taxes/duties:

Start by calling the Customs Department at 0800-0143.
You can get the necessary documentation from the Tax Administration.
You must've owned the said vehicle for at least six months prior to your relocation.
The car must've been driven for at least 6,000 km.

Once you import a vehicle tax-free, you'll have to maintain your ownership for a full year.

Question 11

How can I get my vehicle registered in the Netherlands?

Accepted Answer

After approval from the RWD (call 0900-0739), you can register your vehicle with the Netherland authorities (the BPM department within the RDW offices).

You'll need the following for the registration process:

Your vehicle
The BPM form issued by the RWD
Documents detailing the origin of the vehicle
Certificate of conformity/Individual vehicle approval certificate

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To/From	Ground	Ocean	Days
Los Angeles to (California port) to Rotterdam	$350	$3,000	5+30
Las Vegas, NV to (California port) to Amsterdam	$450	$3,000	5+30
Phoenix, AZ to (California port) to Amsterdam	$550	$3,000	6+30
Charlotte, NC to (New York port) to Amsterdam	$575	$2,100	6+12
Chicago, IL to (New York port) to Rotterdam	$675	$2,100	6+12
Atlanta, GA to (New York port) to Amsterdam	$700	$2,100	6+12
Denver, CO to (California port) to Rotterdam	$775	$3,000	7+30
Memphis, TN to (New York port) to Amsterdam	$800	$2,100	6+12
Miami, FL to (New York port) to Rotterdam	$925	$2,100	7+12
Dallas, TX to (California port) to Amsterdam	$1,025	$3,000	7+30

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