Shipping a Car From the USA to Europe: Container vs Ro-Ro, Costs and Timelines

Most vehicles we import to Europe cross the Atlantic in one of two ways: in a shared container or on a ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) vessel. Both are safe and both are common, but they suit different cars and budgets.

Shared container

Three or four cars are loaded into a 40-foot container, strapped to the floor and sealed. The container is only opened at the destination port.

• Best for: damaged or non-running cars, high-value cars, cars shipped with extra parts.
• Pros: the car is enclosed, parts can travel inside, non-runners are fine.
• Cons: you wait until the container is full; unloading at the port adds a day or two.

Ro-ro

The car is driven onto a specialised vessel like a floating car park.

• Best for: running cars, large SUVs and pickups, tight schedules on popular routes.
• Pros: often cheaper for big vehicles, simple handling.
• Cons: the car must run and drive; nothing may be left inside; fewer destination ports.

Typical transit times

Ocean transit from the US East Coast to North-West Europe usually takes 12–18 days. Add inland transport in the USA, loading, customs clearance and delivery, and a realistic door-to-door time is:

• Germany, the Netherlands, France: about 4–6 weeks;
• Poland, Lithuania and the Baltics: about 5–7 weeks;
• the United Kingdom: about 4–6 weeks.

What decides the price

1. Where the car is in the USA. Inland transport from the auction yard to the port ranges from a few hundred dollars for yards near New Jersey or Savannah to well over $1,000 from the West or the Midwest.
2. Size and condition. A pickup or a non-runner costs more to load than a compact sedan.
3. Destination port. Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg and Gdynia are the main gateways; delivery beyond the port is extra.
4. Season. Rates move with demand and fuel prices.

For a mid-size car in a shared container, ocean freight to a major European port typically falls in the $1,300–$2,200 range. Use our calculator for a full estimate including duty and VAT.

Insurance

Always insure the cargo. Marine insurance is usually around 1.5% of the vehicle value and covers total loss and damage in transit. We photograph every car at loading so any claim is simple.

Documents

• Original title or export certificate;
• Bill of sale / auction invoice;
• US export declaration (AES / EEI) filed before loading;
• Bill of lading issued by the carrier;
• Insurance certificate.

At the destination you will also need the documents your customs broker requests — usually the bill of lading, invoice and your ID or company details.

How we handle it

We book the carrier, consolidate containers at our own yard in Pennsylvania, photograph and load every car, file the export declaration and coordinate customs clearance at the destination port. You get one quote and one manager for the whole route.