02/4/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Spain from the USA
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Each year, individuals decide to ship cars to Spain from the U.S. for a variety of reasons. We’ve spent the past 20 years specializing in the market for Spanish car shipping destinations.
Whether you need a single vehicle transported for a temporary work stay or are relocating to Spain long term with your entire family, we have services available to accommodate all our client’s needs.
The process of exporting the cars will be similar regardless of your status or intent and the main difference will be when the vehicle arrives overseas and is imported.
Major Cities
- Alicante
- Barcelona
- Granada
- Madrid
- Segovia
- Serville
- Toledo
- Valencia
*Other destinations for car shipping to Spain available
First we’ll explain the options available to you when shipping a car to Spain with our services and how they will affect the ocean transport costs for the car(s) and the estimated time frames.
Transporting a Car to Spain from the USA
There are many reasons to choose our services if you want to transport vehicles. We have 5 nationwide warehouse locations and offer a pick up service for those who cannot deliver automobiles themselves.
Additionally, all aspects of the export are covered by Pro Imports Motors including customs documentation prep, customs clearance and the associated fees involved with clearing U.S. departure ports.
We can ship your vehicle form one of our warehouse locations.
US Departures
- Miami, FL
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles/Long Beach
- New York/New Jersey
- Savannah, GA
Because of this, many clients have their shipment depart from either New York or Miami as they are closer geographically.
This may mean paying a little more for domestic transport but the ocean shipping rate will be lower.
Service Options
Two main forms of overseas auto transport to Spain are a RoRo service (roll-on roll-off) and container shipments.
In many cases, containerized shipments are the method of choice not only because they add extra security and protection, but also because you can consolidate a car with others to cut down transport costs and destination fees at the Spanish ports.
Most of the time, you will be allowed to bring additional belongings inside your car up to a reasonable amount.
We also offer a sole container service for anyone wanting their own individual 20ft container. The costs will be higher but most vehicles can fit in a 20′ and it takes less time to ship than using consolidation.
The second way to ship a car to Spain, ro-ro, works well when bringing a single vehicle. How this options works is much like an underground parking lot except it’s inside the belly of a ship and you essentially pay for a parking spot.
The downside to this method is that contents other than the jack and spare tire are not permitted inside under any circumstances.
Both of the main ports we frequent in Spain have these services available and it comes down to preference so make sure to discuss this during your initial consultation.
Port Information Container Departures
- Miami, FL
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles/Long Beach
- New York/New Jersey
- Savannah, GA
Ro-Ro Departures
Entry Ports
- Barcelona
- Bilbao (mainly ro-ro)
- Valencia
Time Frames
Shipping cars overseas is an intricate process and things can change, but we always try to meet our quote times.
From the west coast of the United States to either Valencia or Barcelona, it generally takes between 4-6 weeks on the water.
Those preferring to transport a car to Spain from the east coast can expect a 3-5 week ocean transit time. However, things can and do happen so actual times may vary.
Customs and Import Information
We have agents who can help with all your import documents and assist with any issues you may have with customs but the following information is useful to know.
Like all international ports, there will always be destination and unloading fees to move your car from the port and it is no different in Spain.
Where the country does vary from many of it’s counterparts is that it has many regional states and each has offices called Gestorias which can also handle the paperwork process for you.
The exact cost will vary so make sure to ask one of our specialists and we’ll try to give you an accurate assessment.
If you’re importing a car into Spain for a temporary amount of time, it can be done without having to pay taxes and duties for a period no longer than 6 months.
After those six months, you’ll be required to either export the vehicle or pay the required taxes and duties if you plan to apply for permanent residency.
Documentation for Your Vehicle
Not having correct or up-to-date documentation for your motor vehicle can cost a lot of time and money when dealing with Spanish customs.
The main documents are valid identification and proof of residency, original title, valid registration and a notarized bill of sale in some cases.
As mentioned, there are many regions and there may be additional paperwork, as some ports require more documentation.
For a full list of required documents and forms visit Spain’s Traffic Department website. If you have any other questions please contact us or fill out our online quote form.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Spain, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
02/4/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Singapore from the USA
There is a very strict process when transporting personal goods into Singapore. For shipping a motor vehicle, one has to apply beforehand for a special permit dealing with the duties and GST payment.
The duty on all motor vehicles is 20% of the total value of the car and that amount depends on an assessment made upon arrival by the customs agency.
Singapore has an additional goods and service tax which is 7%. It’s determined by the value of the vehicle including the cost, freight and insurance, in addition to the 20% duty. For this reason, make sure to consolidate the different sizes of cargo containers.
Items Needed by Customs
- Freight and Insurance Papers
- List of shipment goods
- Receipts or bills related to additional charges on vehicle
- Documents from emission test and any others performed
- Proof of registration
- Confirmation of the date the vehicle was manufactured by the manufacturer
- Photos of the interior, exterior, odometer and engine for used cars
Major cities and ports:
- Boat Quay
- Clarke Quay
- Little India
- Sentosa
- Singapore
* We also other locations in the country.
Where and When to Register a Vehicle
Import duties are on cars and motorcycles are very high, so be prepared for this additional cost if you’re moving to Singapore and want to bring your vehicle. There’s definitely a lot you need to know.
The following information is courtesy of the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Visit theirwebsite for more information.
- You may bring your own vehicle to Singapore only if it is less than 3 years old. The age of a used vehicle is reckoned from the date of its first registration in a foreign country.
- A surcharge of $10,000 is payable for each imported used car registered in Singapore.
- Your vehicle must pass a mechanical inspection at the LTA before it can be registered. The requirements are:
- All safety glass fitted must have not less than 70% light transmittance and must not contain any metallic oxide coating.
- Exhaust emmission standards as specified by either the European Directive 91/441/EEC or Article 31 of the Japanese Safety Regulation. A certificate of compliance is required.
- Only right-hand drive vehicles in Singapore.
- Vehicle must be able to use unleaded petrol.
- Vehicle must be fitted with approved front and rear safety belts.
- Vehicle must have asbestos-free brake and clutch lining.
- Air-conditioning units must be CFC-free.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Singapore, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
02/4/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Saudi Arabia from the USA
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Shipping a car internationally when moving to Saudi Arabia is another part of the relocation process but it’s important to understand the steps, as well as what documentation you’ll need.
Each year, we ship thousands of cars and other vehicles to Saudi Arabia and we’ve been serving this market for the past 20 years.
Our Car Shipping Services for Jeddah and Dammam
Regardless of what type of car or other motor vehicle you need to ship, be it a classic car bought at auction or your family SUV, we can move it overseas at a great rate.
When shipping with us, we cover everything on the export side and it’s shown in our quotations.
This includes:
- Domestic pickup if required.
- Full vehicle inspection report with pictures taken at our warehouse upon arrival.
- Indoor storage is available for most cars for a 30 day period
- U.S. customs clearance.
- Online tracking of your vehicle’s shipping process from pick up to when it’s loaded and leaves the US.
You can also choose from a few different transport methods including our container service or roll on roll off shipping, as we can facilitate both these service’s to the ports in Jeddah and Dammam.
If you’re looking for the most competitive rate, we generally recommend shipping your car to Saudi Arabia using our shared container services. With our consolidation services, it’s hard to find a better rate.
However, if you’d like a quicker departure and arrival period you can book your own container to either port of entry, but the cost for transport and destination fees may be greater. Talk with one of our export specialists today to see what your options are.
The roll-on roll-off service that we offer to Saudi Arabia is ideal for larger vehicles that may not fit safely inside a standard 40’ container.
After you’ve filled out our quote form and we’ve gathered enough information to give an accurate estimate, one of our specialists will contact you.
Documentation for Your Automobile
There are certain documents that you’ll need in order to clear U.S. customs and import your car to Saudi Arabia. Once we have these documents, we take care of the paperwork so you can relax.
All the documents that are needed will also be required to clear customs at the port of entry, either Jeddah or Dammam, and for this reason they need to be the originals.
The following documents are needed:
- Original clear title
- Notarized bill of sale
- In some situations, a notarized power of attorney
General Information
Roughly, it’s between 6000 and 8300 miles to Saudi Arabia from the U.S depending on the east and west coasts.
That’s a long journey for a car in a container and it’s a long distance to cover which is why the time on the water for shipping cars to either these ports is around 5-7 weeks.
The costs to import your car once it arrives in Saudi Arabia are based on the value of the vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer plus ocean freight and insurance.
The country also has a depreciation method which it deploys monthly and it may reduce the costs depending on the year your car was produced. The standard duty and tax rate charged at Saudi customs is 5% for cars and 12% for trucks. This rate can be subject to change and may vary in relation to the status of the importer/ consignee. Please check with your salesperson.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Saudi Arabia, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
02/4/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Poland from the USA
Experience Vehicle Transport to Poland
Pro Imports Motors has been moving cars to destinations such as Warsaw, Gdynia, Krakow and other destination cities for more than 20 years.
We have extensive experience exporting vehicles from the U.S. to Poland, as well as numerous other destination base ports in Europe.
Although shipping a car to Poland from your home in the U.S. may sound like a daunting task for an individual, it’s not.
This process is actually quite simple. Once you conduct the proper research and you familiarize yourself with the steps, it makes a huge difference. This is where we can help.
Some of the important things to know are:
- Customs procedures both in the U.S. and upon arrival at the destination
- The different shipping options available
- Vicinity of your current US location to the departure port
- All charges applicable when your car arrives in Poland
The following information should help to answer some of the questions regarding shipping vehicles.
Our Services
Car shipping to Poland is usually done in a shared container. We can load up to 4 vehicles in a 40ft container, but 3 would be the normal count for full container load.
Before you can export your vehicle, you must provide us with an original clear title to clear customs. If you recently purchased the vehicle, you must have a bill of sale also.
Your status will determine whether or not you are liable for any polish tax and excise duties. Please ask our sales team for more advice on this.
We can ship your vehicle form one of our warehouse locations.
US Departures
- Miami, FL
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles/Long Beach
- New York/New Jersey
- Savannah, GA
In the case of Poland, and all European base ports, the sail time is faster when shipping from the east coast. This cuts down on the delivery time frame as well as ocean freight costs.
However, not everybody lives close enough to one of our warehouses so that they can drop off their vehicle for shipping. This is why we offer a full domestic pick up service, so we can have your car picked up and transported safely to our nearest warehouse.
If you do live close enough and have the time to deliver the car to our warehouse in New York for example, that option is available to all clients. Just make sure you have your booking reference number before dropping it off.
When shipping with us, after we’ve received the automobile, we finalize and ensure that everything needed for export is correct and in order.
Additional services include:
- Full vehicle inspection upon arrival with photos
- Customs documentation
- U.S. customs and port clearance
- Online tracking of your car shipping process
As you can see, we take care of the entire export process so you won’t have to worry about all the bureaucratic steps in the U.S.
International Transport Options
There are a few different methods for transporting cars overseas. How your car is shipped will depend on your needs as a client, what your expectation is for final delivery overseas and your choice of arrival port.
The port of entry we use in Poland is Gdynia. We offer both containerized shipments and roll-on roll-off service.
Shipping a Car to Poland in a Container:
This is the method we base our competitive rates on and recommend. There are two ways you can do this.
Clients can either ship their own vehicle by itself in a 20ft individual container or move the vehicle via consolidation.
This is when we load multiple clients vehicles’ in the same 40ft container. Talk with your salesperson for more information about this.
Selecting a consolidated service will lower the costs to ship your car because you’re sharing the total costs.
Some clients also elect to transship their autos to Bremerhaven, as it’s a slightly busier market and we have consolidations leaving more frequently.
Port Information
From the U.S., if you’re shipping a car to Poland with the consolidated service, the port to port rate you receive will be to Gdynia and there will be destination fees for your vehicle upon arrival.
This port is centrally located in northern Poland on the Baltic Sea. From there, clients can speak with destination agents about moving the car to a further destination.
Distance from Gdynia to:
- Gdansk 25 km or 15 mi
- Krakow 620 km or 385 mi
- Lodz 362 km or 225 mi
- Poznan 357 km or 222 mi
- Warsaw 381 km or 237 mi
Importing a Car to Poland
Poland is similar to other EU countries in how duties and taxes are assessed on vehicles.
The exact costs will vary depending on the specs of your vehicle, how much you paid in transport costs, insurance and whether you qualify for duty free import.
In general for a smaller sedan, there will be a duty of around 10%, with VAT of 23%. There’s also a border tax that ranges depending on the size of the engine.
If you are relocating to the country and declaring residency in your new home, then you may be eligible to ship a car duty free as part of your household.
You’ll have to inform customs and fill out the needed documentation in the form of an import declaration to prove that you’ve owned the car and driven it in the U.S. for more than 6 months as well as numerous other steps.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Poland, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
01/27/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Norway from the USA
If you’re looking to ship a car to Norway from the USA, it’s a fairly straightforward process as long as you make sure that you have all the documentation, give yourself enough time and ensure that your car is eligible for shipping.
Car Shipping to Norway
Regarding the actual process, you will have a few options when it comes to shipping your vehicle internationally. Each of the methods vary in terms of the overall costs, availability and estimated shipping timeframes.
The two main service options include:
1) Shipping a Car via Container
2) Roll On Roll Off
Furthermore, with our car shipping services, we have options for both shared and sole use containers.
Containerized Transport
Moving your vehicle with this option is recommended as it adds extra protection during transit. Additionally, those moving to Norway can use the extra space for household goods and other items as long as it’s a reasonable amount.
US Departures
- Miami, FL
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles/Long Beach
- New York/New Jersey
- Savannah, GA
Destinations
- Oslo (port of entry)
- Bergen
- Drammen
- Stavanger
- Trondheim
Roll On Roll Off Car Shipping to Oslo
RO/RO is also an option when considering larger vehicles and oversized trucks. The only port for this method of car shipping to Norway is Oslo.
If you are interested in this particular service and would like more information. Contact one of our representatives and they can work on getting you a customized quotation.
Things to Know Before Shipping a Car to Norway
Norway requires that all vehicles entering meet the country’s safety and emissions standards prior to your car being registered and driven in the country.
- It’s recommended that persons contact the Norwegian Public Roads Administration first to determine what mechanical requirements the vehicle will be subject to prior to registration.
- After arriving in the country, you have 1 to 3 days to report to the local Customs and Excise office.
- The NPRA requires inspection at one of its traffic services offices of all second-hand imported vehicles
TVAT, Tax and Import Duties on Vehicles
The value added tax for imported automobiles is 25%. The percentage is based on the customs value. This number is calculated as follows: Customs value = purchase price + freight costs + insurance costs to the Norwegian border.
There are certain scenarios which allow you to ship your car and not have to pay taxes or duties as long as your stay will be shorter than 1 year.
Interesting Facts
- Norway prohibits cars being advertised as environmentally friendly!
- The country has voted against membership in the EU several times, but has implemented more EU directives than any other EU member state.
- Even though the country is one of the top oil producers in the world, gas is more expensive than almost anywhere.
- Beware of vacationing in Norway during August. Shops and restaurant services almost come to a stop during this month as they are on vacation.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Norway, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
01/12/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Denmark from the USA
Shipping a car to Denmark entails looking at a few options when determining what you will need to prepare in terms of documentation and financial planning.
The easy part is the transportation. Especially when using an international car shipper that has over 20 years of experience moving cars to Copenhagen and other destinations.
The hard part will be determining whether it’s worth it to ship your vehicle, since the importation into Denmark can be quite expensive if you don’t meet the exemption requirements.
Shipping a Car to Denmark from the USA
Anyone who wants to move their personal vehicle will need to choose the method in which they would like to ship.
We offer both a standard sole container service and shared. You’ll either be able to deliver the vehicle to one of our five US locations or we can dispatch a pickup.
Lastly, there are two additional taxes to consider when shipping a car to Denmark and they apply to every car registered in the country. There is a vehicle weight tax and an owners tax.
Major Destinations
How Long Does it Take?
From our New Jersey warehouse to Copenhagen (our port of entry) ocean times range between 2-3 weeks. However from our Los Angeles or Houston warehouses, that time frame would be longer.
Tax, Duty and Important Customs Information
Your particular scenario will be based on the duration and the intent of your move to Denmark. For shorter stays, up to 185 days, it is possible to apply for a permit allowing you to drive a vehicle registered in a foreign country during the time spent. You will however be required to pay registration tax if the stay is longer.
For longer duration stays, you will either be required to pay the standard import duty and VAT for Denmark. If you are eligible and meet the requirements to be exempt from them, then you may be able to ship a car from the US to Denmark and import it duty free.
If one does have to pay the import duty and additional value added tax, then you can expect it to be a little pricy. The initial customs tax, which is standard for the EU, is 10%. However, the VAT on vehicles is slightly higher than in most countries at 25%.
This tax rate takes the worth of the vehicle, associated shipping costs and the actual import duty into consideration. So you are not just paying on the price of the automobile.
For visitors registering their car, there is a registration tax and can be paid at a SKAT registry offices located in metropolitan areas of Copenhagen, Aalborg and a few others.
Lastly, there are two additional taxes to consider when shipping a car to Denmark and they apply to every car registered in the country. There is a vehicle weight tax and an owners tax.
Duty and VAT Exemption Eligibility for Imported Vehicles
- You have used the vehicle for a minimum of 6 months and it has done more than 6,000 kilometers.
- Provide foreign registration documents for the vehicle
- You cannot sell, rent out, or dispose of the vehicle in any way before 12 months after your arrival
- You must prove that you have lived outside the European Union for longer than 12 months
For more information about importing a vehicle into Denmark visit the SKAT website.
Registration
New arrivals in Denmark have six months from the time they register with their local community to register any vehicles they shipped and imported. For those registering their car, there is a registration tax.
This tax can be paid at a SKAT registry offices located in the metropolitan areas of Copenhagen, Aalborg and a few others. Anyone residing in Denmark for more than one year must register their vehicle.
5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Denmark
- The Danish flag is the oldest national flag in the world
- The average tax rate in Denmark is 49%
- Denmark doesn’t have a single mountain
- Headlights must always be on when a car is being operated
- Shipping pets to Denmark is only allowed at two airports
For further information on any of the above car shipping services to Denmark, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
