How Much Does Shipping a Car from the US Cost? Full 2026 Breakdown
Ocean freight, customs clearance in Bremerhaven, delivery to Poland — we break every line of the cost estimate down to the last detail, with real figures.
Importing a car from the US is a handful of separate cost items that are easy to confuse or overlook. Below we break the whole process down step by step — from winning the lot to registering it in Poland.
What the cost estimate is made of
The purchase price is only the start. On top of it come auction fees, inland transport within the US, ocean freight, customs clearance in Europe, and road transport to Poland. Each of these items has its own price range.
| Item | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auction price | 8,500 | Copart, Run & Drive |
| Auction fees | 650 | buyer fee + gate fee |
| Transport in the US | 350 | to the port of Newark |
| Ocean freight | 1,100 | shared container |
| Clearance + 10% duty | 1,060 | Bremerhaven |
| Transport to Poland | 700 | car trailer |
| Total | 12,360 | excl. excise and VAT in Poland |
Container terminal — loading cars
What to watch out for
The biggest budget surprises are oversize surcharges, port storage fees, and the excise duty and VAT on the Polish side. Always budget with an 8–10% buffer.
At Carimporta we quote the import with every fee upfront — no hidden items appearing after the auction.