International car shipping cost depends on the route, vehicle, service and import requirements. A reliable budget starts with a real quote and a check that the vehicle can be imported. Use our international car shipping cost calculator to total the amounts you confirm.
Check import eligibility before booking
Give the relevant authority or customs adviser the vehicle’s age, specification, origin and destination. Do not assume that paying shipping and duty makes a vehicle eligible. For a US destination, CBP’s personal vehicle guidance describes entry requirements involving safety and emissions compliance. Other destinations have their own rules.
Collect seven cost groups
- Vehicle collection and transport to the departure point.
- Main ocean or other international freight.
- Origin handling, documentation and loading.
- Destination port, agent and clearance-service charges.
- Insurance premium and any preparation or special handling.
- Confirmed duty, taxes and compliance-related costs.
- Final delivery or your costs of collecting the vehicle.
Enter duty and taxes as confirmed amounts. This calculator does not apply a universal import percentage, determine customs value or decide an exemption.
Worked car shipping budget
For a hypothetical single vehicle, use 2,000 freight, 250 origin charges, 400 destination charges, 300 collection/delivery, 100 insurance and 50 other costs. That is 3,100 before import charges. If a customs adviser confirms 800 additional duty and taxes, subtotal becomes 3,900. A chosen 10% contingency gives a planning total of 4,290.
These are example numbers in one currency, not current prices for a named route. Replace every line with your quote. A vehicle that is non-running or needs special loading should be described accurately when requesting prices.
Questions that make a quote comparable
- Is the service RoRo, shared container or dedicated container?
- Are both port charges and inland transport included?
- What vehicle condition and dimensions does the price assume?
- What insurance is offered, and what does it exclude?
- How long is the quote valid, and what happens if sailing dates change?
- What storage or waiting costs can arise at destination?
Use the result as a planning record
Save the calculator result with the written quote and assumptions. Before payment, confirm who handles each stage and which bills remain payable locally. For service comparisons, read RoRo versus container: comparing car shipping quotes. That guide focuses on choosing between offers; this one focuses on the complete budget.
Content reviewed on 9 October 2026. Worked examples are hypothetical. The original article URL is retained.