How much does it cost to import a car from the USA, and what to watch out for? (updated 2026)

The final price includes transport within the United States, port handling, ocean freight, insurance, customs clearance, VAT, transport from the European port, technical modifications, homologation, the roadworthiness test and registration in the Czech Republic.

What really matters is therefore not just the price of the car in the USA, but above all how much the car will cost once it has been fully imported, modified and properly registered in the Czech Republic.

How much does importing a car from the USA really cost?

There is no simple flat-rate answer, and that is exactly why you will not find a calculator on our website. We price every quote individually, because the cost of shipping varies with the car's distance from the port, its size, the chosen shipping method, current ocean freight rates and how busy the ports are.

Shipping a Mustang parked near a port in New Jersey will cost something different from shipping a large RAM pickup that needs to be collected in, say, Texas, California or one of the inland states.

The final cost of an import usually consists of:

• the purchase price of the car
• any auction fee
• transport from the seller to a US warehouse or port
• handling and loading into a container
• export documentation and the US export customs process
• ocean freight
• cargo insurance
• port and handling fees in Europe
• customs duty
• VAT
• transport from the port to the Czech Republic
• necessary technical modifications, measurements and technical documentation
• homologation, the roadworthiness test and vehicle registration

Customs duty on American cars: new rules from July 2026

Since 1 July 2026, a new EU regime (EU Regulation 2026/1455) has applied, adjusting customs rates for selected goods originating in the United States. Goods that meet the relevant conditions may qualify for a reduced and, in some cases, zero customs rate instead of the previous 10%.

To use it, however, it is not enough that the car was simply bought in the USA or shipped from there. In particular, you need to properly document:

• MSO, the manufacturer's statement of origin
• MCO, the manufacturer's certificate of origin
• the correct tariff classification
• direct shipment from the USA
• where applicable, the fact that the goods were not modified or replaced during transport
• consistency between the commercial, transport and customs documents

Toman Motors currently uses customs clearance in Germany, where we are able to apply the new regime in practice when the correct documents are presented. For vehicles that meet the conditions, the zero rate is applied instead of the previous 10% duty.

In the Czech Republic, we still see customs proceedings continuing at the original 10% rate. This is not because Germany has a different EU duty from the Czech Republic, as the common customs tariff applies throughout the EU. The difference lies in how prepared individual customs offices are in practice, how origin is assessed and what evidence is required. We believe Czech practice will soon catch up.

That is why it is important to verify, before the car is shipped, whether its US origin can actually be documented. Not every car bought in the USA is necessarily a vehicle of US origin.

Zero duty does not mean a tax-free import

This is what customers most often confuse: even with zero duty, 21% VAT is payable. It is calculated from the customs value of the vehicle, which usually includes:

• the value of the car
• shipping and insurance costs to the point of entry into the European Union
• any customs duty
• other incidental costs related to the import

How VAT is settled depends on the country of clearance, the importer's status and the chosen customs and tax procedure. For a private Czech customer, the key point is that VAT remains a significant part of the final price even when the duty is zero. Customs clearance is then followed by homologation, the roadworthiness test and registration.

Example calculation: a USD 40,000 car

The exact price cannot be set simply as a percentage of the purchase price, because every vehicle differs in location, size, condition and homologation requirements. The following calculation shows roughly what to expect when shipping by container, and above all what difference the place of customs clearance makes.

Clearing customs in Germany therefore saves you roughly USD 5,300 to 5,500 on duty and VAT. Zero duty can only be applied to vehicles with documented US origin and direct shipment from the USA. Duty is converted at the customs exchange rate, so the final amount in Czech crowns may differ slightly.

A serious quote must therefore always state what exactly is included in the price and to which location the price applies. We will prepare an exact quote for your specific car in advance and free of charge.

Is importing a car from the USA worth it?

An import usually pays off in several situations.

The car is not commonly available in Europe

Typical examples are RAM and Dodge vehicles, some Ford, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Lincoln models, and high-performance or limited editions of American cars. With a car like this, the main reason is not just a lower price: the customer gets a car with limited availability in Europe and often a higher future value.

There is far more choice in the USA

The American market offers many times more vehicles, engines, trims and colour combinations. Customers do not have to choose from just the few cars that happen to be in Europe right now.

The price is better even after all costs are included

With more expensive, high-performance or specialised vehicles, the difference between the American and European price can cover shipping, taxes and homologation and still remain attractive. You do, however, need to compare genuinely comparable prices: an American listing price usually does not include shipping to Europe, VAT, technical modifications or Czech registration.

The customer wants a specific car

An import also makes sense when a customer is looking for an exact configuration: a specific engine, colour, trim, body style or limited edition. On the other hand, with cheap, everyday cars, shipping, VAT, modifications and paperwork can wipe out the price advantage entirely.

Importing a car from the USA step by step

1. Choosing and checking the vehicle

The first step is choosing the right car. You need to check:

• the vehicle's VIN
• its registration history
• any accidents and damage records
• photos from previous auctions
• the status of legal documents and any liens
• the type of US Title document
• the actual mileage
• the service history
• manufacturer recalls

With an auction car, you also need to assess the type of damage and the extent of repairs correctly. The damage description in an auction may not match exactly what will actually need repairing once the car arrives.

2. Buying the car

After the checks, the car is bought from an authorised dealer, a used car dealer, a private owner or at auction. Already at this stage, you need to make sure the seller has the original Title and that it can be used for export. A missing, incorrect or restricted Title can significantly delay the export, make it more expensive or make it impossible altogether.

3. Transport within the USA

The car has to be taken from the seller to a warehouse or port. Options include an open truck, an enclosed truck, individual transport or towing for a non-running vehicle. For expensive, classic or sensitive cars, we recommend enclosed transport, as the vehicle is better protected from the weather, stone chips, dirt and damage along the way.

For a non-running or damaged car, you need to state in advance whether it can move under its own power, whether it can be put in neutral, whether the brakes work and whether the wheels turn.

4. Shipment cut-off and document preparation

Every ship has a cut-off, the last date for delivering the vehicle and documents. By then, the following in particular must be ready: the original Title, the purchase contract or invoice, the seller's and buyer's details, export documentation, a power of attorney, shipping instructions and, where applicable, documents proving the vehicle's origin. If the documents are incorrect or arrive late, the car may not be accepted onto the planned ship.

5. The US export customs process

Exporting a car from the USA is subject to customs control. US authorities check in particular the vehicle's ownership, VIN and original Title. The documents must be submitted to customs within a set deadline before export. This part of the process is often underestimated: a mistake in the owner's name, the VIN, a signature or the Title transfer can mean waiting for the next ship, which usually means a delay of several weeks.

6. Loading into a container

Before loading, the car is photographed, its condition is checked and the way it is secured is verified. Inside the container, the vehicle must be fastened securely so that it does not move during the sea voyage. Non-running vehicles, cars with damaged wheels, low sports cars, large pickups and vehicles with loose or removed parts require special attention. Parts stored inside the car must be secured, as loose items can damage the interior or windows during the voyage.

7. Ocean freight

After loading, the container is taken to the terminal and loaded onto the ship. The voyage itself is usually not the only time factor: the total time also includes waiting for the cut-off, port handling, any transshipments, waiting for a connecting vessel, unloading, customs clearance and container release. The ship's arrival date is always an estimate and can change due to weather, port congestion, technical problems or changes to the shipping route.

It is therefore always wise to insure the shipment, not least because of the so-called General Average. We explain what it is and why it can affect you even if your car arrives intact in our article General Average: why you may end up paying for someone else's cargo.

8. Arrival in the European Union and unloading

When the ship arrives, the container is unloaded, handled at the port and the documents are checked. You need to keep an eye on the deadlines for collecting the shipment: if the container or vehicle is not released in time, storage and other port fees start to accrue. These fees can rise quickly when documents are missing.

9. Customs clearance

During customs clearance, the documents submitted include the invoice or purchase contract, proof of payment, transport documents, the Title, documents on the vehicle's value, documentation of origin and a power of attorney for customs representation. Customs may scrutinise the declared value, so a heavily undervalued invoice is not a solution but a risk. Customs can request the payment, auction records, the listing or other documents and adjust the customs value.

Once properly released for free circulation, the vehicle can move freely within the European Union. If a car is properly released for free circulation in Germany, for example, no import duty is paid a second time when it is moved to the Czech Republic, because the free movement of goods after release for free circulation is one of the basic principles of the customs union.

10. Transport to Toman Motors after customs clearance

Once customs clearance is complete, we arrange transport of the vehicle from the port or warehouse to Toman Motors. On receipt, we check the car's condition, any transport damage, the number of keys, the documentation, fluids, tyres and wheels, and whether the basic systems work. Damaged vehicles then undergo detailed diagnostics and we draw up the scope of the necessary repairs.

11. Technical modifications and homologation

American vehicles are not automatically ready for registration in the Czech Republic. Depending on the model, modifications may be needed to the headlights, rear lights and indicators, rear fog light, wiring, side marker lights, speedometer, glass markings, seat belts, tyres, exhaust system, noise levels, emissions systems, tow bar or some driver assistance features. You will find more details on our Homologation page.

The extent of the modifications varies with the model, year of manufacture and available technical documentation. The fact that the same model has been registered in the Czech Republic before does not mean that every other example will automatically pass in the same way.

12. Roadworthiness test and registration

If the vehicle does not have European type approval valid throughout the EU, a decision by the relevant authority approving the technical roadworthiness of an individually imported vehicle may be required. Among the documents required for registration, the Czech Ministry of Transport lists proof of technical roadworthiness, the necessary technical documentation and proof of a technical inspection. Only once the technical modifications, measurements, homologation and roadworthiness test are complete can the car be properly entered in the Czech vehicle register.

Beware of damaged cars from American auctions

An auction car is not automatically a bad buy. You do, however, need to know its true condition and calculate the repair correctly. Unfortunately, a low auction price often means the vehicle has been in an accident, flooded, damaged by fire, stolen and later recovered, is not running, has no keys, has mechanical or wiring damage, has deployed airbags or comes with a problematic Title.

Photos do not show everything

Auction photos usually show only visible damage. Beneath the bumper or bodywork there may be damaged chassis rails, radiators, suspension, steering, wiring looms, sensors, airbag modules, the high-voltage system on electric cars, the engine or the gearbox. After arrival, it may therefore turn out that the repair is more extensive than the photos suggested.

Beware of flooded cars

With a flooded car, the interior may look clean at first glance. Water, however, can cause long-term problems with the electronics, connectors, control units, wiring, corrosion and safety systems. Such faults may not show up straight away.

The type of US Title is crucial

You need to distinguish between, for example, a Clean Title, Salvage Title, Rebuilt Title, Flood Title, Junk Title, Parts Only and Certificate of Destruction. Some of these documents can significantly complicate or prevent export, homologation or registration. A vehicle designated for parts only in the USA may not be legally registrable in the Czech Republic.

Beware of suspiciously cheap shipping

The market is full of offers quoting only the price of shipping to Germany or another European port. Such an offer may not include unloading the container, port handling, storage, customs representation, duty, VAT, transport to the Czech Republic, homologation, technical modifications, the roadworthiness test or registration. The customer then knows the price of just one part of the journey, but not what the car will cost once it is ready to drive.

Problems with incomplete homologation

One of the biggest risks with imported American vehicles is incomplete or poorly executed homologation. Some cars are modified just enough to pass the first inspection. The modifications may not meet long-term requirements or may not be correctly recorded in the documentation. The problem can then surface only years later, at the next regular roadworthiness test.

The car passes its first inspection but fails the second

A car may have been assessed at its first registration on the basis of incomplete or incorrect data. At the next inspection, the technician finds, for example, non-compliant headlights, missing European approvals for the lights, the wrong indicator colour, a non-working rear fog light, a mismatch between the VIN and the manufacturer's plates, incorrect tyre sizes, an unapproved tow bar, a discrepancy between the actual condition and the register, an illegal exhaust modification or an incorrectly recorded weight. The owner then has to sort out the missing documentation and modifications after the fact, which can be considerably more expensive than doing it right at the first registration.

Registration in another member state may not solve every problem

Some offers promise simple registration via another EU country. Foreign registration on its own, however, does not guarantee that the car's technical condition and documentation will be accepted without issues in the Czech Republic.

Turnkey imports at Toman Motors

At Toman Motors, we handle the complete import of a car from the USA, from the initial selection right through to handover to the customer. Our goal is not just to get the car to a port or to Germany. The result should be a car that is properly cleared through customs, technically modified, homologated and ready for registration and use in the Czech Republic. You will find more details on our Car Import page.

How we work together:

1. consultation (model, year, engine, trim, budget, whether a damaged vehicle is an option)
2. finding and checking the car using its VIN and databases
3. a quote for the total cost all the way to the Czech Republic, including a note on any items that cannot be determined exactly in advance
4. purchase and payment, checking the invoice, Bill of Sale and Title
5. transport within the USA
6. export and loading with photo documentation
7. ocean freight with shipment tracking
8. customs clearance in the EU: we currently use customs clearance in Germany, where the new zero-duty regime can be applied in practice with properly documented US origin and direct shipment; for classic cars we use customs services in the Czech Republic
9. transport to our premises
10. servicing, repairs and technical modifications (diagnostics, lighting conversion, preparation for homologation and the roadworthiness test, personalised plates on request)
11. homologation and registration: we prepare the modifications and documentation so that the car will pass future regular inspections too, not just the first one
12. handover of the car with an overview of all the work carried out

In summary: the cheapest offer is not necessarily the cheapest import

Importing a car from the USA can be good value and can open the way to an exceptional car. A successful import, however, depends on a properly checked vehicle, complete documents, quality logistics, correct customs clearance and professionally executed homologation.

The biggest risk comes from offers that show only the American purchase price or the price of shipping to a European port. The real result only becomes clear from the amount for which the car is properly delivered, cleared through customs, modified and registered in the Czech Republic.

At Toman Motors, we handle the whole process in one place, from choosing the car in the USA through purchase, shipping and customs clearance to servicing, homologation and Czech registration. That way, the customer knows from the start who is responsible for each part of the import, where the car will be delivered and what needs to be done for it to drive safely and legally on Czech roads.

Many of our customers came to us in complete despair: their car was sitting idle in a German or Dutch port, and the carrier that had handled the shipping from America had washed its hands of them. No wonder. It had taken the easier and more lucrative part, collecting the car from the seller and the sea leg, along with the fee, and left the harder, more painful and time-consuming part at the port to us.

And on top of that, I end up looking like the villain for asking the customer to pay port fees, storage or, heaven forbid, a container scan by German customs, in which an officer verified that the goods declared in the documents really were on board. None of that was in the price they were quoted, was it? So I understand the frustration, and my unpopularity. :-)

If you have had a similar experience, please share it with us, I would really appreciate it. And if you would like to know anything else about the topic, do not hesitate to get in touch.