Import guide
Import a car from the USA and Canada to Germany
Buy at Copart or IAA, ship to Bremerhaven and clear customs in Germany. Here are the steps and an estimate of the full cost.
How it works
- 1
Find the car and get alerts
Save a search for the make, model and budget you want. SalvageAlert watches Copart and IAA and alerts you as soon as a matching lot is listed.
- 2
Bid through a broker
Most lots can only be bid on with a dealer licence. An export broker bids for you, pays the auction and prepares the export documents.
- 3
Towing to the export port
The car is towed from the auction yard to a port such as New Jersey, Savannah, Houston or Montreal and loaded into a shared container.
- 4
Ocean shipping
Shipping to Bremerhaven usually takes four to eight weeks, depending on the route and on how quickly the container fills.
- 5
Customs and registration
On arrival a customs broker declares the car and pays the import taxes. After repairs and a technical inspection the car can be registered.
Enter a bid to see what the car costs once it has cleared customs. Towing, shipping and port costs are pre-filled with typical values you can change.
Landed cost calculator
- Winning bid
- $5,000
- Auction buyer fees
- $1,058
- Towing to the port
- $500
- Ocean shipping and insurance
- $1,500
- Customs value
- $8,058
- Import duty (10%)
- $806
- VAT (19%)
- $1,808
- Port, unloading and broker
- $650
- Estimated landed cost
- $11,321≈ €9,767
Estimate only. Confirm the final figures with your customs broker; exchange rates are indicative.
Import taxes
A car imported into Germany from outside the EU pays 10% customs duty on its customs value: the price plus auction fees and transport to the EU. Import VAT of 19% is then charged on the value including duty. There is no separate excise tax on import.
What SalvageAlert costs
Starter is $19.99 a month (about €17) and Unlimited $39.99 a month (about €34). Plans are billed in US dollars, and you can start with a free account.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy at Copart or IAA from abroad?
Yes. Most lots can only be bid on with a dealer licence, so buyers abroad bid through a licensed broker who buys the car for them and arranges the export.
How are import taxes calculated?
A car imported into Germany from outside the EU pays 10% customs duty on its customs value: the price plus auction fees and transport to the EU. Import VAT of 19% is then charged on the value including duty. There is no separate excise tax on import.
How long does delivery take?
Allow one to two weeks for payment and towing to the port, then four to eight weeks of shipping and a few days for customs clearance.
Can I register a car with a salvage title?
Often yes, once it is repaired and passes the technical inspection your country requires. Rules differ by country and by type of damage, so check with the registration authority before you bid.
How does SalvageAlert help?
It watches Copart and IAA for your saved searches and alerts you the moment a matching car is listed, with sale history, fee estimates and VIN details on every lot.
Get alerted when the right car is listed
Create a free account, save a search and see matching lots as soon as they appear.