SalvageAlert

Import a car from the USA and Canada to Poland

Buy at Copart or IAA, ship to Gdynia and clear customs in Poland. Here are the steps and an estimate of the full cost.

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How it works

  1. 1Find 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. 2Bid 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. 3Towing 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. 4Ocean shipping

    Shipping to Gdynia usually takes four to eight weeks, depending on the route and on how quickly the container fills.

  5. 5Customs 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.

Cars you could ship to Poland this week

Live lots at the North American auctions the calculator prices from, under a ceiling a shipped car still makes sense at, soonest sale first. Open one and the calculator on its page prices it at your door.

See every lot under US$15,000 closing this week →

Landed cost calculator

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.

Estimated landed cost$12,319≈ PLN 48,737
Winning bid
$5,000
Auction buyer fees
$1,058
Towing to the port
$500
Ocean shipping and insurance
$1,700
Customs value
$8,258
Import duty (10%)
$826
Excise tax
$282
VAT (23%)
$2,304
Port, unloading and broker
$650
Estimated landed cost
$12,319≈ PLN 48,737

10% duty applied: no proof of US or Canadian origin.

Estimate only. Confirm the final figures with your customs broker; exchange rates are indicative.

Import taxes

A car imported into Poland from outside the EU pays customs duty on its customs value: the price plus auction fees and transport to the EU. The rate depends on where the car was built, not where it was sold: 0% for a car built in the US or Canada with proof of origin (for US-built cars since 1 July 2026, and only when shipped directly from the US), 10% otherwise. Excise tax is then charged on the value including duty, at 3.1% for engines up to 2.0 litres and 18.6% above; electric cars are exempt, and hybrids may qualify for a reduced rate. Finally, 23% VAT is charged on the total.

What SalvageAlert costs

Starter is €19.99 a month (about PLN 88) and Unlimited €39.99 a month (about PLN 176). Plans are billed in EUR, 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 Poland from outside the EU pays customs duty on its customs value: the price plus auction fees and transport to the EU. The rate depends on where the car was built, not where it was sold: 0% for a car built in the US or Canada with proof of origin (for US-built cars since 1 July 2026, and only when shipped directly from the US), 10% otherwise. Excise tax is then charged on the value including duty, at 3.1% for engines up to 2.0 litres and 18.6% above; electric cars are exempt, and hybrids may qualify for a reduced rate. Finally, 23% VAT is charged on the total.

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.

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The same catalog over an API

Pull every lot, photo and VIN from IAA and Copart into your own listings, price sheets or customer alerts — one key, JSON in, no scraping.

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