Import a car from the USA and Canada to Spain
Buy at Copart or IAA, ship to Valencia and clear customs in Spain. Here are the steps and an estimate of the full cost.
How it works
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.
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.
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.
4Ocean shipping
Shipping to Valencia usually takes four to eight weeks, depending on the route and on how quickly the container fills.
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 Spain 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.
Copart USA · COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
2009 TOYOTA COROLLA
FRONT END
Bid $275Oct 28
Copart USA · LITTLETON, CO
2010 TOYOTA CAMRY
FRONT END
Bid $275Oct 28
Copart USA · LITTLETON, CO
2010 TOYOTA MATRIX
FRONT END
Bid $575Oct 28
Copart USA · LITTLETON, CO
2009 TOYOTA CAMRY
SIDE
Bid $325Oct 28
Copart USA · LITTLETON, CO
2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
REAR END
Bid $275Oct 28
Copart USA · COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
2009 TOYOTA CAMRY
HAIL
Buy now $1,500Oct 28
Copart USA · LITTLETON, CO
2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY
SIDE
Bid $275Oct 28
Copart USA · LITTLETON, CO
2003 HONDA PILOT
FRONT END
Bid $275Oct 28
Copart USA · COLORADO SPRINGS, COLanded 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.
- Winning bid
- $5,000
- Auction buyer fees
- $1,058
- Towing to the port
- $500
- Ocean shipping and insurance
- $1,850
- Customs value
- $8,408
- Import duty (10%)
- $841
- VAT (21%)
- $2,089
- Port, unloading and broker
- $700
- Estimated landed cost
- $12,038≈ €10,813
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 Spain 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. VAT of 21% is then charged on the value including duty. Spain also charges a registration tax (impuesto de matriculación) of 0% to 14.75% depending on CO₂ emissions, which is not included in the calculator.
What SalvageAlert costs
Starter is €19.99 a month and Unlimited €39.99 a month. 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 Spain 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. VAT of 21% is then charged on the value including duty. Spain also charges a registration tax (impuesto de matriculación) of 0% to 14.75% depending on CO₂ emissions, which is not included in the calculator.
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.
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.