International Car Shipping: How to Ship a Car Overseas (2026 Guide)

Shipping a car within the US is a highway job. Shipping one overseas is an export — a completely different process involving ocean vessels, US Customs, destination-country duties, and paperwork that must be filed days before the ship sails. It's entirely doable, but the mistakes are expensive and the rules are unforgiving. Here's the 2026 playbook for moving a car across an ocean.

What International Car Shipping Costs

Ocean freight is priced by method, vehicle size, and destination port. Broad 2026 ranges for the vehicle leg:

These cover the ocean leg only. Destination duties, taxes, port handling, and inland delivery are separate — and in some countries the import duty alone can exceed the car's value.

RoRo vs. Container: The First Big Decision

RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)

The car is driven onto a dedicated vehicle vessel and secured on deck. It's the cheapest way to ship a car overseas, widely available, and simple — but the vehicle must run and drive, sails completely empty (no personal items), and rides on an open deck shared with hundreds of other vehicles.

Container Shipping

The car is loaded into a steel container — shared (consolidated with another vehicle) or exclusive. It costs more but seals the car away from weather and handling, often permits some belongings, and accepts non-running or high-value vehicles. Nearly always the choice for classics and exotics.

Customs, Duties & the Rules That Trip People Up

Two governments are involved: the US on the way out, and the destination country on the way in.

• US export filing: vehicles exported from the US require filing through the Automated Export System (AES), and the title must be submitted to US Customs (CBP) at the port at least 72 hours before departure
• Destination duties and taxes: every country sets its own import duty, VAT, and registration rules — these vary enormously and are often the biggest line item
• Age and emissions rules: some countries ban vehicles over a certain age or require emissions/safety modifications
• Right-hand vs left-hand drive: a few destinations restrict or prohibit left-hand-drive imports
• Cleaning requirements: countries like Australia and New Zealand demand a spotless, soil-free undercarriage — a failed biosecurity inspection means costly cleaning at the port

Research the destination country's specific import rules before you book. A car that's illegal to import, or carries a duty larger than its value, is a shipment you want to know about in advance.

Documents You Must Have

1. Original vehicle title (or lienholder authorization letter if the car is financed — required to export)
2. Bill of sale
3. Government-issued photo ID / passport
4. Completed export declaration (AES/ITN filing)
5. The shipping company's booking and dock receipt
6. Destination-country import forms (varies by country)

If there's a loan on the car, the lender must provide written authorization to export it — international carriers will not load a financed vehicle without it.

How Long It Takes

Add time for US export filing before departure and customs clearance on arrival. Delays at the destination port waiting for duty payment or inspection are common — build in buffer.

The Step-by-Step Process

1. Research the destination country's import rules (age limits, duties, drive-side, emissions)
2. Get quotes covering ocean freight and, ideally, destination handling
3. Choose RoRo or container based on vehicle value and belongings
4. Gather documents; get lienholder authorization if financed
5. Deliver the car to the US departure port and submit the title to CBP (72+ hours before sailing)
6. The vehicle sails; track the vessel
7. On arrival, clear customs and pay destination duties/taxes
8. Collect the car and complete local registration

Avoid These First-Timer Mistakes

• Booking before checking import legality — some cars simply can't enter some countries
• Underestimating duties — they can exceed the shipping cost or the car's value
• Missing the 72-hour title deadline at US Customs — the car misses the boat
• Leaving belongings in a RoRo vehicle — they ship empty; items will be removed or cause rejection
• Skipping undercarriage cleaning for strict-biosecurity destinations

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship a car overseas?

The ocean leg runs roughly $1,500–$3,000 to nearby ports by RoRo, $2,000–$4,000 to Europe or the Middle East, and $3,000–$6,000+ to Australia and distant Asia-Pacific. Container shipping adds protection at higher cost. Destination duties and taxes are separate and can be significant.

How long does international car shipping take?

Ocean transit ranges from 1–2 weeks to the Caribbean up to 4–8 weeks to Australia. Including US export filing and destination customs clearance, plan for 2–4 weeks for nearby destinations and 6–10 weeks for the farthest.

What documents do I need to ship a car internationally?

You need the original title (or lienholder authorization if financed), bill of sale, passport/ID, an export declaration (AES/ITN filing), the shipping booking, and any destination-country import forms. The title must be submitted to US Customs at least 72 hours before the ship departs.

Can I ship a financed car overseas?

Only with written authorization from your lender. International carriers require a lienholder authorization letter before exporting a financed vehicle, because the lender must consent to its collateral leaving the country.

Shipping a car to or from a US port for an overseas move? Get an instant quote for the domestic leg and we'll help coordinate the route to your export port.