Car Shipping to Germany
Whether you are relocating to Berlin for work, moving your family to Munich, or bringing a cherished vehicle from overseas, shipping a car to Germany is entirely achievable with the right planning. Flyto Relocation has arranged vehicle transport into Germany since 2018, coordinating road transporters, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipping and container services through our own Central-European hubs and a network of vetted partners. This guide explains your transport options, realistic costs, the customs and VAT rules that separate EU-origin from overseas cars, and the German registration process (Zulassung) you will need to complete once your car arrives.
How cars reach Germany: your transport options
The best way to ship your car depends almost entirely on where it starts its journey. Germany sits at the heart of the European road network, so most cars travelling from within the EU never touch water at all.
Road transport (for EU-origin vehicles)
If your car is already in another EU country, the practical and usually cheapest option is a professional car transporter by road. Germany falls within Flyto’s Central-Europe operating area, and we regularly coordinate covered and open transporters from Northern, Central and Southern Europe directly to German addresses. Open multi-car carriers are the most economical; enclosed transporters cost more but protect classic, high-value or low-clearance vehicles from road grime and weather. Door-to-door road delivery removes the need for port handling and is typically the fastest choice for intra-European moves.
Sea freight (for overseas vehicles)
Cars coming from outside Europe — for example from the USA, the Gulf, Asia or Australia — travel by sea to a European port such as Bremerhaven, Hamburg or a nearby hub like Rotterdam or Antwerp, then continue inland by transporter. There are two main sea options:
- RoRo (roll-on/roll-off): the car is driven onto a dedicated vehicle vessel and secured on deck. It is the most cost-effective sea method, but the car must be empty and in running order, and personal belongings cannot be shipped inside it.
- Container shipping: the car is loaded into a container, either alone (sole use) or shared with other cargo (consolidated). Containers offer more protection and allow limited packed belongings, making them the usual choice for valuable or collector vehicles.
Transit times
Timings vary with origin, season and port schedules, but as a rough guide:
- Road, within the EU: typically 2–8 days depending on distance and whether the transporter is direct or consolidated.
- Sea from the US East Coast: roughly 2–4 weeks port to port, plus collection, loading and inland delivery.
- Sea from the Gulf, Asia or Australia: commonly 4–8 weeks port to port, again before inland handling.
Always add time for customs clearance and any inspections. We build realistic buffers into every plan rather than quoting best-case dates.
What drives the cost
We do not publish fixed prices because every move is different, but the main cost drivers are consistent:
- Distance and origin — a road move from a neighbouring country is far cheaper than sea freight from another continent.
- Method — open road transport is cheapest; enclosed transport, container and sole-use container cost progressively more.
- Vehicle size and weight — larger SUVs, vans and non-running cars need special handling.
- Customs duty and import VAT for non-EU cars (see below), which can add substantially to the landed cost.
- Insurance, port and handling fees, and inland delivery from the port to your German address.
As a broad market indication, intra-EU road transport often falls in the low-to-mid hundreds of euros for shorter routes and up to the low thousands for long cross-continent hauls, while overseas sea shipping commonly runs into the thousands before duty and VAT. Treat these as ballpark ranges only — we provide a tailored quote once we know your exact route and vehicle.
Customs and VAT: EU origin vs non-EU origin
This is the single biggest financial difference between moves, so it is worth understanding clearly.
Cars already in free circulation within the EU move within the single market, so there is no customs duty and no fresh import VAT when they enter Germany. You still have to register the car in Germany, but the fiscal side is straightforward.
Cars imported from outside the EU are generally liable for customs duty (commonly around 10% for passenger cars) plus German import VAT (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer, EUSt) at the standard rate. An important exception exists: if you are permanently moving your main residence to Germany and have owned and used the car for the required qualifying period, you may be eligible for transfer-of-residence relief that waives duty and import VAT, subject to strict conditions and holding periods. These rules change and depend on your personal residency circumstances, so always confirm the current position with German customs (Zoll) before you ship.
Registering your car in Germany (Zulassung)
Once the car is in Germany, you must register it at your local registration office (Zulassungsstelle) before driving it on a permanent basis. At a high level the process involves:
- Roadworthiness — TÜV / Hauptuntersuchung (HU): the car generally needs a valid German technical inspection. A foreign inspection is not a substitute, so budget for an HU at a German testing organisation (TÜV, DEKRA or similar).
- Certificate of Conformity (COC): for cars with EU type approval, a COC confirms the vehicle meets EU standards and greatly simplifies registration. Ask the manufacturer or dealer for it before you move.
- Individual approval (Einzelabnahme): non-EU cars without EU type approval may need an individual technical approval to confirm they meet German requirements, which can involve modifications (for example to lighting).
- Registration itself: at the Zulassungsstelle you present your identity and residence documents, proof of ownership, the vehicle papers, valid insurance confirmation (eVB number) and the inspection and conformity documents to receive German plates and vehicle registration.
Requirements differ slightly between federal states and offices, and rules evolve, so treat this as an overview and verify specifics with your local Zulassungsstelle.
Preparing your car and insurance
Good preparation prevents delays. Before shipping, clean the car inside and out (important for RoRo and for spotting any pre-existing damage), reduce the fuel tank to around a quarter for sea freight, disable alarms, remove toll tags and loose items, and note the mileage and existing marks. Keep a full set of keys accessible. For insurance, confirm the transport cover in place: reputable carriers carry liability cover, but you can usually add all-risk marine or transit insurance for the vehicle’s declared value — strongly recommended for overseas moves. You will separately need German motor insurance (and the eVB number) to register and drive the car.
EU origin vs non-EU origin at a glance
| Aspect | EU-origin car | Non-EU-origin car |
|---|---|---|
| Usual transport | Road transporter, door to door | Sea (RoRo or container) plus inland transporter |
| Customs duty | None (single market) | Generally applies (relief possible on transfer of residence) |
| Import VAT (EUSt) | None on entry | Generally applies unless relief qualifies |
| Key paperwork | COC, HU/TÜV, registration documents, insurance | Customs clearance, possible Einzelabnahme, HU/TÜV, registration, insurance |
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How Flyto coordinates your car shipment
Flyto Relocation acts as your single point of coordination. We arrange the transport — road transporter for EU moves, RoRo or container for overseas — through our own Central-European hubs and carefully vetted partners; we are not a carrier or shipping line ourselves, which means we can select the best-suited operator for your route and budget rather than pushing one fleet. We advise on documentation, help you understand the customs and VAT position for your situation, and keep you updated through to inland delivery, so you can focus on settling into life in Germany. If your car shipment is part of a wider household move, we can combine it with your relocation for a seamless plan.
Ready to move your car to Germany? Get a tailored car shipping quote and expert guidance from Flyto Relocation, and we will map out the transport method, timeline, customs position and registration steps for your specific vehicle and route.