Shipping a Car from the US to the EU or UAE, Step by Step

Shipping a car overseas is a sequence of defined steps, each with its own paperwork. This is a neutral walk-through of the process from a won auction to a car cleared at your destination, whether that is the European Union or the United Arab Emirates.

Step 1: Clear the car and gather title

Before anything moves, the car must be paid for, released by the auction, and its title in hand. The original title is the key export document. Without it, nothing ships. Confirm the title is present and matches the VIN before you plan transport.

Step 2: Move the car to a port

The car is trucked from the auction lot to a departure port. Costs depend on distance. Consolidating this with the auction pickup can save time and gate fees. The car is delivered to a shipping agent or terminal at the port.

Step 3: Choose your shipping method

Two main options, with a clear trade-off:

• Container. The car is loaded into a shipping container, alone or shared. More protection, higher cost, and the option to ship parts with the car.
• Roll-on roll-off, or RoRo. The car is driven onto a vessel and secured on a deck. Cheaper, faster to book, but the car is exposed and must be drivable and empty.

A salvage car that does not run generally goes by container.

Step 4: Export filing

The shipping agent files the export declaration and books the sailing. This is where the title, bill of sale and identification come together. Build in lead time, because export filing has required waiting periods in the US.

Step 5: The ocean crossing

The car sails to your destination port. Transit time depends on the route. Marine insurance for the crossing is inexpensive relative to the car and worth carrying.

Step 6: Arrival, customs and duty

At the destination the car is unloaded and enters customs. This stage is where destination rules diverge the most:

• European Union. Expect import duty and value added tax calculated on the landed value, plus type approval or individual approval to make the car road-legal.
• United Arab Emirates. Expect a customs duty on the assessed value and a clearance process at the port, plus a local test before registration.

Have the title, bill of sale, shipping documents and identification ready. Missing paperwork is the most common cause of costly delay at this stage.

Step 7: Compliance and registration

Finally, the car is inspected and brought up to local standards where needed, then registered and plated. Requirements vary by country, so confirm your destination's rules before you ship, not after.

Plan the paperwork first

The shipping itself is routine. The delays and extra costs come from documents. Confirm the title, know your destination's duty, tax and approval rules, and line up the paperwork for each stage before the car leaves the lot.