How to Ship a Car from Copart or IAAI to Europe in 2026

Why Europeans Buy Cars at US Auctions in 2026

The United States salvage and auction vehicle market gives European buyers access to late model vehicles at prices significantly below European retail values.

A 2021 Ford F150 with minor hail damage in Texas might sell at Copart for about eighteen thousand dollars while the same vehicle can retail in Germany for approximately thirty eight thousand euros after repair and registration.

Similarly a 2022 Tesla Model 3 written off after a low speed collision in Florida may clear Copart for about fourteen thousand dollars and later sell rebuilt in Poland for over thirty thousand euros.

Poland has become the largest European destination for Copart and IAAI exports. Lithuania and Estonia function as regional distribution hubs where vehicles arrive at Klaipeda or Tallinn ports and are then re exported across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Germany imports a high volume of premium auction vehicles including BMW Mercedes Porsche and Audi which are rebuilt and sold through the German used vehicle market.

US Global Shipping operates from Greensboro North Carolina with direct access to Copart IAAI Manheim and ADESA auction networks. This East Coast location allows faster inland transport to export ports and shorter ocean transit routes to Europe.

RoRo vs Container Shipping to Europe

The choice between RoRo shipping and container shipping depends mainly on the condition of the vehicle.

RoRo shipping is generally used for vehicles that are fully drivable. The vehicle is driven directly onto the vessel at the port terminal and secured on the ship's internal decks.

Container shipping is required when the vehicle is not operational or when the buyer wants additional protection during the ocean voyage. Salvage vehicles collision damaged vehicles and high value cars are commonly shipped inside containers.

Many professional European importers prefer containers because they allow multiple vehicles to be shipped together and provide added protection during transit.

Shipping Costs from the United States to Germany Poland and Lithuania in 2026

Shipping costs depend on several factors including vehicle size auction location container availability and carrier pricing.

Typical cost elements include:

• Inland transportation from the auction yard to the export port
• Ocean freight charges for RoRo or container transport
• Automated Export System filing
• Port handling and container loading
• Insurance and documentation preparation

Actual freight costs fluctuate throughout the year based on fuel surcharges vessel capacity and seasonal shipping demand. Buyers should request a live quote for accurate pricing.

Transit Times from the US East Coast to Europe

Transit time begins when the vessel departs the export port.

Typical sailing times from US East Coast ports include:

• Approximately seventeen to twenty two days to Bremerhaven Germany
• Approximately eighteen to twenty four days to Gdynia Poland
• Approximately nineteen to twenty five days to Klaipeda Lithuania

Vehicles purchased at auction should also allow ten to twenty business days before vessel departure for title release inland transport and port handling.

US Global Shipping uses East Coast export ports such as Baltimore Savannah Charleston and Jacksonville which allow vehicles purchased in the Southeast United States to reach the port in one to three days.

EU Import Duties and Taxes for Vehicles from the USA

Germany Poland and Lithuania are members of the European Union and follow the EU Common External Tariff.

When importing vehicles from the United States buyers normally pay:

• Import duty based on the CIF value of the vehicle
• Value added tax based on the combined CIF value plus duty
• Additional national taxes depending on the country and engine size

These charges must be paid before the vehicle can be released from customs.

Step by Step Process to Import a Copart Car to Europe

1. Purchase the Vehicle at Auction

Buyers can purchase vehicles through Copart IAAI Manheim or ADESA. International buyers without US dealer licenses may work with US Global Shipping to access auction inventory.

2. Wait for Title Release

After the vehicle has been paid in full the auction releases the original title document. This process usually takes five to fifteen business days depending on the auction and state.

3. Arrange Inland Transport

US Global Shipping arranges transportation from the auction yard to the nearest export port including Baltimore Savannah Charleston or Jacksonville.

4. Vehicle Inspection and Loading

Once the vehicle arrives at the port facility it is inspected and the vehicle identification number is verified against the title.

Drivable vehicles may be loaded onto RoRo vessels while non running vehicles are placed inside containers.

5. AES Export Filing

All vehicles exported from the United States require Automated Export System filing with the US Census Bureau. US Global Shipping files the Electronic Export Information and includes the filing number in the export documentation package.

6. Vessel Departure

Vessels depart weekly for major European ports including Bremerhaven Gdynia and Klaipeda.

7. Bill of Lading Issuance

The Bill of Lading is issued within three to five days after vessel departure. This document allows the buyer to claim the vehicle at the destination port.

8. EU Customs Clearance

A licensed clearing agent in Germany Poland or Lithuania processes the customs clearance using the Bill of Lading commercial invoice and export filing confirmation.

9. Vehicle Registration and Inspection

Before the vehicle can be registered it must pass the local technical inspection.

• Germany requires TÜV inspection
• Poland requires Badanie Techniczne inspection
• Lithuania requires Techninė apžiūra inspection

Shipping Cars from Copart to Poland

Poland has become the largest European destination for vehicles purchased at US auctions.

Polish buyers including dealers rebuilders and wholesale distributors purchase thousands of Copart and IAAI vehicles each month.

Repair labor costs in Poland are significantly lower than in Western Europe which allows salvage vehicles to be rebuilt profitably even after import duties and taxes are paid.

Most shipments arrive at Gdynia Port near Gdansk. Container vessels from Baltimore Savannah and Charleston connect regularly with this port.

Poland applies a value added tax of twenty three percent on the combined CIF value and duty amount.

Vehicles with engine displacement above two thousand cubic centimeters are subject to an additional excise tax of eighteen point six percent.

Shipping Auction Cars to Lithuania

Lithuania has developed into a major logistics hub for US auction vehicles entering the Baltic region.

Klaipeda Port handles shipments that are later distributed across Estonia Latvia Belarus Georgia Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

Professional vehicle importers often purchase large volumes and ship multiple vehicles in a single container.

US Global Shipping offers forty foot container services to Klaipeda with container sharing options for buyers who do not have enough volume to fill an entire container.

Transit time from Baltimore to Klaipeda typically ranges between nineteen and twenty four days.

Lithuania applies a value added tax rate of twenty one percent which is lower than the rate in Poland.

The absence of a national excise tax on large engine vehicles also makes Lithuania an attractive entry point for importing American trucks and SUVs.

Request a Shipping Quote for Europe

Importers planning to ship vehicles from Copart or IAAI to Europe can request a personalized shipping quote based on vehicle location container requirements and destination port.

US Global Shipping manages the complete export process including inland transportation container loading export filing and ocean freight coordination.