Why not import a car from the USA on your own?

Published:
1.9.2025

At first glance, European cars do not encourage with price especially at the moment when we compare them with American models. They also encourage with their characteristic appearance in the case of sports cars and functionality if we aim for a means of transport for the whole family. The number of formalities necessary for such a purchase can give you a headache.

Table of contents:

  1. A huge number of additional costs
  2. Bringing a car to Europe
  3. Trust in specialists

A huge number of additional costs

Comparing the import of a car to the purchase of any electronic device from the USA does not make any sense. The journey from choosing a car to crossing Polish roads behind its wheel for independent buyers can be a real torment. Before we attempt to transport our Dodge or Mustang to Europe, we must first deal with the commissions. Being in Poland, we have to pay intermediaries in the transaction. Usually you need to allocate about 400 dollars for this. You can also not forget about the bank commission, which is about $30.

Bringing a car to Europe

However, the real stairs only begin at the moment when we want to transport our car. Of course, you need to start by buying a place on a container ship, the cost of which can vary up to several hundred dollars. The United States, of course, is not in the European Union, so you have to pay a customs duty of about 10 percent of the value of the car. Further charges are influenced by two factors. The excise duty depends mainly on the capacity of the engine. It can be a few percent of the value, or even oscillate up to 18 percent. Next, you need to deal with VAT. In Germany, the rate for passenger cars is 19 percent, and for cars considered vintage 8 percent. Our western neighbors should be the destination of imports. This is influenced by the much higher VAT tax in Poland, which is 23 percent.

Trust in specialists

It can be clearly seen that the cost of such an operation will not be among the lowest. We are also talking about the time commitment itself and the need to deal with a large number of formalities. However, as you can see, with the right experience, these costs can be optimized by up to several thousand dollars. That's a hefty sum even for those very desperate to get behind the wheel of their dream car straight from the United States. Therefore, it is worth asking for help from specialists who, thanks to their experience, will save time and money.

It may interest you

All articles

How long does it take to bring a car from the USA or Canada to Poland? We answer!

Wondering how long it takes to transport a car from the USA? The timing of the import depends on many factors, including the location of the vehicle in the USA or Canada. In this article, we will discuss the most important variables that have a direct impact on how long you have to wait for your dream car from America.

Silnik Pentastar V6 - historia sukcesu

Silnik V6 Pentastar jest uważany za jeden z najbardziej udanych współczesnych silników, jakie zostały stworzone przez Amerykanów. Konstrukcja wykonana m.in. z aluminium jest prosta, trwała i jednocześnie zapewnia przyzwoite osiągi niezależnie od tego, czy znajduje się w sedanie, SUV-ie, czy pick-upie. Jak powstał silnik Pentastar? Jak jest zbudowany? W jakich samochodach można go znaleźć? Odpowiedzi na te i inne pytania znajdziesz w poniższym tekście.

Complete guide to excise duty on cars imported from the USA

Excise duty on cars from the USA — how to calculate it? This is a question that many people ask themselves. Importing cars from the USA is a popular practice due to the good technical condition of the cars, a wide selection of models and attractive prices. However, a modern importer needs to keep abreast of changing regulations so as not to run into unpleasant surprises. One of the key aspects on the road to owning a car from overseas is to properly understand and calculate excise taxes. In this publication, we will explain how the excise tax on cars from the USA is calculated, including the excise tax on a damaged car from the USA.

Do you have any questions?

Check the FAQ section with answers to the most frequently asked questions or contact us and our advisors will be happy to help you.