Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Austria
Two proven gateways to Vienna: north through Bremerhaven or south through Koper — the Adriatic port just 500 km from the capital. We quote NoVA, Austria's CO2 registration tax, on every VIN before you commit.
Austria at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,700+
- Ocean transit
- 17–26 days incl. trucking
- Arrival ports
- via Koper · Bremerhaven
- Import duty + VAT
- 10% + 20% VAT + NoVA
- Classic cars 30+ yrs
- NoVA exempt · 0% duty
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Austria: What You Need to Know
Austria is landlocked, but Vienna sits closer to the sea than most people think: Koper in Slovenia is roughly 500 km away, making the Adriatic routing competitive with the classic northern path through Bremerhaven. We run both lanes and pick by current vessel space and your delivery city — Koper usually wins for Vienna, Graz, and Linz, while Bremerhaven serves Salzburg and Innsbruck well.
The number that defines an Austrian import is NoVA (Normverbrauchsabgabe), a one-time registration tax scaled to CO2 emissions — on a thirsty V8 it can add thousands of euros on top of the 10% duty and 20% VAT. The escape hatch: vehicles over 30 years old with historic status are fully NoVA-exempt and import at 0% duty with 13% VAT, which is why Austria's classic scene buys so actively at U.S. auctions.
Key takeaway
Get a NoVA calculation before you bid — on high-CO2 modern cars it can exceed €10,000. Classics over 30 years skip NoVA entirely and pay 0% duty + 13% VAT, making Austria one of Europe's best classic destinations.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Austria
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Bremerhaven → Vienna (truck) | 17–23 days | Weekly |
| Baltimore, MD | Bremerhaven → Vienna (truck) | 18–24 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Koper → Vienna (truck) | 20–26 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Koper → Vienna (truck) | 24–30 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Austria from the Port of Savannah
Seaway Export is headquartered at the Port of Savannah, Georgia — one of the fastest-growing container ports in the United States and our primary export gateway. We run regular sailings from Savannah to Austria, backed by departures from New York/New Jersey, Houston, and Los Angeles/Long Beach, so we can route your cargo on the lane that reaches Austria fastest and at the best price.
Cars, SUVs, pickups & classic vehicles — container or RoRo
Boats, yachts & personal watercraft — cradled or lift-on/lift-off
Heavy equipment & machinery — flat rack, breakbulk or RoRo
What It Costs to Ship to Austria
Indicative per-unit rates from U.S. ports. Your exact rate depends on vehicle dimensions, departure region, and current vessel space.
| Service | Typical Rate | What to Know | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container (consolidated) | $1,700 – $2,500 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $3,000 – $4,300 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $4,100 – $5,900 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | Custom quote | Drive-on service, no container | Running vehicles, trucks, machinery |
| Flat rack / breakbulk | Custom quote | For oversized & non-running units | Heavy equipment, boats |
Rates shown are indicative ranges from the U.S. East Coast and are confirmed at booking.
Estimate your landed cost to Austria →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentAustria Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 10% | 20% + NoVA | NoVA scaled to CO2 output |
| Classic cars (30+ yrs, historic) | 0% | 13% | Fully NoVA exempt |
| Electric vehicles | 10% | 20% | Zero-emission: no NoVA |
| Motorcycles | 6% | 20% + NoVA | NoVA lower than cars |
| Heavy machinery | 0–4.5% | 20% | No NoVA on equipment |
Indicative rates for general guidance — final assessment is made by customs at arrival. Our team confirms the exact landed cost before you book.
Documents You'll Need
- Original vehicle title (Certificate of Title) — lien-free
- Bill of sale or commercial invoice
- Copy of passport or government ID
- U.S. AES export filing (we handle this)
- Import declaration at destination (we coordinate)
- Packing list for personal items, if any
Watch the NoVA before you buy
NoVA is the cost most importers miss — it's CO2-based and can dwarf duty and VAT on modern performance cars. Classics over 30 years, EVs, and relocation imports (6+ months ownership) are exempt. We calculate your exact NoVA per VIN before you bid.
What We Ship to Austria
Every cargo type has its own routing, loading method, and import path. Pick yours to see the exact process.
Cars, SUVs & Classics
Container or RoRo service into Austria's main vehicle gateways, with full customs handling.
- Sedans, SUVs & pickups
- Classic & collector cars
- Motorcycles & ATVs
Heavy Equipment
Flat rack, breakbulk, and container loading for construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery bound for Austria.
- Excavators & dozers
- Agricultural machinery
- Oversized project cargo
Boats & Yachts
Cradled container loading or lift-on/lift-off service for boats and personal watercraft headed to Austria.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Austria
| Feature | Container | RoRo |
|---|---|---|
| Personal items allowed inside | ||
| Non-running vehicles accepted | ||
| Lowest cost for running cars | ||
| Weather-protected transit | ||
| Multiple vehicles per booking |
Popular U.S. → Austria Routes
New York / New Jersey → Bremerhaven → Vienna (truck)
17–23 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Baltimore, MD → Bremerhaven → Vienna (truck)
18–24 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Koper → Vienna (truck)
20–26 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Koper → Vienna (truck)
24–30 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Austria Moves
Quote & booking
Day 0Lock in your rate and vessel space. We confirm pickup windows and the best departure port for your route.
U.S. pickup & delivery to port
Days 1–7Door pickup from any auction, dealer, or residence. Condition photos taken at every handoff.
Export clearance & loading
Days 5–12AES filing, title validation with CBP (72-hour rule), professional loading, blocking, and bracing.
Ocean transit
17–26 days incl. truckingRegular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at via Koper · Bremerhaven.
Customs & handover
2–7 daysImport declaration, duty and tax payment, and release. Optional onward trucking to your final destination.
Buying from a U.S. auction? Read our step-by-step playbook before you bid.
Read the auction shipping guideFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about shipping to Austria. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
NoVA (Normverbrauchsabgabe) is a one-time registration tax scaled to CO2 emissions, charged on top of the 10% duty and 20% VAT. On a thirsty modern V8 it can exceed €10,000, which is why it's the cost most importers miss. Classics over 30 years and EVs (zero emissions) are exempt. We calculate your exact NoVA per VIN before you bid so the real total is clear up front.
It depends on your delivery city. Koper in Slovenia is only about 500 km from Vienna, making the Adriatic routing competitive with the classic northern path through Bremerhaven. Koper usually wins for Vienna, Graz, and Linz, while Bremerhaven serves Salzburg and Innsbruck well. We run both lanes and pick by current vessel space and your destination at quoting.
Both sidestep NoVA. Vehicles over 30 years old with historic status are fully NoVA-exempt and import at 0% duty with 13% VAT, which is why Austria's classic scene buys so actively at U.S. auctions. Zero-emission EVs also pay no NoVA. In both cases the CO2 tax that punishes modern performance cars simply doesn't apply. We confirm the exemption and quote the full landed cost per VIN.
Yes, in most cases. Relocation imports — where you transfer residence from outside the EU and have owned and used the vehicle for at least 6 months — are exempt from NoVA, duty, and VAT. Since NoVA is the largest variable cost on modern cars, this exemption is often worth thousands. We calculate the NoVA you'd otherwise owe and prepare the exemption file before the car ships.
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