Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Belgium
Antwerp is Europe's number-one RoRo vehicle hub — which means more sailings, lower rates, and faster handling than almost any port on the continent. Classics clear at 0% duty and just 6% VAT.
Belgium at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,150+
- Ocean transit
- 10–14 days (East Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Antwerp · Zeebrugge
- Import duty + VAT
- 10% + 21% VAT (cars)
- Classic cars 30+ yrs
- 0% duty + 6% VAT
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Belgium: What You Need to Know
Antwerp moves more roll-on/roll-off vehicle traffic than any port in Europe, with Zeebrugge adding further deep-sea car capacity along the coast. For shippers, that density translates directly into money: more weekly sailings to choose from, the continent's most competitive RoRo rates, and terminals built to discharge and clear cars in volume. Antwerp also sits within a day's trucking of France, Germany, and the Netherlands, making it a favorite entry point for onward EU delivery.
Belgium is also one of the EU's friendliest classic-car jurisdictions: vehicles over 30 years import at 0% duty with just 6% VAT — the lowest classic rate in Western Europe — and cars 25 years and older qualify for the O-plate oldtimer registration with simplified inspection and low annual tax. Combined with cheap RoRo space, that makes Antwerp the price-performance leader for American classics entering the EU.
Key takeaway
Antwerp's RoRo density makes Belgium the cheapest reliable EU entry for running vehicles — from $1,150. Classics 30+ years pay 0% duty and 6% VAT, and 25+ year cars qualify for low-cost O-plate oldtimer registration.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Belgium
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Antwerp | 10–14 days | Weekly |
| Baltimore, MD | Antwerp | 11–15 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Antwerp | 12–16 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Zeebrugge | 16–21 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Belgium 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 Belgium, 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 Belgium 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 Belgium
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) | $1,150 – $1,850 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,300 – $3,300 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,100 – $4,500 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | $1,300 – $2,200 | 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 Belgium →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentBelgium Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 10% | 21% | On CIF value + duty |
| Classic cars (30+ yrs, original) | 0% | 6% | Lowest classic VAT in Western EU |
| Motorcycles (>250cc) | 6% | 21% | Smaller engines 8% |
| Boats & yachts | 1.7% | 21% | Type & length dependent |
| Heavy machinery | 0–4.5% | 21% | Category dependent |
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
Buying a 25+ year American classic?
Belgium's O-plate oldtimer regime covers vehicles 25 years and older: simplified roadworthiness inspection, a low flat annual road tax, and affordable insurance. At 30 years the import itself drops to 0% duty and 6% VAT. We structure the import for whichever status your car qualifies for.
What We Ship to Belgium
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 Belgium'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 Belgium.
- 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 Belgium.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Belgium
| 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. → Belgium Routes
New York / New Jersey → Antwerp
10–14 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Baltimore, MD → Antwerp
11–15 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Antwerp
12–16 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Zeebrugge
16–21 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Belgium 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
10–14 days (East Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Antwerp · Zeebrugge.
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 Belgium. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Antwerp moves more roll-on/roll-off vehicle traffic than any port in Europe, and that density works directly in your favor: more weekly sailings to choose from, the continent's most competitive RoRo rates (shipping from about $1,150), and terminals built to discharge cars in volume. It's also within a day's trucking of France, Germany, and the Netherlands, so it doubles as an efficient entry point for onward EU delivery.
Standard cars pay the EU's 10% duty plus 21% Belgian VAT on CIF value. Motorcycles over 250cc are 6%, boats around 1.7%, all with 21% VAT. Classics over 30 years import at 0% duty with just 6% VAT — the lowest classic rate in Western Europe. We provide a full per-VIN landed cost so you can compare Belgium against neighboring EU entry points.
The O-plate oldtimer regime covers vehicles 25 years and older: simplified roadworthiness inspection, a low flat annual road tax, and affordable insurance. At 30 years the import itself also drops to 0% duty and 6% VAT. So a 25–29 year old American car still benefits from cheap running costs, and once it crosses 30 you get the full import break too. We structure the import for whichever status your car qualifies for.
Yes. A car cleared into free circulation at Antwerp is in the EU customs union and can be trucked onward to Germany, France, the Netherlands, or Luxembourg without further duty. Antwerp's cheap RoRo space often makes it the smartest entry even when your final address is across a border. We can also keep the unit in transit to clear at its final country — we'll advise which is cheaper.
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