Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to France
Seaway Export ships from Savannah, New York / New Jersey, and other ports to Le Havre and Marseille-Fos in 10–24 days port to port, with weekly sailings on the main lane and rates from $1,200.
Weekly sailings to Le Havre — France's vehicle gateway — and Marseille-Fos for the south. Full customs handling plus FFVE attestation support for classics importing at 0% duty and 5.5% VAT.
France at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,200+
- Ocean transit
- 10–14 days (East Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Le Havre · Marseille-Fos
- Import duty + VAT
- 10% + 20% VAT (cars)
- Classics with FFVE
- 0% duty + 5.5% VAT
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to France: What You Need to Know
Le Havre handles the overwhelming majority of France's transatlantic vehicle traffic, with weekly container and RoRo calls from the U.S. East Coast and direct rail links to Paris just two hours away. Marseille-Fos covers the south and the Mediterranean coast. Standard imports pay the EU's 10% duty plus 20% French VAT, then register through the carte grise system — a process our French-speaking team handles end to end.
France's classic-car path is among Europe's best documented: vehicles over 30 years old with an FFVE attestation (Fédération Française des Véhicules d'Époque) import at 0% duty and a reduced 5.5% VAT, then qualify for collector carte grise plates with relaxed inspection rules. American classics — Mustangs, Corvettes, vintage pickups — are a fixture of the French enthusiast scene, and we prepare the FFVE dossier as part of the shipment.
Key takeaway
Budget $1,200–$2,400 for shipping plus 10% duty and 20% VAT on modern cars. With an FFVE attestation, 30+ year classics drop to 0% duty and 5.5% VAT — a saving of roughly 25% of vehicle value versus a standard import.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to France
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Le Havre | 10–14 days | Weekly |
| Baltimore, MD | Le Havre | 11–15 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Le Havre | 12–16 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Marseille-Fos | 18–24 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to France 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 France, 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 France 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 France
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) | $1,200 – $1,900 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,400 – $3,400 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,200 – $4,600 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | $1,500 – $2,500 | 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.
Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentFrance Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 10% | 20% | On CIF value + duty |
| Classic cars (30+ yrs, FFVE) | 0% | 5.5% | FFVE attestation required |
| Motorcycles (>250cc) | 6% | 20% | Smaller engines 8% |
| Boats & yachts | 1.7% | 20% | Type & length dependent |
| Heavy machinery | 0–4.5% | 20% | 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
Relocating to France?
The déménagement (household removal) exemption lets you import one personal vehicle free of duty and VAT if you've owned and used it for 6+ months and are transferring residence from outside the EU. We assemble the customs file and carte grise paperwork.
What We Ship to France
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 France'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 France.
- 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 France.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to France
| 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. → France Routes
New York / New Jersey → Le Havre
10–14 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Baltimore, MD → Le Havre
11–15 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Le Havre
12–16 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Marseille-Fos
18–24 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to France 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 Le Havre · Marseille-Fos.
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 France. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Le Havre handles the overwhelming majority of France's transatlantic vehicle traffic, with weekly container and RoRo calls from the U.S. East Coast (about 10–14 days) and a direct rail link to Paris just two hours away. For the south of France and the Mediterranean coast, Marseille-Fos is the better gateway. We pick the port that minimizes inland delivery to your final address.
The FFVE (Fédération Française des Véhicules d'Époque) attestation is France's official recognition of a vehicle as a collector's item. With it, a car over 30 years old imports at 0% duty and a reduced 5.5% VAT instead of the standard 10% + 20%, then qualifies for a collector carte grise with relaxed inspection rules. On a typical American classic that's roughly a 25%-of-value saving — we prepare the FFVE dossier as part of the shipment.
After paying the 10% duty and 20% VAT, a modern U.S. car is registered through the carte grise system, which may require a conformity check or homologation step for vehicles without EU type approval. Classics with FFVE follow a simpler collector path. Our French-speaking team handles the documentation end to end so the registration goes through without back-and-forth.
Often yes. The déménagement (household removal) exemption lets you import one personal vehicle free of duty and VAT if you've owned and used it for at least 6 months and are transferring your residence from outside the EU. We assemble the customs file and the carte grise paperwork together so the exemption is recognized and the car can be plated promptly.
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