DE • International Shipping

Car Shipping &
Vehicle Export to Germany

Professional shipping services for cars, SUVs, heavy equipment, boats, and marine vessels to Germany. Expert customs clearance, comprehensive insurance, and door-to-door logistics solutions.

Vehicles
Heavy Equipment
Marine Vessels
Professional Shipping Services

Complete Export Solutions to Germany

Comprehensive shipping services for vehicles, heavy equipment, and marine vessels to Germany. Our expert team handles everything from documentation to final delivery with full customs clearance support.

Fully Insured Transport
On-Time Delivery
Expert Handling

Vehicle & Automotive Shipping

Cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, and all automotive exports

Sedans & Coupes
SUVs & Crossovers
Pickup Trucks
Luxury & Classic Cars
Motorcycles & ATVs

Specialized handling for Germany regulations and port requirements

Heavy Equipment & Machinery

Construction, industrial, and agricultural equipment transport

Construction Equipment
Industrial Machinery
Farm Equipment
Mining Equipment
Manufacturing Tools

Specialized handling for Germany regulations and port requirements

Marine & Boat Shipping

Boats, yachts, and marine vessel transportation services

Sailboats & Yachts
Powerboats & Speedboats
Fishing Boats
Personal Watercraft
Commercial Vessels

Specialized handling for Germany regulations and port requirements

Why Choose Our Germany Shipping Services?

Expert Customs Clearance:Complete documentation and regulatory compliance for Germany
Comprehensive Insurance:Full coverage protection for your valuable cargo
Door-to-Door Service:Complete logistics from pickup to final destination

Ready to Ship?

Get your personalized quote today

Major Ports & Infrastructure

Extensive rail network, automotive processing facilities, specialized heavy machinery terminals

Primary Ports

Port of Hamburg

Germany's largest port, 8.8M TEU, major automotive hub

Auto Hub

Port of Bremen/Bremerhaven

Automotive capital of Europe, BMW & Mercedes export hub

Auto Hub

Port of Wilhelmshaven

Germany's deepest port, container and automotive facilities

Auto Hub

Secondary Ports

Port of Duisburg

World's largest inland port, rail connections to China

Port of Lübeck

Baltic Sea gateway, Scandinavian connections

Port Specialties

Automotive exports, heavy machinery, precision equipment, chemical transport

Transit Times & Services

Comprehensive shipping options to Germany

Ocean Freight (US West Coast)

Container shipping from LA/Long Beach, Houston to Hamburg, Bremen

$$

22-28 days

Ocean Freight (US East Coast)

Container shipping from NY/NJ, Savannah to Hamburg, Bremen

$$

12-16 days

Automotive Shipping

Container vehicle shipping to Hamburg automotive terminal

$$$

14-21 days

Boat & Marine Vessel Shipping

Yacht and boat transport to German marina facilities

$$$

18-28 days

Heavy Machinery Shipping

Specialized equipment transport to German ports

$$$

18-25 days

Air Freight

Express cargo to Frankfurt, Munich airports

$$$$

2-4 days

Transit Time Factors

Seasonal weather, Rhine River conditions, EU customs procedures, Atlantic routing

Routing & Connections

Direct Atlantic services from US East Coast, transatlantic container lines

Service Levels
$ Economy
$$ Standard
$$$ Premium
$$$$ Express

Required Documentation

Complete documentation requirements for Germany

General Requirements

EUR.1 Movement Certificate
Commercial Invoice (German/English)
Packing List (Detailed)
Transport Document (CMR/AWB/B/L)
CE Marking Certificate
REACH Registration (Chemicals)
EORI Number Registration

Automotive Exports

EC Type Approval Certificate
Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
End-of-Life Vehicle Certificate
Registration Document
Insurance Certificate
Emissions Certificate (Euro 6)

Heavy Machinery & Equipment

CE Marking Declaration
Technical File Documentation
User Manual (German)
Risk Assessment Report
Machinery Directive Compliance
Noise Emission Declaration

Important Tips

All machinery must comply with EU Machinery Directive. REACH registration mandatory for chemicals. German language documentation preferred for technical equipment.

Processing Time

1-3 business days within EU, 3-7 days for third countries

Customs & Duties Information

Complete customs procedures for Germany

Customs Procedures

1
EORI Registration
2
Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)
3
Import Declaration (SAD)
4
VAT and Duty Payment
5
Release from Customs

Duty Rates by Category

Automotive10% (EU rate, varies by origin)
Heavy Machinery0% - 8% (depending on classification)
General Cargo0% - 17% (based on HS code)

VAT/Sales Tax

19% VAT on CIF value plus duties

Special Requirements

CE marking for machinery, REACH compliance for chemicals, energy labeling for appliances

Clearance Time

1-2 days within EU, 2-5 days for third countries

Broker Requirements

Customs representative recommended for complex shipments

Shipping Solutions for Germany

Automotive export hub with specialized handling
Heavy machinery transport with technical expertise
EU customs clearance and distribution
Intermodal rail connections throughout Europe
Chemical and hazardous cargo certified handling
Precision equipment transport with climate control

Inland Transportation & Distribution

Extensive European distribution network with rail, road, and barge connections. Specialized heavy-haul transport for industrial machinery, automotive carrier services for vehicle distribution, and connections to major industrial centers including the Ruhr Valley, Bavaria, and automotive manufacturing hubs.

Specialized Services

  • • Heavy-haul transport for oversized equipment
  • • Automotive carrier services
  • • Temperature-controlled transport
  • • Real-time GPS tracking and updates

Pricing & Cost Considerations

EU-competitive pricing with no hidden fees. Container shipping from $1800-4200 per TEU depending on routing. Automotive transport from €1200-3800 per vehicle. Project cargo and heavy machinery quoted individually. INCO terms flexibility with DDP, DAP, and FOB options.

What's Included

  • • Ocean/air freight charges
  • • Terminal handling charges
  • • Documentation and customs support
  • • Basic cargo insurance

Additional Services

  • • Inland transportation
  • • Warehouse storage
  • • Cargo inspection services
  • • Extended insurance coverage

Why Choose Seaway Export for Germany

Expert Knowledge

Deep understanding of Germany regulations, customs procedures, and market requirements

Local Partnerships

Established network of trusted agents and partners throughout Germany

Specialized Services

Tailored solutions for automotive, heavy machinery, and specialized cargo requirements

Shipping Guide: How to Ship Vehicles & Equipment to Germany

Shipping cars, SUVs, trucks, boats, and heavy equipment to Germany requires a logistics partner who understands both U.S. export procedures and local import regulations. At Seaway Export, we combine port-to-port ocean freight with inland trucking, customs coordination, and documentation support so your vehicles and machinery arrive safely and on schedule.

Vehicle & Car Shipping Options

Most shippers moving personal vehicles or dealer inventory to Germany choose either container shipping or consolidated service. Container shipping provides the highest protection for high-value cars, classic vehicles, and SUVs, while consolidated or shared-container service can reduce overall cost on standard units. Our team advises you on the best loading method for your vehicle type, departure port, and final discharge location so you balance transit time, budget, and risk.

Heavy Equipment & Commercial Cargo

Commercial clients shipping heavy equipment and machinery to Germany benefit from route planning that takes into account weight, dimensions, and port capabilities. We routinely handle excavators, cranes, agricultural machinery, industrial lines, and project cargo, arranging lowboy trailers, breakbulk options when necessary, and secure lashing inside containers or on flat-racks. Every move is scoped in advance so port terminals, carriers, and inland partners are prepared for specialized handling.

Documentation & Customs Requirements

Successful shipments to Germany start with clean documentation. We help you prepare the bill of sale, export declaration, title paperwork, packing list, and any country-specific import approvals that may be required. Our documentation team checks that vehicle identification numbers and serial numbers match across documents, minimizing customs questions and avoiding costly delays at both the loading and discharge ports.

Inland Transportation & Final Delivery

Beyond ocean freight, Seaway coordinates inland transportation on both sides of the move. In the U.S. we can collect vehicles from auctions, dealerships, and yards, delivering them to the appropriate load port. In Germany, we work with vetted local agents to arrange onward trucking, yard storage when needed, and appointment-based delivery so your cargo moves quickly from port to final destination.

Practical Tips for Shipping to Germany

  • Plan your shipment several weeks in advance to secure space during peak seasons and to complete export and import paperwork.
  • Confirm local import taxes, duties, and age or emissions restrictions in advance so there are no surprises when cargo arrives.
  • Photograph vehicles and equipment at pickup and loading so you have a complete condition record throughout the move.
  • Group units together in the same container or sailing when possible to reduce per-unit costs and simplify customs clearance.
  • Work with a single logistics partner who can manage the full move from pickup through delivery instead of coordinating multiple providers yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about shipping to Germany. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.

Typical transit time for car shipping to Germany ranges from 3–8 weeks door-to-door. This includes inland transport to the U.S. port (3–7 days), vessel departure scheduling and loading (3–10 days), ocean transit (2–6 weeks depending on sailing route and port congestion), customs clearance at destination (2–7 days), and final inland delivery in Germany (2–5 days). Exact timing depends on the port pair, sailing frequency, and whether you choose container, consolidated, or RoRo-style service where available. We provide route-specific timing when you request a quote so you know what to expect before shipping.

To export a vehicle to Germany, you typically need the original title or proof of ownership, a bill of sale, a copy of your passport or government ID, a completed export declaration, and a detailed commercial invoice or packing list. Depending on regulations in Germany, you may also need import approval, emissions or age-compliance documentation, and tax ID information for the receiver. Our documentation team reviews your situation in advance and confirms the exact paperwork required so your shipment clears both U.S. export control and customs in Germany without unnecessary delays.

In many cases, you can place a reasonable amount of boxed personal items inside a containerized vehicle bound for Germany, as long as everything is properly declared on the paperwork and allowed by local customs. However, loose household goods, undeclared high‑value items, hazardous materials, and restricted products can create customs issues or fines. For RoRo or certain port rules, vehicles must be nearly empty. We advise you exactly what can and cannot travel in the vehicle for your route to Germany and can recommend separate consolidation services if you have a larger household shipment.

Import duties, taxes, and port charges in Germany depend on the type of vehicle or equipment, its age, engine size, customs value, and the receiver's status (individual, returning resident, or company). Some countries offer reduced duties for returning citizens or temporary imports; others apply luxury or environmental surcharges. We help you estimate landed costs by reviewing current rules for Germany, preparing accurate customs documentation, and coordinating with our local clearing agents so you understand all government and port fees before your cargo ships.

Yes. For shipments to Germany, we can usually provide complete door‑to‑door service that includes pickup anywhere in the U.S., export preparation and loading, ocean freight to the closest practical port, customs clearance, and inland delivery to your city or project site. In some regions of Germany we may recommend door‑to‑port service with trusted local partners handling the final leg. During quoting we confirm exactly which delivery options are available for your specific address so you can choose the level of service that fits your budget and timeline.

Marine cargo insurance is strongly recommended for shipments to Germany because standard carrier liability does not cover the full value of your vehicle or machinery. We arrange all‑risk coverage that protects against total loss, damage, theft, and general average from the time the unit is picked up until it is delivered at destination. Insurance is normally calculated as a small percentage of the declared value and can be included directly in your shipping quote for Germany, so you have one clear, all‑inclusive cost.

Ready to Ship to Germany?

Get a customized quote for your shipment to Germany with detailed pricing and transit options.

Car Shipping to Germany - Vehicle Export & Transport