Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Iraq
Reconstruction demand pulls U.S. trucks and machinery into Umm Qasr at scale, while late-model cars clear under Iraq's age limits. When the south is congested, we route overland via Aqaba or Mersin instead.
Iraq at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $2,200+
- Ocean transit
- 38–48 days (East Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Umm Qasr · via Aqaba / Mersin
- Import duty + VAT
- ≈10–15% · age limits on cars
- Commercial lane
- No age cap on machinery
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Iraq: What You Need to Know
Iraq's reconstruction economy pulls in American trucks, machinery, and generators at serious scale, and Umm Qasr — the deep-water port outside Basra — is the country's main ocean gateway. Used passenger cars face age limits that restrict imports to recent model years, so the consumer lane skews late-model while the commercial lane runs wide open: dump trucks, excavators, water tankers, and pickups face no age cap and clear on commercial invoices.
Many shippers reach Iraq without ever touching Umm Qasr: cargo lands at Aqaba in Jordan or Mersin in Turkey and continues overland under bond into Iraq — frequently faster and more predictable for Baghdad, Erbil, and the northern and western provinces. We run both routings, quote them side by side, and recommend per shipment based on destination city, cargo type, and current border conditions.
Key takeaway
Check Iraq's age limit before buying a passenger car — only recent model years clear customs. Machinery and trucks face no such cap, and overland routing via Aqaba or Mersin often beats direct Umm Qasr service to Baghdad, Erbil, and the north.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Iraq
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Umm Qasr | 38–48 days | Bi-weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Umm Qasr | 40–50 days | Bi-weekly |
| New York / New Jersey | Aqaba → Baghdad | 35–45 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Umm Qasr | 44–54 days | Monthly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Iraq 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 Iraq, 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 Iraq 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 Iraq
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) | $2,200 – $3,000 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $3,400 – $4,700 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $4,600 – $6,400 | 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 Iraq →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentIraq Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars (recent years) | ≈10–15% | None | Age limit strictly enforced |
| Older passenger cars | Not admitted | — | Outside permitted model years |
| Trucks & commercial vehicles | ≈10–15% | None | Reconstruction-driven demand |
| Heavy machinery | ≈5–10% | None | No age cap on equipment |
| Overland transit (Aqaba / Mersin) | 0% | 0% | Cleared at Iraqi border |
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
Heading to Baghdad, Erbil, or the north?
Skip the southern bottleneck: we land your cargo at Aqaba or Mersin, keep it under bond with zero Jordanian or Turkish taxes, and truck it across the border for clearance at Iraqi customs. For northern destinations this routing routinely saves one to two weeks versus Umm Qasr.
What We Ship to Iraq
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 Iraq'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 Iraq.
- 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 Iraq.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Iraq
| 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. → Iraq Routes
New York / New Jersey → Umm Qasr
38–48 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Umm Qasr
40–50 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
New York / New Jersey → Aqaba → Baghdad
35–45 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Umm Qasr
44–54 days ocean transit · Monthly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Iraq 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
38–48 days (East Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Umm Qasr · via Aqaba / Mersin.
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 Iraq. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Yes — used passenger cars must be within recent model years, and the age limit is strictly enforced; older units outside the permitted window are not admitted. So check eligibility before buying a passenger car. Machinery and trucks face no such cap, which is why the commercial lane runs wide open. We confirm the current age rule per VIN before you commit.
Iraq's reconstruction economy pulls in American trucks, machinery, and generators at serious scale. Dump trucks, excavators, water tankers, and pickups face no age cap and clear on commercial invoices at roughly 5–15% duty with no VAT. It's the widest-open part of the lane. We handle the commercial documentation and route to Umm Qasr or overland via Aqaba/Mersin depending on your destination city.
It depends on the destination city. Umm Qasr near Basra is Iraq's main ocean gateway and best for the south. But for Baghdad, Erbil, and the northern and western provinces, landing at Aqaba in Jordan or Mersin in Turkey and trucking onward under bond — with no Jordanian or Turkish tax due — is frequently faster and more predictable, often saving one to two weeks. We quote both side by side.
Direct to Umm Qasr is about 38–48 days from the East Coast (biweekly from New York/New Jersey and Savannah, monthly from Houston). The overland alternative via Aqaba reaches Baghdad in roughly 35–45 days and runs weekly — frequently the better choice for northern destinations. We recommend per shipment based on your destination city, cargo type, and current border conditions.
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