Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Italy
Weekly service to Genoa and La Spezia, with Civitavecchia covering Rome and the center. Expert handling of Italian registration and ASI historic certification for American classics at 0% duty.
Italy at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,300+
- Ocean transit
- 12–16 days (East Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Genoa · La Spezia · Civitavecchia
- Import duty + VAT
- 10% + 22% VAT (cars)
- Classic cars 30+ yrs
- 0% duty + 10% VAT
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Italy: What You Need to Know
Genoa and La Spezia are Italy's principal Tyrrhenian container gateways, both receiving weekly U.S. East Coast services, while Civitavecchia — the port of Rome — adds a convenient option for central Italy. Standard imports pay 10% EU duty plus Italy's 22% VAT, followed by registration through the Motorizzazione Civile. Homologation of U.S.-spec vehicles is well established here, supported by a network of agencies experienced with American models.
Italy's collector culture runs deep, and the tax code follows: classics over 30 years import at 0% duty with a reduced 10% VAT, and an ASI certificate (Automotoclub Storico Italiano) unlocks historic registration with lower road tax and insurance. American icons — especially 1960s convertibles and muscle cars — trade at strong premiums in Milan and Rome auctions, making Italy a steady lane for collector consignments from U.S. estates.
Because so much of the Italy lane is collector cars, we default to enclosed-container service rather than RoRo for anything with real value — Italian buyers and the ASI inspectors judge originality and condition closely, and a sealed container protects paint, brightwork, and interiors over the two-plus week Atlantic crossing. The choice of port is practical, not just geographic: Genoa and La Spezia give the fastest weekly East Coast service and the deepest bench of homologation agencies, while Civitavecchia makes sense when the car is headed for Rome or the south. We coordinate the homologation or ASI filing in parallel with the ocean leg so the paperwork is ready when the container lands, and we document each vehicle's condition before loading — useful both for the historic-registration file and for insurance on high-value consignments.
Key takeaway
Budget $1,300–$2,500 for shipping plus 10% duty and 22% VAT on modern cars. Classics over 30 years drop to 0% duty and 10% VAT, and ASI historic certification cuts ongoing road tax — get it filed at import time.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Italy
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Genoa | 12–16 days | Weekly |
| Baltimore, MD | La Spezia | 13–18 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Genoa | 14–19 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Genoa | 18–24 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Italy 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 Italy, 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 Italy 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 Italy
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) | $1,300 – $2,000 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,500 – $3,500 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,400 – $4,800 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | $1,600 – $2,700 | 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 Italy →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentItaly Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 10% | 22% | On CIF value + duty |
| Classic cars (30+ yrs, original) | 0% | 10% | ASI eases historic registration |
| Motorcycles (>250cc) | 6% | 22% | Smaller engines 8% |
| Boats & yachts | 1.7% | 22% | Type & length dependent |
| Heavy machinery | 0–4.5% | 22% | 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
Importing a classic to Italy?
Vehicles over 30 years old in original condition clear at 0% duty and 10% VAT under collector classification (HS 9705). We prepare the customs dossier and coordinate ASI certification so your car lands ready for historic plates.
What We Ship to Italy
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 Italy'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 Italy.
- 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 Italy.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Italy
| 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. → Italy Routes
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Italy 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
12–16 days (East Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Genoa · La Spezia · Civitavecchia.
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 Italy. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Genoa and La Spezia are Italy's principal Tyrrhenian container gateways, both with weekly U.S. East Coast services arriving in about 12–16 days, while Civitavecchia — the port of Rome — is convenient for central Italy. We route to whichever port is closest to your delivery city to keep inland trucking short, and confirm the schedule when we quote.
Standard cars pay the EU's 10% duty plus Italy's 22% VAT — the highest standard VAT among the major Western European lanes. Motorcycles over 250cc are 6% duty, boats around 1.7%, all with 22% VAT. Classics over 30 years drop to 0% duty and a reduced 10% VAT. We build a full landed-cost breakdown per VIN before you commit at auction.
ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italiano) certification recognizes a vehicle as historic, unlocking historic registration with lower road tax and insurance — on top of the 0% duty and reduced 10% VAT that 30+ year classics already enjoy. American icons, especially 1960s convertibles and muscle cars, trade at strong premiums in Milan and Rome. We coordinate the ASI dossier with the customs file so the car lands ready for historic plates.
Yes — collector consignments from U.S. estates are a steady part of our Italy lane. We ship valuable classics in dedicated or sole-use containers (not RoRo) with full all-risk marine insurance on the declared value, and coordinate ASI certification and historic carte registration on arrival. Tell us the vehicle and value and we'll structure protected, documented transport end to end.
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