Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Sweden
Home to Europe's most devoted American-car culture. Weekly sailings to Gothenburg — Scandinavia's largest port — with no separate registration tax and classics clearing at 0% duty plus 12% VAT.
Sweden at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,350+
- Ocean transit
- 11–15 days (East Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Gothenburg · Stockholm
- Import duty + VAT
- 10% + 25% VAT (cars)
- No registration tax
- Duty + VAT is the full bill
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Sweden: What You Need to Know
Sweden may love American cars more than America does — the raggare culture has imported, restored, and cruised U.S. classics for seventy years, and Sweden consistently ranks among the world's top per-capita importers of vintage American vehicles. Gothenburg, Scandinavia's largest port, receives weekly U.S. East Coast services, with Stockholm available for eastern deliveries. Both are deep-winter-capable ports that run reliably year-round.
Sweden's cost structure is refreshingly simple for the region: 10% EU duty and 25% VAT, with no separate registration tax — unlike Denmark, Norway, or Finland, what you pay at the border is the whole bill. Classics over 30 years drop to 0% duty and 12% VAT, and Sweden's relaxed besiktning rules for vehicles over 50 years make ownership easy. Transport Styrelsen registration of U.S. vehicles is routine, and we manage it end to end.
Key takeaway
Sweden has no registration tax — total import cost is just 10% duty + 25% VAT on modern cars, or 0% duty + 12% VAT on 30+ year classics. For collector imports, that predictability makes Sweden the most straightforward Nordic destination.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Sweden
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Gothenburg | 11–15 days | Weekly |
| Baltimore, MD | Gothenburg | 12–16 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Gothenburg | 13–18 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Gothenburg | 18–24 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Sweden 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 Sweden, 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 Sweden 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 Sweden
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) | $1,350 – $2,050 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,500 – $3,600 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,400 – $4,900 | 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 Sweden →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentSweden Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 10% | 25% | No separate registration tax |
| Classic cars (30+ yrs, original) | 0% | 12% | Collector classification HS 9705 |
| Motorcycles (>250cc) | 6% | 25% | Smaller engines 8% |
| Boats & yachts | 1.7% | 25% | Type & length dependent |
| Heavy machinery | 0–4.5% | 25% | 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
Moving to Sweden?
The flyttsak (personal property) relief lets you import one vehicle free of duty and VAT if you've lived outside the EU for 12+ months and owned and used the car for 6+ months. We prepare the Tullverket application alongside the shipment.
What We Ship to Sweden
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 Sweden'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 Sweden.
- 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 Sweden.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Sweden
| 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. → Sweden Routes
New York / New Jersey → Gothenburg
11–15 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Baltimore, MD → Gothenburg
12–16 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Gothenburg
13–18 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Gothenburg
18–24 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Sweden 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
11–15 days (East Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Gothenburg · Stockholm.
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 Sweden. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Sweden may love American cars more than America does — the raggare culture has imported, restored, and cruised U.S. classics for seventy years, and Sweden consistently ranks among the world's top per-capita importers of vintage American vehicles. Gothenburg, Scandinavia's largest port, receives weekly U.S. East Coast services, with Stockholm for eastern deliveries; both run reliably year-round.
Sweden's cost structure is refreshingly simple for the region: 10% EU duty and 25% VAT, with no separate registration tax — unlike Denmark, Norway, or Finland, what you pay at the border is the whole bill. Classics over 30 years drop to 0% duty and 12% VAT. That predictability makes Sweden the most straightforward Nordic destination, and we still confirm the exact landed cost per VIN.
Registration of U.S. vehicles through Transportstyrelsen is routine, and Sweden's relaxed besiktning (inspection) rules for vehicles over 50 years make ownership particularly easy. Classics over 30 years already import at 0% duty and 12% VAT. We manage the registration end to end, including any inspection or origin documentation your specific car needs.
Yes. Gothenburg is Scandinavia's largest port and a deep-winter-capable facility that runs reliably year-round, with weekly U.S. East Coast services arriving in about 11–15 days; Stockholm is available for eastern deliveries. So you can ship to Sweden in any season without worrying about ice closures. We confirm the sailing schedule and a route-specific timeline when we quote.
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