Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Taiwan
Seaway Export ships from Savannah, Los Angeles / Long Beach, and other ports to Kaohsiung and Keelung in 13–40 days port to port, with weekly sailings on the main lane and rates from $1,500.
Taiwan's per-unit testing makes one-off car imports expensive — we'll show you the real math before you commit. Meanwhile, the machinery and equipment lane into Kaohsiung and Keelung is fast, cheap, and runs weekly.
Taiwan at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,500+
- Ocean transit
- 13–21 days (West Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Kaohsiung · Keelung (Taipei)
- Import duty + VAT
- 17.5% + 5% VAT + 25–30% commodity tax
- Machinery & equipment
- 0–5% duty, no testing wall
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Taiwan: What You Need to Know
Taiwan's vehicle taxes are manageable on paper — 17.5% import duty, 5% VAT, and a commodity tax of 25–30% — but the real cost driver is compliance: every imported vehicle model must pass Taiwan's emissions, noise, and safety certification, and for a one-off personal import those per-unit tests can add NT$300,000–600,000 (roughly $10,000–$20,000). That's why single-car imports usually only make sense for high-value collectibles or models with existing test reports we can piggyback on.
Industrial cargo faces none of that. Taiwan's manufacturing economy — semiconductors, electronics, precision tooling — imports U.S. machinery at 0–5% duty with 5% VAT and no per-unit testing wall. Kaohsiung is among the world's top container ports and serves the southern industrial zone, while Keelung covers greater Taipei. With 13–18 day transit from the West Coast and weekly sailings, this is one of the most efficient equipment lanes we operate in Asia.
Key takeaway
Car imports work out to roughly 50–55% in combined taxes plus $10,000–$20,000 in per-unit testing — viable for high-value classics, painful for ordinary cars. Machinery skips the testing entirely at 0–5% duty + 5% VAT, with 13–18 day West Coast transit.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Taiwan
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | Kaohsiung | 14–19 days | Weekly |
| Oakland, CA | Kaohsiung | 16–21 days | Weekly |
| Seattle / Tacoma | Keelung (Taipei) | 13–18 days | Bi-weekly |
| Houston, TX | Kaohsiung | 30–36 days | Bi-weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Kaohsiung | 32–40 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Taiwan 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 Taiwan, 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 Taiwan 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 Taiwan
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) | $1,500 – $2,200 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,600 – $3,700 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,500 – $5,000 | 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.
Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentTaiwan Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 17.5% | 5% | + commodity tax 25–30% |
| One-off personal imports | 17.5% | 5% | Per-unit testing adds $10–20k |
| Motorcycles (>250cc) | 18% | 5% | + commodity tax; testing applies |
| Machinery & equipment | 0–5% | 5% | No vehicle-style testing |
| Boats & yachts | 0–5% | 5% | Growing local yacht industry |
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
Is your model already certified in Taiwan?
If your vehicle's exact model and engine variant already holds Taiwanese test reports, you may be able to reference them instead of paying for full per-unit testing — cutting compliance costs dramatically. We check certification databases by VIN before you buy, so the testing surprise never happens.
What We Ship to Taiwan
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 Taiwan'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 Taiwan.
- 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 Taiwan.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Taiwan
| 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. → Taiwan Routes
Los Angeles / Long Beach → Kaohsiung
14–19 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Oakland, CA → Kaohsiung
16–21 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Seattle / Tacoma → Keelung (Taipei)
13–18 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Kaohsiung
32–40 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Taiwan 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
13–21 days (West Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Kaohsiung · Keelung (Taipei).
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 Taiwan. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
On paper the taxes are manageable — 17.5% duty, 5% VAT, and a 25–30% commodity tax, roughly 50–55% combined. The real cost driver is compliance: every imported model must pass Taiwan's emissions, noise, and safety certification, and for a one-off personal import those per-unit tests can add NT$300,000–600,000 (about $10,000–$20,000). We show you this math before you commit, not after.
Sometimes. If your vehicle's exact model and engine variant already holds Taiwanese test reports, you may be able to reference them instead of paying for full per-unit testing — which cuts compliance costs dramatically. We check certification databases by VIN before you buy, so the testing surprise never happens. This is why single-car imports usually only pencil out for high-value collectibles or already-certified models.
Far easier. Taiwan's manufacturing economy — semiconductors, electronics, precision tooling — imports U.S. machinery at just 0–5% duty with 5% VAT and no per-unit testing wall at all. Kaohsiung is among the world's top container ports and serves the southern industrial zone, while Keelung covers greater Taipei. With weekly sailings and 13–18 day West Coast transit, this is one of the most efficient equipment lanes we run in Asia.
About 13–21 days from the West Coast — among the fastest Asian lanes we run. We sail weekly from Los Angeles/Long Beach and Oakland to Kaohsiung, with biweekly Seattle/Tacoma service to Keelung (Taipei), and biweekly Houston (30–36 days) and Savannah (32–40 days) from the East. Kaohsiung serves the southern industrial zone; Keelung covers greater Taipei. We'll route to whichever port is closest to your delivery point.
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