Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Türkiye
Straight talk: Turkey is effectively closed to used-car imports. What works brilliantly is machinery, boats, and project cargo into Ambarlı, Mersin, and Izmir — plus bonded transit onward to the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Türkiye at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,600+
- Ocean transit
- 18–26 days (East Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Ambarlı · Mersin · Izmir
- Import duty + VAT
- Cars restricted · cargo + 20% VAT
- Best use of this lane
- Machinery, boats & transit
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Türkiye: What You Need to Know
Be clear about one thing up front: Turkey is effectively closed to used-car imports by private individuals. Punishing ÖTV excise rates — which can multiply a car's cost several times over — plus model-year restrictions make landing a used U.S. vehicle uneconomic in nearly every case, and we tell clients so before they spend a dollar. The lane that does work is excellent: U.S. machinery, project cargo, and boats for Turkey's construction, agricultural, and marine sectors.
Ambarlı outside Istanbul, Mersin on the south coast, and Izmir on the Aegean all take weekly U.S. container traffic, and Mersin doubles as a regional transit gateway: cargo bound for Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia can cross Turkey under customs transit without paying Turkish taxes at all. Boats and yachts are a growing niche of their own — Turkish marinas and boatyards actively buy U.S. hulls, and we load them cradled in containers or on flat racks.
Key takeaway
Do not plan a used-car import to Turkey — ÖTV excise and restrictions kill the economics for individuals. Do use this lane for machinery, boats, and project cargo at sensible duty plus 20% VAT, or as a bonded transit corridor to the Caucasus and Central Asia with no Turkish taxes.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Türkiye
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Ambarlı (Istanbul) | 18–26 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Mersin | 22–30 days | Weekly |
| Baltimore, MD | Ambarlı (Istanbul) | 19–27 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Izmir | 26–34 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Türkiye 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 Türkiye, 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 Türkiye 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 Türkiye
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) | $1,600 – $2,400 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,800 – $3,900 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,800 – $5,400 | 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 Türkiye →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentTürkiye Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used passenger cars | Restricted | — | Effectively closed to individuals |
| Heavy machinery | 0–10% | 20% | Category dependent |
| Boats & yachts | 0–5% | 20% | Active marina demand |
| Project & industrial cargo | Varies | 20% | Quoted per HS code |
| Transit to Caucasus / C. Asia | 0% | 0% | Bonded transit, no Turkish taxes |
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
Cargo bound past Turkey?
Mersin is one of the best land bridges to Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia: discharge there, stay under customs transit, and truck onward with zero Turkish taxes due. For machinery and vehicles headed to Tbilisi, Baku, or Almaty, this routing often beats the Poti alternative on schedule reliability.
What We Ship to Türkiye
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 Türkiye'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 Türkiye.
- 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 Türkiye.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Türkiye
| 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. → Türkiye Routes
New York / New Jersey → Ambarlı (Istanbul)
18–26 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Mersin
22–30 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Baltimore, MD → Ambarlı (Istanbul)
19–27 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Izmir
26–34 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Türkiye 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
18–26 days (East Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Ambarlı · Mersin · Izmir.
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 Türkiye. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Realistically, no. Turkey is effectively closed to used-car imports by private individuals — punishing ÖTV excise rates can multiply a car's cost several times over, and model-year restrictions add to the barrier, making a used U.S. vehicle uneconomic in nearly every case. We tell clients this before they spend a dollar. What does work brilliantly is machinery, boats, and project cargo.
Machinery, boats, and project cargo for Turkey's construction, agricultural, and marine sectors. Heavy machinery faces 0–10% duty plus 20% VAT, boats and yachts 0–5% — Turkish marinas and boatyards actively buy U.S. hulls, which we load cradled in containers or on flat racks. Ambarlı near Istanbul, Mersin on the south coast, and Izmir on the Aegean all take weekly U.S. container traffic.
Yes — Mersin is one of the best land bridges to Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia. Cargo bound for Tbilisi, Baku, or Almaty can discharge there, stay under customs transit, and truck onward without paying any Turkish taxes at all. For machinery and vehicles headed inland, this routing often beats the Poti alternative on schedule reliability. We quote the transit corridor side by side with direct options.
About 18–26 days from the East Coast — among the region's shorter transits. We sail weekly from New York/New Jersey and Baltimore to Ambarlı (Istanbul), from Savannah to Mersin, with biweekly service from Houston to Izmir (26–34 days). We route by cargo type and final destination, and for transit cargo we coordinate the bonded onward leg to the Caucasus or Central Asia.
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