US • International Shipping

Car Shipping &
Vehicle Export to United States

Professional shipping services for cars, SUVs, heavy equipment, boats, and marine vessels to United States. Expert customs clearance, comprehensive insurance, and door-to-door logistics solutions.

Vehicles
Heavy Equipment
Marine Vessels
Professional Shipping Services

Complete Export Solutions to United States

Comprehensive shipping services for vehicles, heavy equipment, and marine vessels to United States. Our expert team handles everything from documentation to final delivery with full customs clearance support.

Fully Insured Transport
On-Time Delivery
Expert Handling

Vehicle & Automotive Shipping

Cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, and all automotive exports

Sedans & Coupes
SUVs & Crossovers
Pickup Trucks
Luxury & Classic Cars
Motorcycles & ATVs

Specialized handling for United States regulations and port requirements

Heavy Equipment & Machinery

Construction, industrial, and agricultural equipment transport

Construction Equipment
Industrial Machinery
Farm Equipment
Mining Equipment
Manufacturing Tools

Specialized handling for United States regulations and port requirements

Marine & Boat Shipping

Boats, yachts, and marine vessel transportation services

Sailboats & Yachts
Powerboats & Speedboats
Fishing Boats
Personal Watercraft
Commercial Vessels

Specialized handling for United States regulations and port requirements

Why Choose Our United States Shipping Services?

Expert Customs Clearance:Complete documentation and regulatory compliance for United States
Comprehensive Insurance:Full coverage protection for your valuable cargo
Door-to-Door Service:Complete logistics from pickup to final destination

Ready to Ship?

Get your personalized quote today

Major Ports & Infrastructure

Advanced intermodal facilities, extensive rail networks, automated terminals, dedicated automotive processing zones

Primary Ports

Port of Los Angeles

America's busiest container port, 10.7M TEU capacity

Auto Hub

Port of Long Beach

Green port leader, 8.1M TEU capacity

Auto Hub

Port of New York/New Jersey

East Coast gateway, 7.8M TEU capacity

Auto Hub

Port of Savannah

Fastest growing US port, 4.9M TEU capacity

Auto Hub

Secondary Ports

Port of Charleston

Southeast hub, automotive specialization

Auto Hub

Port of Houston

Energy capital, petrochemical hub

Port Specialties

Container shipping, automotive imports/exports, energy products, agricultural exports, heavy machinery

Transit Times & Services

Comprehensive shipping options to United States

Ocean Freight (US West Coast)

Container shipping from LA/Long Beach ports

$$

14-18 days

Ocean Freight (US East Coast)

Container shipping from NY/NJ, Savannah ports

$$

28-35 days

Automotive Shipping

Container vehicle shipping

$$$

21-28 days

Boat & Marine Vessel Shipping

Yacht, boat, and marine vessel transport

$$$

25-35 days

Air Freight

Express air cargo services

$$$$

3-5 days

Project Cargo

Heavy machinery and oversized equipment

$$$

21-35 days

Transit Time Factors

Port congestion, seasonal demand, customs clearance efficiency

Routing & Connections

Direct services from major Asian ports, transshipment via Panama Canal

Service Levels
$ Economy
$$ Standard
$$$ Premium
$$$$ Express

Required Documentation

Complete documentation requirements for United States

General Requirements

Bill of Lading (Original)
Commercial Invoice (3 copies)
Packing List (Detailed)
Certificate of Origin (Form A or GSP)
EPA/DOT Certificates (Vehicles)
FDA Compliance (Food/Pharma)
ISF Filing (Importer Security Filing)

Automotive Exports

EPA Emission Certificate
DOT Safety Certificate
NHTSA Compliance Letter
Title or MSO Document
Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin
Gas Guzzler Tax Form (if applicable)

Heavy Machinery & Equipment

EPA Engine Certificate
Technical Specifications
Operator's Manual
Parts Catalog
Warranty Information
CE Marking (if applicable)

Important Tips

Ensure all automotive imports meet EPA and DOT standards. ISF must be filed 24 hours before loading. FDA registration required for food/pharmaceutical products.

Processing Time

2-5 business days for standard clearance, expedited services available

Customs & Duties Information

Complete customs procedures for United States

Customs Procedures

1
ISF Filing (24 hours before loading)
2
Entry Summary Filing (ACE system)
3
CBP Examination (if selected)
4
Duty and Tax Payment
5
Release Authorization

Duty Rates by Category

Automotive2.5% - 25% (depending on origin and type)
Heavy Machinery0% - 8.5% (varies by category)
General Cargo0% - 37.5% (product dependent)

VAT/Sales Tax

No federal VAT, state sales tax varies (0-10%)

Special Requirements

EPA/DOT compliance for vehicles, FDA approval for food/pharmaceuticals, FCC certification for electronics

Clearance Time

1-3 days for standard cargo, 5-10 days if examination required

Broker Requirements

Licensed customs broker required for most commercial imports

Shipping Solutions for United States

Dedicated automotive terminals at major ports
Full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL) services
Project cargo handling for oversized machinery
Door-to-door delivery including inland transportation
Warehousing and distribution services
Real-time cargo tracking and monitoring

Inland Transportation & Distribution

Comprehensive inland transportation network covering all 50 states with specialized automotive carriers, heavy-haul trailers for oversized machinery, and intermodal rail connections. Our partnerships with leading trucking companies ensure efficient last-mile delivery to final destinations across the continental US, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Specialized Services

  • • Heavy-haul transport for oversized equipment
  • • Automotive carrier services
  • • Temperature-controlled transport
  • • Real-time GPS tracking and updates

Pricing & Cost Considerations

Competitive rates with transparent pricing structure. Automotive shipping starts from $800-2500 per vehicle depending on size and destination. Container rates from $1200-3500 per TEU. Heavy machinery quoted based on dimensions and weight. Volume discounts available for regular shippers.

What's Included

  • • Ocean/air freight charges
  • • Terminal handling charges
  • • Documentation and customs support
  • • Basic cargo insurance

Additional Services

  • • Inland transportation
  • • Warehouse storage
  • • Cargo inspection services
  • • Extended insurance coverage

Why Choose Seaway Export for United States

Expert Knowledge

Deep understanding of United States regulations, customs procedures, and market requirements

Local Partnerships

Established network of trusted agents and partners throughout United States

Specialized Services

Tailored solutions for automotive, heavy machinery, and specialized cargo requirements

Shipping Guide: How to Ship Vehicles & Equipment to United States

Shipping cars, SUVs, trucks, boats, and heavy equipment to United States requires a logistics partner who understands both U.S. export procedures and local import regulations. At Seaway Export, we combine port-to-port ocean freight with inland trucking, customs coordination, and documentation support so your vehicles and machinery arrive safely and on schedule.

Vehicle & Car Shipping Options

Most shippers moving personal vehicles or dealer inventory to United States choose either container shipping or consolidated service. Container shipping provides the highest protection for high-value cars, classic vehicles, and SUVs, while consolidated or shared-container service can reduce overall cost on standard units. Our team advises you on the best loading method for your vehicle type, departure port, and final discharge location so you balance transit time, budget, and risk.

Heavy Equipment & Commercial Cargo

Commercial clients shipping heavy equipment and machinery to United States benefit from route planning that takes into account weight, dimensions, and port capabilities. We routinely handle excavators, cranes, agricultural machinery, industrial lines, and project cargo, arranging lowboy trailers, breakbulk options when necessary, and secure lashing inside containers or on flat-racks. Every move is scoped in advance so port terminals, carriers, and inland partners are prepared for specialized handling.

Documentation & Customs Requirements

Successful shipments to United States start with clean documentation. We help you prepare the bill of sale, export declaration, title paperwork, packing list, and any country-specific import approvals that may be required. Our documentation team checks that vehicle identification numbers and serial numbers match across documents, minimizing customs questions and avoiding costly delays at both the loading and discharge ports.

Inland Transportation & Final Delivery

Beyond ocean freight, Seaway coordinates inland transportation on both sides of the move. In the U.S. we can collect vehicles from auctions, dealerships, and yards, delivering them to the appropriate load port. In United States, we work with vetted local agents to arrange onward trucking, yard storage when needed, and appointment-based delivery so your cargo moves quickly from port to final destination.

Practical Tips for Shipping to United States

  • Plan your shipment several weeks in advance to secure space during peak seasons and to complete export and import paperwork.
  • Confirm local import taxes, duties, and age or emissions restrictions in advance so there are no surprises when cargo arrives.
  • Photograph vehicles and equipment at pickup and loading so you have a complete condition record throughout the move.
  • Group units together in the same container or sailing when possible to reduce per-unit costs and simplify customs clearance.
  • Work with a single logistics partner who can manage the full move from pickup through delivery instead of coordinating multiple providers yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about shipping to United States. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.

Typical transit time for car shipping to United States ranges from 3–8 weeks door-to-door. This includes inland transport to the U.S. port (3–7 days), vessel departure scheduling and loading (3–10 days), ocean transit (2–6 weeks depending on sailing route and port congestion), customs clearance at destination (2–7 days), and final inland delivery in United States (2–5 days). Exact timing depends on the port pair, sailing frequency, and whether you choose container, consolidated, or RoRo-style service where available. We provide route-specific timing when you request a quote so you know what to expect before shipping.

To export a vehicle to United States, you typically need the original title or proof of ownership, a bill of sale, a copy of your passport or government ID, a completed export declaration, and a detailed commercial invoice or packing list. Depending on regulations in United States, you may also need import approval, emissions or age-compliance documentation, and tax ID information for the receiver. Our documentation team reviews your situation in advance and confirms the exact paperwork required so your shipment clears both U.S. export control and customs in United States without unnecessary delays.

In many cases, you can place a reasonable amount of boxed personal items inside a containerized vehicle bound for United States, as long as everything is properly declared on the paperwork and allowed by local customs. However, loose household goods, undeclared high‑value items, hazardous materials, and restricted products can create customs issues or fines. For RoRo or certain port rules, vehicles must be nearly empty. We advise you exactly what can and cannot travel in the vehicle for your route to United States and can recommend separate consolidation services if you have a larger household shipment.

Import duties, taxes, and port charges in United States depend on the type of vehicle or equipment, its age, engine size, customs value, and the receiver's status (individual, returning resident, or company). Some countries offer reduced duties for returning citizens or temporary imports; others apply luxury or environmental surcharges. We help you estimate landed costs by reviewing current rules for United States, preparing accurate customs documentation, and coordinating with our local clearing agents so you understand all government and port fees before your cargo ships.

Yes. For shipments to United States, we can usually provide complete door‑to‑door service that includes pickup anywhere in the U.S., export preparation and loading, ocean freight to the closest practical port, customs clearance, and inland delivery to your city or project site. In some regions of United States we may recommend door‑to‑port service with trusted local partners handling the final leg. During quoting we confirm exactly which delivery options are available for your specific address so you can choose the level of service that fits your budget and timeline.

Marine cargo insurance is strongly recommended for shipments to United States because standard carrier liability does not cover the full value of your vehicle or machinery. We arrange all‑risk coverage that protects against total loss, damage, theft, and general average from the time the unit is picked up until it is delivered at destination. Insurance is normally calculated as a small percentage of the declared value and can be included directly in your shipping quote for United States, so you have one clear, all‑inclusive cost.

Ready to Ship to United States?

Get a customized quote for your shipment to United States with detailed pricing and transit options.

Car Shipping to United States - Vehicle Export & Transport