Requirements Shipping a Car from the USA to The Netherlands

US military service members have different registration and documentation requirements from the military vehicle registration and customs office. Everyone else needs the original title, copy of the bill of sale, and passport or EIN for the US’s export requirements.

Shipping from the US to the Netherlands can get confusing as the Dutch import requirements vary. Different requirements depend on whether a European citizen is purchasing the car, you are moving or returning to the Netherlands, or the import is temporary. No matter which circumstance applies to you, we are here to help.

Military service members enjoy no taxes or duties on shipping from the US to the Netherlands. Temporary imports for visit-only use for up to six months in the Netherlands do not have to have Dutch registration or taxes. Vehicles such as moving goods have a BPM handling tax, but you can apply for an exemption under certain conditions. A VAT of 9% is required for vehicles purchased by European citizens. Reach out so we can determine what duties and taxes could apply to you.

Additional days are required for customs clearance and loading and unloading the transportation vessel on either side. The actual transit time from the West Coast is usually 30 days, and 15 days from the East Coast. This means the entire shipping process will be approximately 30-45 days from the East Coast and 45-60 days from the West Coast. Request a free quote for a cost estimate to ship your car from the US to the Netherlands.

While Dutch customs do not require an import approval for vehicles, we recommend contacting the Netherlands’ registration office to confirm your vehicle meets specification requirements, including emissions standards. In addition, inspection and approval will be required by the Dutch Motor Vehicle Authority.

Visits for less than six months allow imported vehicles to be driven with original license plates and registrations, but may require a roadworthy inspection. Imports that are not temporary require BPM declaration and payment unless you had an exemption approved by the Dutch Tax Authority. Once the Tax Service has received your passed import inspection and approved BPM declaration, the RDW will send you registration papers by mail.

When shipping from the US to the Netherlands, you can use any US departure port with Trans Global. We offer door-to-door delivery through customs, with common destinations including the Hague, Utrecht, Eindoven, Tilburg, Groningen, Breda, Apeldoorn, and Nijmegen.

Unless you need the expensive air freight, you’ll want to choose between our sea shipment options. Roll On Roll Off (RORO) has competitive rates with secure car placement on the floating parking garage vessel. Classic cars do not qualify for RORO, however, so we offer either shared or dedicated container shipping. We can go over options with you to see what best fits your needs for shipping from the US to the Netherlands. No matter how you ship, make sure you follow each requirement when preparing your vehicle for shipment overseas.