Question 1

What is the customs value?

Accepted Answer

The price paid for the car plus the cost of transport and insurance to the EU border. Duty is charged on that figure; VAT is charged on the customs value plus the duty.

Question 2

Do I pay duty and VAT twice if the car enters the EU in Germany and is registered in Poland?

Accepted Answer

No. Duty and import VAT are paid once, at the point of entry into the EU customs territory; the car then moves freely to the country of registration, which charges its own registration taxes.

Question 3

Is shipping cheaper by container or RoRo?

Accepted Answer

A shared container consolidated by a broker is usually cheapest per car and is the norm for salvage cars that do not run. RoRo requires a running, driveable car and can be cheaper for a single vehicle to a major RoRo port such as Bremerhaven.

Question 4

How long does it take?

Accepted Answer

Brokers quote four to six weeks port to port for Northern Europe and six to ten weeks door to door for the Balkans and Bulgaria. Homologation adds weeks to months depending on the country.