International Car Shipping from the USA
Export your vehicle from the United States to Europe, Middle East, Caribbean, Australia, and worldwide — RoRo and container ocean freight coordinated with US-side door-to-port pickup.
International Car Shipping Snapshot
The Service
Export your vehicle from the United States — Europe, Middle East, Caribbean, Australia, and worldwide
RoRo and container ocean freight coordinated with US-side door-to-port inland transport. Customs documentation prep, port logistics, and foreign-side handoff.
International car shipping involves more moving parts than domestic transport. The vehicle leaves your address, gets transported by truck to a US port (New York, Newark, Baltimore, Miami, Jacksonville, Houston, Galveston, Los Angeles, Long Beach, or Oakland), goes through US export customs, gets loaded onto an ocean vessel (Roll-on/Roll-off or container), crosses an ocean, arrives at the destination port, clears import customs, and then either gets picked up by you or transported by inland freight to your final destination. The whole process takes 3–8 weeks depending on the destination and shipping method.
Here's where we fit. Navi handles the US-side inland transport directly — picking up your vehicle from any of the 50 states and getting it to the right port. We coordinate the ocean freight booking with established international ocean carriers (RoRo and container shipping). We prepare US export documentation. For foreign-side delivery, we coordinate with destination-country partners or hand you off to local logistics — depending on the country and your preferred arrangement. We don't operate ocean vessels or have our own customs brokerage in foreign countries, but we work with established partners who do.
This page covers the destinations we ship to most often, real pricing by country and shipping method, how RoRo and container shipping differ, US ports we use, what documentation you'll need to prepare, and an honest take on when international shipping isn't the right choice. For the highest-volume export corridors with deeper guidance, see our dedicated pages: US to UAE and US to Saudi Arabia.
RoRo & container · 10 US ports · Worldwide export
Method Decision
RoRo vs container shipping
The two main ocean freight methods — and when each makes sense
Destinations & Pricing
Where we ship — real cost and transit times by region
Pricing reflects a standard sedan, US East or West Coast port departure, ocean freight only
Ocean freight pricing only. Does not include US-side inland transport to the port (typically $300–$1,000 depending on origin), destination-country customs duties (varies by country, typically 5–25% of vehicle value), or destination-side inland delivery. Total all-in cost typically runs 50–80% above ocean freight alone. Specific quotes provided after we confirm origin city, vehicle type, and destination port.
What changes the international shipping price
- Destination country. Distance from the US, route popularity, and number of competing carriers all affect ocean freight pricing. Established corridors (US-Europe, US-UAE) price better than less-trafficked routes.
- Method. RoRo is cheapest. Shared container is mid-tier. Dedicated container is most expensive but most protective. Most economy shipments use RoRo or shared container.
- Vehicle size. Sedans price at baseline. SUVs add 10–20%. Trucks add 20–35%. Oversized vehicles may require dedicated containers.
- US port. East Coast ports (NYC, Baltimore) are cheaper for Europe and Middle East destinations. West Coast ports (LA, Oakland) for Asia and Australia. Gulf ports (Houston, Galveston) for South America and West Africa.
- Time of year. Ocean freight pricing fluctuates with global shipping demand. Q4 (October-December) is peak — prices rise 10–20% as global shipping demand peaks. Q1 (January-March) is the cheapest window.
- Inland transport. Door-to-port inland pickup adds $300–$1,000 depending on origin distance from the chosen port. Drop-off at the port directly saves this cost.
- Insurance. Marine insurance is optional but recommended for vehicles over $20K. Typical cost: 1.5–2.5% of vehicle value.
The Process
How international car shipping works
6 steps from quote to vehicle release at the destination port
Where We Ship
Destinations by region
Coverage across major export corridors with operational depth
For Canada and Mexico shipments, we use cross-border ground transport — not ocean freight. See state-to-state shipping for North American moves.
US Departure Ports
10 US ports we ship from
Choosing the right departure port saves money and transit time
Departure port choice matters. East Coast ports serve Europe, Middle East, and Africa most efficiently. West Coast ports handle Asia, Australia, and South America Pacific routes. Gulf ports cover South America Atlantic destinations and East Africa. We coordinate the right port based on your origin and destination — and the US-side inland transport quote reflects the chosen port.
We also coordinate departures from Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Boston, and Seattle for specific routes. If your origin is closer to one of those secondary ports, we'll quote the option.
Required Documentation
What you'll need before we can ship
US export and destination import paperwork — start gathering at the quote stage
US-Side Carrier Vetting
How we vet the US-side inland transport carrier
Same 6-point vetting we apply to every domestic load. Same standard for the inland leg of an international shipment.
The US-side inland transport leg of your international shipment uses the same vetted carrier network as all our domestic shipments. Same six-point vetting, same insurance verification, same FMCSA authority check. The ocean freight carrier is a separate established international shipping line that we book through — these carriers are similarly vetted by US Customs and international maritime regulators before they're allowed to operate the export routes.
Honest Take
When international shipping isn't the right call
Honest cases where buying locally or using a different service makes more sense
Ready to export your vehicle?
From $900 · RoRo & container · US-side pickup all 50 states
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to common international shipping questions
How much does it cost to ship a car overseas from the USA?
Ocean freight pricing starts around $900 for shared container shipments to Europe and runs up to $4,500+ for Australia or premium Middle East containers. Add $300–$1,000 for US-side inland transport to the port and 5–25% of vehicle value for destination country customs duties. Total all-in cost typically runs $2,000–$5,000 for most shipments — specific to destination, vehicle type, and origin city.
How long does international car shipping take?
Transit time varies by destination. Europe: 3–6 weeks. UAE (Jebel Ali): 20–35 days. Saudi Arabia (Dammam): 20–40 days. Qatar: 3–7 weeks. Oman: 4–8 weeks. Caribbean: 2–4 weeks. Australia: 5–8 weeks. South America: 4–7 weeks. These are ocean freight times — add 1–2 weeks for US-side inland transport, customs clearance on both ends, and destination delivery.
What's the difference between RoRo and container shipping?
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) is cheaper, faster, and used for standard operable vehicles. The vehicle is driven onto and off of a dedicated car-carrier ship — no personal items allowed. Container shipping is more expensive but allows non-running vehicles, personal items in the trunk, and provides full enclosed protection. Shared containers split the cost between multiple vehicles.
What documents do I need to ship a car overseas?
Original vehicle title (no lien, or with lien release letter), government-issued photo ID, bill of sale or purchase invoice, and export power of attorney (if applicable). Each destination country has additional import requirements — we flag specific requirements at booking based on your destination.
How far in advance should I book?
Book 2–3 weeks ahead for standard shipments. For specific vessel departures or seasonal high-demand windows (Q4 holiday shipping, Middle East peak relocation season), book 4–6 weeks ahead. Vessels run on fixed schedules — missing the booking window can push your shipment 1–2 weeks back.
Which US ports do you ship from?
Primary departure ports: New York/Newark, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Miami, Houston, Galveston, Los Angeles/Long Beach, and Oakland. We also coordinate departures from Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Boston, and Seattle for specific routes. We choose the right port based on your origin city and destination — saves money and transit time.
Can I ship a non-running vehicle overseas?
Yes, but only via container shipping. RoRo requires the vehicle to be driven onto the vessel, so non-running vehicles must use container shipping. Container shipping for non-running vehicles costs more than running vehicles because additional equipment is needed to load the car into the container.
Can I ship personal items in my car?
For container shipping, yes — many destinations allow personal items in the trunk or cargo area. For RoRo, no — personal items are not allowed under most ocean carrier policies. Each destination country also has rules about what items can be imported with a vehicle. We confirm specifics at booking.
Is my vehicle insured during international shipping?
The ocean carrier's basic liability covers limited damage during transit — typically up to $500 per vehicle on RoRo, more on container shipping. For full-value protection, marine insurance is strongly recommended for any vehicle worth over $20K. Marine insurance typically costs 1.5–2.5% of vehicle value and covers theft, damage, and total loss during transit.
Do you handle destination country customs clearance?
We handle US-side export customs clearance. For destination country import customs, we coordinate with local customs brokers in the destination country or you can self-arrange. Import duties, taxes, and clearance fees are paid by the recipient — we provide cost estimates based on destination country regulations at the quote stage.
Do I need to be present at the US port?
No. If you authorize Navi as your export agent via signed export power of attorney, we handle drop-off, document submission, and port logistics on your behalf. Most international shipments use this arrangement — you don't have to travel to the port.
Can I track my shipment?
Yes. US-side inland transport is tracked via Navi Track 360™. Once the vehicle is on the vessel, the ocean carrier provides a vessel tracking link and ETA updates. You'll receive booking confirmation, vessel departure notification, and destination arrival notification by email.