Shipping your dream American car from the USA to Europe doesn’t seem easy for and untrained eye. You need to find a vehicle first, if you are a buyer. Then you need to organize the whole trip.
Are moving to spend several years on contract in Paris? Do you just simply want to spend couple of months traveling across France? You need professional service to help you out with all the details. You also need to compare car shipping prices.
Find out below what to expect when shipping your vehicle from the USA to France.
Short summary of car shipping to the France
Cost of car shipping from Los Angeles to Le Havre starts at $1200, in a shared container. There are additional costs, e.g. of domestic transportation or insurance. Getting a vehicle to Europe takes between four and seven weeks. The factors are the vessel schedule and your calendar. Your participation in the process greatly increase chances of the overall success.
Car shipping to France is popular among those who relocate to France or live there. Ports in the Netherlands or in Germany are more popular vehicle destinations. It is due to lower prices and preferable tax conditions.
In need, however, there is of course and option to transport a car or a motorbike to Paris, Le Havre, Nantes, Lyon, Fos Sur Mer or Marseille. From the ports you can easily arrange domestic transportation or just drive a car yourself.
How expensive is car shipping to France?
Let’s lok at the options when it comes to overseas car shipping. The popular origins, such as New York (or other big city on the East Coast), have roll on – roll off option. Otherwise, for example Houston is a starting point, or even farther, Los Angeles or San Francisco, shipping in a container or sharing a container is the most popular way.
Transport your vehicle in a container
Shipping your car in a 20′, 40′ or 45′ container is a popular way of moving a vehicle. Sharing a container reduces the final price. Final price is split among owners of all cars fitted into the container.
Ro-Ro to France
In roll on – roll off service you don’t have to load the vehicle into the container. Just drive into the vessel instead and drive out at the destination. Such services are available only to the most popular ports of Europe.
How much does the shipping car cost?
Cost of transportation depends on many factors. What do we need to consider before calculating the final price?
- freight,
- documentation fee,
- any domestic transport to the shipping company,
- storage,
- delivery to the port (may be included in the freight price),
- origin port fees (may be included in the freight price),
- taxes,
- additional fees,
- cleaning (some countries require it, especially for overseas cargo),
- import processing,
- duties,
- customs,
- destination port fees,
- logistic service providers fees,
- optional insurance.
Please fill out the form at the bottom of the page to get quick shipping quote. It depends on many aspects, so we need some general information about your shippment!

How much it takes to ship a car from Los Angeles to France?
Statistically, it is 4-7 weeks from delivery of the car to the shipping agent, to have it released or delivered to your door.
What documents are needed for vehicle shipping?
The most important documents for car shipping are:
- The Title (registration documents),
- Bill of Sale,
- Copy of owner’s passport,
- Proof of address in the States.
There are some other documents. For example, you would need a power of attorney for your shipping agent to represent you and prepare documentation.
What to comply with at the destination in France?
What needs to be taken care of at the destination? Most important are complying with local tax law and delivering import documents. If you want to drive the car from the port, you need to take care of the insurance and proper driving documents, such as international driving license. Sometimes you have to manage parking or storage costs, if delivery takes more time.
Take with you spare auto keys to the port. Remember, you had to leave one set with the shipping company. Don’t forget vehicle registration or other car documents you have. You will also need to present your ID.
Get a free quote for car shipping to France
Final price of car shipping depends on many details. Please fill out the form below to get the free quote. E-mail address and destination are mandatory, but if you share any other information about your vehicle or cargo, it would let us prepare better offer.