Shipping a Car from the USA to the Netherlands
Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and one of the smoothest places on the continent to land an American car. We handle the US trucking to the export port, and our FMC licensed sister company, Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. DBA Cassandra Logistics, books the Atlantic crossing.
How much does it cost to ship a car to the Netherlands?
Your price is two visible pieces: the US trucking leg, priced instantly in our calculator, and the ocean leg, where you see the ocean carrier's actual invoice with our commission capped at $100. On a lane this competitive, hidden freight markup is pure waste. We removed it.
What makes Rotterdam a smart EU entry point?
Speed and reach. Rotterdam clears cargo famously fast, and once EU duty and VAT are paid there, your car is in free circulation across the entire European Union. Plenty of our customers discharge in Rotterdam and register the car in Belgium, France, or Germany. If Germany itself is the destination, compare the Bremerhaven route too, since the two ports compete hard on this traffic.
What is BPM and why should I calculate it before shipping?
BPM is the Dutch registration tax, driven mostly by CO2 emissions and reduced by depreciation on used cars. For some American vehicles it is modest, for thirsty engines it can sting. It only applies if the car takes Dutch plates, which is exactly why the free-circulation option matters. Ten minutes with a Dutch customs broker before you ship saves surprises after.
How long is the crossing from the USA to Rotterdam?
Typically 12 to 20 days on the water from the US East Coast, one of the fastest ocean legs we book anywhere. With under a week of US trucking up front, a car can leave a New Jersey driveway and clear Rotterdam customs inside a month.
Which vehicles go container and which go RoRo on this lane?
Running daily drivers usually ride RoRo, since Rotterdam's vehicle deck service is frequent and cheap. Containers carry the classics, the non-runners, and anything valuable enough to want a sealed steel box for the crossing. We quote both against the next sailings and the US-side paperwork checklist is in our export documents guide.
Netherlands shipping questions
What is the BPM tax on cars imported into the Netherlands?
BPM is the Dutch private vehicle tax charged when a car is registered for Dutch roads, calculated largely on CO2 emissions, with depreciation reducing it for used cars. It applies on top of EU duty and VAT, so run the BPM math before committing to Dutch plates.
Can my car land in Rotterdam and be registered in another EU country?
Yes. Once EU duty and VAT are paid at Rotterdam, the car is in free circulation and can be registered in any EU member state under that country's rules. Many of our shipments clear in Rotterdam and drive on to Belgium, France, or beyond.
Is there RoRo service from the USA to Rotterdam?
Yes, regular RoRo and container sailings both connect the US East Coast to Rotterdam. Running vehicles usually ride RoRo for value, while high value and non-running cars go containerized.
How many days does a car take from the USA to Rotterdam?
Typically 12 to 20 days on the water from the US East Coast, among the fastest crossings we book, plus under a week of US trucking to the departure port.
Do Dutch classic car rules differ from the rest of the EU?
The EU collector rules on duty apply at import, and the Netherlands adds its own domestic breaks for genuinely old vehicles, including BPM relief. A Dutch customs broker can confirm exactly what your car's age unlocks before it sails.
Actual carrier invoice, our commission capped at $100. Price the US trucking leg in the calculator.
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