Shipping your car to Europe: landed taxes and road-legal conversion, calculated.

Switch rear turn signals to amber

US cars use red rear indicators, but Europe requires amber (orange) turn signals. A separate rear red fog lamp with a dashboard switch must also be fitted.

Fix the headlight beam

US headlights throw light the wrong way for driving on the right in Europe. The beam needs reshaping or the units replacing so you don't dazzle oncoming drivers.

Convert the speedometer to km/h

Your speedo must clearly show km/h. The car's diagnostic system also needs to talk to European test equipment — some US trucks and SUVs trip up here on software grounds.

🇺🇸 United States

Imported vehicles must meet EPA emissions and DOT safety standards; cars 25 years or older are exempt from both. Conforming a modern foreign-spec car is expensive, so most movers sell before shipping and buy stateside.

🇸🇬 Singapore

Importing a car is exceptionally expensive: a Certificate of Entitlement must be bid for, on top of registration fees and excise duty, and imported used cars over three years old cannot normally be registered. Singapore drives on the left and public transport is excellent, so most arrivals do not ship a vehicle.

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Vehicle import is possible but is subject to specification, age and testing rules set at emirate level, so confirm eligibility before shipping. Many arrivals buy or lease locally instead.

🇲🇽 Mexico

Foreign-plated cars enter on a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) from Banjercito, tied to your residency card. Permanent import requires NOM compliance and is restricted by model year.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Vehicle import is subject to age, specification and inspection requirements set by ZATCA and the standards authority. Confirm eligibility before shipping; many arrivals buy locally.

🇭🇰 Hong Kong

Vehicles can be imported but First Registration Tax on the taxable value is substantial, parking is scarce and expensive, and Hong Kong drives on the left. Most residents rely on the MTR, buses and taxis instead.

🇮🇳 India

Private import of used vehicles is tightly restricted and heavily taxed, and specific conditions apply under the Transfer of Residence rules. Most arrivals buy locally; app-based cars and drivers are widely used.

🇶🇦 Qatar

Vehicle import is subject to age, specification and inspection requirements set by the authorities, so confirm eligibility before shipping. Many arrivals buy locally.

🇧🇷 Brazil

Brazil does not generally permit private import of used vehicles, and the exceptions are narrow. Plan to buy locally; import taxes on new vehicles are high.

🇿🇦 South Africa

Used-vehicle import is restricted and normally requires an ITAC import permit, with conditions that depend on your residence status. Most arrivals buy locally.

🇨🇦 Canada

Vehicles must clear the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) programme, pass a federal inspection and meet Transport Canada admissibility before provincial plating.

🇪🇬 Egypt

Private import of used vehicles is heavily restricted and taxed, with conditions that depend on your status. Most arrivals buy locally or rely on drivers and ride-hailing.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Register with DVLA within 14 days of arrival. Non-EU vehicles need an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test, headlamp conversion for left-hand traffic and a rear fog lamp on the offside.

🇲🇾 Malaysia

Malaysia drives on the left and applies an Approved Permit requirement plus high duty and excise on imported cars, so shipping a vehicle is rarely economic. Most arrivals buy or lease locally.

🇻🇳 Vietnam

Private import of used vehicles is heavily restricted and taxed. Most residents use motorbikes, ride-hailing or a car with a driver rather than shipping a vehicle.

🇩🇪 Germany

TÜV inspection plus Vollabnahme under §21 StVZO. Amber rear indicators, ECE-pattern headlights and a km/h speedometer are mandatory before registration at the Zulassungsstelle.

🇮🇩 Indonesia

Indonesia does not generally allow private import of used vehicles; permitted cases are narrow and permit-based. Buying locally is the normal route, and traffic in Jakarta makes a driver a common arrangement.

🇦🇺 Australia

Importing a car requires a Vehicle Import Approval from the Department of Infrastructure before shipping, plus steam cleaning for biosecurity and state compliance work on arrival.

🇵🇭 Philippines

Used-vehicle imports are tightly restricted and need prior authority; right-hand-drive vehicles cannot generally be registered. Most arrivals buy locally.

🇦🇷 Argentina

Private import of used vehicles by foreign residents is generally not permitted. Buying locally is the standard route, and Buenos Aires is well covered by subte, bus and rail.

🇨🇴 Colombia

Used-vehicle import is restricted and heavily taxed, so most arrivals buy locally. Bogotá and Medellín both have extensive mass-transit systems.

🇯🇵 Japan

Imported cars need JAI inspection and Shaken roadworthiness certification, plus proof of a registered parking space (Shako Shomeisho) before plating.

🇨🇱 Chile

Chile generally prohibits the import of used vehicles outside its free-trade zones, so almost all arrivals buy locally. Santiago has an extensive metro network.

🇫🇷 France

Cars not built to EU type approval require Réception à titre isolé (RTI) through DREAL: amber indicators, ECE R112 headlights, rear fog lamp and a km/h cluster — US-spec vehicles almost always need all four. Classics over 30 years old clear at 0% duty and 5.5% VAT.

🇰🇷 South Korea

Vehicles require emissions and safety certification from the Ministry of Environment and MOLIT before registration; older vehicles built to non-Korean standards, US-spec cars especially, often fail emissions testing.

🇹🇭 Thailand

Personal vehicle import is heavily taxed — combined duty, excise and VAT can exceed the value of the car. Most movers advise selling before departure.

🇮🇹 Italy

Import via Motorizzazione Civile with a nulla osta and collaudo inspection. Historic vehicles registered with ASI enjoy reduced rates; ZTL permits are required for delivery into historic centres.

🇪🇸 Spain

Vehicles must pass an ITV technical inspection and have amber indicators and European-spec headlights before registration; Impuesto de Matriculación then applies unless ToR relief is granted.

🇳🇱 Netherlands

RDW inspection plus BPM registration tax, which ToR relief can waive if the car was owned and used for 6+ months. Amber indicators and ECE headlights required.

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Form 13.20A at the border, then cantonal Strassenverkehrsamt inspection within one year. Duty is assessed by vehicle weight rather than value when relief does not apply.

🇮🇪 Ireland

Vehicle Registration Tax applies unless ToR relief is granted; the car must be registered at an NCT centre within 30 days. Right-hand traffic conversion of headlamps is required.

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Vehicles need entry certification through an approved inspection organisation, steam cleaning for biosecurity and compliance with NZ frontal impact standards.

🇸🇪 Sweden

Transportstyrelsen registration requires a Swedish origin inspection at Besiktning. Winter tyre rules apply from December to March.

🇵🇦 Panama

Pensionado holders may import a vehicle duty-free every two years. Other residents pay import duty plus 7% ITBMS on the assessed value.

🇵🇹 Portugal

Portugal's ISV vehicle tax is charged by engine size and CO2 unless ToR relief is granted; the car then passes an IMT technical inspection before registration. Vehicles over 30 years old are ISV-exempt.

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

Law 9986 allows duty-free import of up to two personal vehicles for qualifying residents. Outside the law, vehicle taxes run 50%–80% of assessed value.

🇪🇪 Estonia

Vehicles are registered with the Estonian Transport Administration (Transpordiamet). Estonia applies a registration fee and an annual motor vehicle tax, both of which depend on the vehicle's characteristics — check the current calculation with the Transport Administration or EMTA. Winter tyres are compulsory during the winter period.