Shipping Cost from Beijing to Paterson, New Jersey

Importing a car from China to the US involves significant costs beyond the car's price, including ocean freight (around $1,000-$3,000+), ~2.5-3% duty for vehicles (plus potentially 25% for trucks/SUVs), CBP fees, ISF/AMS filings, insurance, and domestic transport, with estimates often landing in the multi-thousand dollar range ( $2,750 - $3,350+ just for shared container shipping, plus duties/fees). The biggest hurdle is often the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), as most Chinese cars aren't compliant, requiring expensive modifications or falling under rare exceptions (like 25+ year old classics or specific modifications).

Budget: The shorter the distance, the more cost-effective it is to drive instead of ship your car. Regardless of the total distance, look at your total moving budget and how much you can afford to spend on car shipping services compared to a cross-country drive.

A vehicle must be imported as a nonconforming vehicle unless it bears the manufacturer's label certifying that it meets U.S. standards. If it is a nonconforming vehicle, the importer must contract with a DOT-registered importer (RI) to modify the vehicle and certify that it conforms to all applicable FMVSS.