Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Los Angeles, California to Frankfurt

Shipping a car from the USA to Europe generally costs between $1,000 and $4,000+ for the base ocean freight, depending on location (East Coast cheaper), vehicle size, and method (RORO vs. Container), but you must budget for significant extra destination fees, duties, and taxes (often $500-$1000+) in Europe, plus insurance, making total costs highly variable. Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) is usually cheapest but exposes your car, while enclosed containers offer more protection but cost more.

The cheapest way to ship a car internationally is generally Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO), where cars drive onto and off the ship, costing around $900-$2,500+ depending on destination, as it avoids packaging and crane costs. For more protection, Shared Container shipping (grouping cars) is the next cheapest, while booking through platforms like Shiply or using companies with price matching, like SGT Auto Transport or Sherpa, can also find competitive rates.

The duty-free import of a motor vehicle is permitted only if it has been registered in your name as its sole owner and personally used by yourself at your previous residence for at least 6 months before moving (for proof show registration certificate issued by your Department of Motor Vehicles).