Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Munich to San Diego, California

Expect 4-8 weeks total for sea freight car shipping Germany to USA in 2025. Sea: 14-21 days ocean transit + 7-14 days customs/inland. Air: 3-7 days total, but rare for cars.

The duty rate for vehicles manufactured abroad and imported to the US are as follows: 2.5% for automobiles. 2.5% for motorcycles and auto parts. 25% for pickup trucks due to the Chicken Tax.

Generally, driving is cheaper than shipping for shorter distances, but the cost difference shrinks and shipping can become a better value for long hauls when factoring in hidden costs like wear & tear, time, and your own travel expenses (lodging, food). For very long trips (1000+ miles) or unreliable cars, the added costs of driving (depreciation, maintenance, fatigue) might make shipping more economical overall, say Move.org and SoFi.