Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from San Jose to Paris

Shipping a car from the USA to France costs roughly $1,000 to $2,500 for base ocean freight, depending on method ( RORO vs. container) and port, but expect total costs to reach $4,000 - $5,000+ after mandatory French taxes (20% VAT + duties, often 10%) and destination fees, plus optional insurance. Classic cars (30+ years old) have lower taxes (5.5% VAT), but all vehicles face significant fees.

Taxes and Import Duty Customs Duty : The EU and the USA have a trade agreement that generally allows for duty-free import of American-made cars into France. However, it's essential to confirm the specific regulations and rates with French customs at the time of import.

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.