Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Santiago to Barcelona

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.

The cheapest international car shipping method is usually Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo), which is ideal for operable cars, while shared container shipping offers a balance of cost and protection for higher-value vehicles, and platforms like uShip and Shiply use competitive bidding to find lower prices. Expect costs to vary widely based on destination, vehicle type, and current fuel prices, with RoRo often ranging from $900-$2500, but always compare quotes from specialized international shippers.

The amount to be paid at Customs is 10% of the Customs Duty on the market value of the vehicle, and in addition 21% VAT. The value of the vehicle is calculated with the tables of the BOE, where you can also obtain the market value (value at current date, not value of the new vehicle).