Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Shanghai to Columbus, Ohio

Importing a car from China to the U.S. involves significant costs, including shipping, U.S. Customs duties (potentially 2.5% or more), insurance, brokerage fees, and mandatory modifications/inspections for safety/emissions (FMVSS/EPA compliance), often making it complex and expensive, especially for non-U.S. spec vehicles, with total costs varying widely but easily adding thousands to tens of thousands of dollars over the purchase price due to regulatory hurdles for newer, non-compliant models.

Ocean freight from Shanghai to the USA takes 15 to 40 days (port-to-port), depending on the type of load (FCL or LCL) and the port of arrival – West Coast is generally faster to reach from China than East Coast ports. Air freight is much faster, with expedited options ranging from 1 to 3 days.

LCL (Less than Container Load) Costs For smaller shipments, LCL is more cost-effective. Rates are usually calculated by cubic meters, starting around $50–$80 per CBM. However, additional handling fees can make LCL less predictable than FCL.