Importing a car from the USA. From the American seller to Brescia.
We arrange the import of cars and motorcycles from the United States: muscle cars, pick-ups, off-road vehicles, classic cars and recent vehicles. In the USA we have our own office with Dalè staff; in Italy our in-house customs department handles clearance.
Answers to the most common questions.
Do you also handle the purchase of the car in the United States?
No, the purchase remains with you. We step in afterwards: collection from the seller, transport to the port, US export formalities, the sea voyage, customs clearance in Italy and delivery to the address you give us.
Which documents are needed to import a car from the USA?
You need the original Certificate of Title, free of liens and in the seller's name, the invoice or bill of sale, proof of payment and your identity document with Italian tax code. With these documents we prepare the import declaration.
How much duty and VAT is payable on an American car?
Duty and VAT are calculated on the value of the car plus transport and insurance. The rates depend on the type of vehicle and its customs classification: we check them with you before the purchase, on the vehicle you have chosen.
Do classic cars get different customs treatment?
Yes, vehicles recognised as collectors' items of historical interest receive more favourable treatment. As a rule they must be at least thirty years old, in original condition and of a model no longer in production. Recognition must be documented.
Do you handle registration in Italy?
No, registration remains with you or your vehicle registration agency. With clearance we hand you the customs entry, the document proving that duties have been paid and which is needed to obtain Italian plates.
How do you import a car from the United States?
What we do and what remains with you
Importing a car from the United States means lining up three jobs: transport, customs and registration in Italy. Dalè takes care of the first two: collection from the seller, transfer to the port, US export formalities, the sea voyage, customs clearance and delivery. Buying the vehicle and registering it with Italian plates remain with you or with the vehicle registration agency you trust. We tell you from the start which documents are needed at each stage.
Before you buy: three checks
The first concerns the Certificate of Title, the American ownership document: it must be the original, in the seller's name and free of liens in favour of banks or finance companies, otherwise the car cannot leave the country. The second is the vehicle's history: titles marked salvage or rebuilt indicate a serious accident and complicate registration. The third is to find out whether that model can be registered in Italy and with what modifications: ask whoever will handle the paperwork, before you pay.
From the seller to the American port
After the purchase we arrange collection from the dealer, the private seller or the auction house, in whichever state the car is located, and the transfer by lorry to the port of loading. Our office in the United States, with Dalè staff, follows the collection, checks the documents and handles export formalities with US customs, which verifies the title before loading. On collection the vehicle is photographed, so you know the condition in which it left.
In a container or on a ro-ro vessel
In a container the car travels enclosed and secured, on its own in a 20-foot unit or together with other cars in a 40-foot unit, which shares the freight cost between several vehicles. It is the usual choice for classic and valuable cars, and allows spare parts to be loaded too. On ro-ro vessels the vehicle drives on board: this suits running vehicles and pick-ups or motorhomes too large for a container. We advise on the option best suited to the vehicle and the port of departure.
Customs clearance in Italy
On arrival the car must be declared to customs: our in-house customs department, in Brescia, lodges the import declaration. Duty and VAT are calculated on the value of the car plus transport and insurance, which is why the invoice or bill of sale and proof of payment are needed. The rates depend on the type of vehicle and its customs classification: we check them with you before the purchase, so you know the overall cost in advance.
Classic cars and collector vehicles
European customs rules grant more favourable treatment to vehicles recognised as collectors' items of historical interest: as a rule they must be at least thirty years old, in original condition, without substantial modifications, and of a model no longer in production. Recognition is not automatic and is based on documents and photographs. We prepare the file with you, gathering what demonstrates the age, originality and condition of the vehicle.
After customs: towards registration
With clearance you receive the customs entry, the document proving that duties have been paid and which is needed to register the car in Italy. From here the file passes to you or to your agency: technical check, any adjustments to lights and instruments, inspection and plates. For historic cars there are dedicated routes through the recognised registers. Until then the vehicle cannot be driven: we deliver it by lorry to the address you give us.
Motorcycles, pick-ups, motorhomes and parts
The same process applies to motorcycles, which travel in a cage or crate, to pick-ups, off-road vehicles and motorhomes, and to competition vehicles. From the United States we also import spare parts, engines and accessories, on their own or together with the car. Used engines, gearboxes and parts must be drained of fluids; batteries and airbags are dangerous goods and follow their own rules. Always tell us what is travelling inside the vehicle or alongside it: it must be declared to customs.
