Shipping a car from France to the USA can seem difficult and complicated, but CFR Rinkens can help. Below, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know before deciding to ship your vehicle.
from France to the USA?
Request a free online quote – Quotes are available online with a guaranteed response within 24 hours for car shipping and moving services the United States.
Want more information on car shipping services to the USA from France?
Read on below for our France to US Vehicle Shipping Checklist, Determining Vehicle Eligibility for Shipping to the USA, France to US Car Shipping Costs & Time Frame, France to US Vehicle Shipping Options, Ports Served in the US & France, and other details on Car Shipping from France to USA.
Here’s a rough breakdown of the process you’ll need to go through to ship your vehicle to the United States.
More information on the process of shipping a vehicle to the United States can be found here.
These questions and more will determine the costs to ship the vehicle to the US, whether your car is eligible for shipping to the United States, and finally, whether you will need to go through additional steps to make your vehicle eligible for shipping. In some cases, such as temporary import for racing or other purposes, the usual standards may not apply. CFR Rinkens can help you through the process of determining what will be required to import your vehicle.
Generally, if a vehicle already meets the requirements for shipping to the United States, it is because that model was originally designed for export and sale in the United States, or was manufactured in the United States for domestic sale. As such, nonconforming vehicles are required to be modified to meet all applicable FMVSS and EPA emissions standards.
The undercarriage of your car will need to be clean and free of foreign soil. Therefore, you will need to have the exterior of your vehicle steam-sprayed or otherwise thoroughly cleaned before shipment to the United States.
A nonconforming car may be shipped from France to the United States under certain conditions, such as re-importing a previously exported vehicle, shipping a vehicle for personal use not exceeding one year, shipping a vehicle as a member of foreign armed forces, diplomatic personnel, or other exceptions authorized by the US State Department, bringing a vehicle into the country for testing, demonstration, or competition, or other special circumstances. CFR Rinkens can help you identify if your vehicle falls into one of these categories for Car Shipping from France to USA.
Using a baseline of a compact car being shipped using the roll-on/roll-off method from the Port of Marseilles to the Port of Los Angeles, our estimate for Car Shipping from France to USA starts at a cost of $1,700 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 14 – 28 days.
However, the cost to ship a car to United States can vary according to factors such as the model and make of your vehicle, your current location, the nearest departure port in France, your shipping method of choice, availability of your chosen services and your final destination. Additionally, you’ll need to consider costs such as storage, cleaning, other vendor fees, and American taxes & duties.
To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to the United States, fill out our free quick quote form. We guarantee a response within 24 hours.
Car Shipping from France to USA can be performed using a shared container, a sole container or a roll-on/roll-off service.
Roll-On/Roll-Off – Vehicles are loaded onto a ship that contains a cargo area built like a very big parking garage. This option tends to be cheaper as other than the shipping charge, you are required to pay only port charges and customs clearance charges.
Transits tend to be faster than with the shared container service as the vessels depart on a weekly basis.
Shared Container Service – This method requires multiple vehicles to be loaded into one container. While there are more fees involved than with the roll-on/roll-off shipping method, due to the fact that the container must be processed, these charges are shared between the various clients who are using the container. Such fees include a trucking charge, terminal handling charge, customs clearance and charge for unloading the vehicles at a bonded warehouse.
One disadvantage is that you might face a longer wait before your vehicle can be shipped, as the container must have a full load before departing.
Full Container Load – You have the added benefit of a fully enclosed container, just like our shared container service, but the 20 ft container is dedicated solely to your vehicle. Since there’s no wait for other cars to be loaded, you’ll enjoy a shorter wait before departure. However, additional terminal handling fees and other charges won’t be shared with other vehicle owners.
Our most selective customers prefer the high level of safety and expediency offered by our dedicated container shipping. When your vehicle is received, we’ll photograph and document the vehicle’s condition as well as the loading process. Your vehicle will be loaded using our modern steel loading system, which is not only environmentally friendly, but doesn’t rely on outdated wood ramps and nails, which can damage your vehicle.
After your car is loaded onto your own private container, it is locked and secured. This will ensure no one gains access to your car before reaching its final destination. Since the vehicle is fully enclosed in a secure container, we invite our clients to pack and transport other items inside the vehicle. However, everything must be loaded securely, as we won’t be responsible for loss or damage of any kind.
Once your vehicle reaches its destination in the States, our agent will unlock the container, document the vehicle’s condition and photograph the entire unloading process. Every step of the shipping process is not only handled carefully but documented for your peace of mind.
Compared to our roll-on/roll-off shipping option, enclosed container shipping is not only more secure, but much faster due to frequent departures.
Sourcing Vehicles – Overseas clients who wish to buy a vehicle can turn to our long list of car buyers developed in our nearly thirty years of experience in the auto industry, who can find and purchase vehicles for an additional fee or commission.
Before shipping your vehicle to the United States, the undercarriage must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods.
CFR Rinkens can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement.
We do not recommend washing the interior of the vehicle as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient.
Your imported vehicle should bear the International Registration Marker, and you may wish to consider acquiring an International Driving Permit (IDP) if you are a foreign national. France is a party to the Convention on International Road Traffic of 1949, meaning that French citizens can acquire an IDP and use their driver’s license in the United States.
If you are a motorist visiting the United States as a tourist from a country that has ratified the Convention on International Road Traffic of 1949 (France has), you may drive in the US for one year with your own national license plates (registration tags) on your vehicle and with your own personal drivers’ license.