Inland Transport
Hauling the vehicle by trailer or car carrier from the auction lot to the port. Routes deep inside the USA can run hundreds of kilometers — we optimize them for cost and time.
The Vehicle's Journey
From the Auction Lot to Your Door
We divide the entire transport into three logical stages. We carry out and oversee each one, so you always know where your vehicle is.
Auction Lot (USA)
Pickup of the vehicle from the Manheim location and preparation for inland transport.
Export Port
Inland delivery to the port, consolidation, loading into a container or onto a RoRo vessel.
Europe & Poland
Unloading at the destination port, customs clearance and trailer delivery to the address you specify.
Scope of Service
Exactly What We Handle
Import logistics involves dozens of tasks that must mesh together in time. We take on their coordination, turning a complicated process into a single predictable order.
Cargo Consolidation
At the port terminal we combine vehicles heading the same way. A shared container (usually 2–4 cars) genuinely lowers the freight cost per vehicle.
Securing (Lashing)
The vehicle is immobilized with straps and chocks according to proper loading practice. Correct lashing eliminates shifting and scuffing as the ship rolls in the waves.
Ocean Freight
Booking space with reputable carriers — including Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM or ACL for RoRo. We select the most favorable voyage.
Export Documentation
Bill of Lading, the AES export filing and the ISF ("10+2"). A complete set of US-side paperwork is required for the legal and timely export of the vehicle.
Tracking and ETA
After loading you receive the container or Bill of Lading number. Using AIS data we show the vessel's position, route and estimated time of arrival at the destination port.
Loading and Unloading Ports
Main Ports on the Route from the USA to Europe
The choice of export port depends on the car's location, voyage availability and inland delivery cost. On the European side, the large transshipment hubs on the North Sea and the Baltic dominate.
Newark / New Jersey
East Coast, USAA key car-export port on the East Coast, handling a huge volume of vehicles from the New York metro area and the entire Northeast.
Savannah / Charleston
Southeast, USAFast-growing Southeast ports serving cars from Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas. A frequent cost-effective alternative to the northern ports.
Houston / Galveston
Gulf of Mexico, USAA natural departure point for vehicles from Texas and the central US states. Good ocean connections and competitive freight rates.
Los Angeles / Long Beach
West Coast, USAThe main port for cars from California and the West. The route to Europe can be longer (often via the Panama Canal), so it's arranged on a case-by-case basis.
Rotterdam
Netherlands — destination portEurope's largest seaport and our main import hub. Excellent car-terminal infrastructure and efficient customs clearance.
Bremerhaven / Gdynia
Germany / PolandBremerhaven is one of the world's largest car terminals, and Gdynia shortens the inland route within Poland. Alternatives chosen by voyage and cost.
Two Freight Methods
Container vs. RoRo
These are the two basic ways to ship a car across the ocean. Each has its advantages — the choice depends on the vehicle's value, its condition (running / non-running) and the budget.
Criterion
RoRo
Container
Protection from the Elements
Limited
Very high
Unit Cost
Lower
Higher (cheaper when shared)
Non-Running Cars
Security / Theft
Average
High (sealed)
Ability to Pack Parts
Recommendation for Premium Cars
Less often
Recommended
Approximate Timeline
How Long Each Stage Takes
The times below are estimates and depend on the port, the carrier and the season. They do, however, show a realistic time structure for the entire import.
1
Pickup and Delivery
Inland transport from the auction lot to the export port — usually 3 to 10 business days.
2
Loading
Consolidation, securing and booking the voyage. The wait to sail is usually 5–14 days.
3
Ocean Voyage
The Atlantic crossing to the destination port — roughly 14–30 days depending on the route.
4
Port in Europe
Unloading, customs clearance and domestic transport to Poland — usually another 7–14 days.
Questions About Transport
Frequently asked questions
Everything worth knowing about inland logistics and ocean freight for cars from the USA.
In container shipping the car is lashed inside a 20- or 40-foot steel container, which provides a high level of protection from the weather and damage. RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) means driving the vehicle onto a dedicated car carrier — cheaper and faster to handle, but the vehicle is more exposed to external factors. For valuable and unusual cars we recommend a container.
We most often use East Coast ports: Newark/New Jersey, Baltimore, Savannah, Jacksonville and Charleston, as well as Houston and Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico. Vehicles from the West Coast (e.g. California) sail from Los Angeles/Long Beach. The choice of port depends on the auction-lot location, the inland delivery cost and voyage availability.
The voyage itself from the US East Coast to Rotterdam usually takes about 14 to 30 days, depending on the port, the carrier and the number of transshipments. To that you must add inland transport to the port, the consolidation and loading time and the subsequent customs clearance. The whole process from purchase to delivery in Poland usually fits within 6–10 weeks.
The Bill of Lading (B/L) is an ocean transport document issued by the carrier — it serves as proof of the carriage contract, confirmation that the cargo was received and a document entitling the holder to collect the vehicle at the destination port. It's the key document of the entire shipment; without it the car cannot be released on the European side.
Yes. After loading you receive a container or Bill of Lading number, which you can enter in our container tracking tool. It shows the vessel's current position, route, destination port and the estimated time of arrival (ETA) based on AIS data.
Yes. Ocean freight is covered by cargo insurance for the duration of the voyage. The scope and sum insured are set individually depending on the vehicle's value and the chosen shipping method. We confirm the details when booking the voyage.
We'll Bring It In for You
Choose a car from our listings, and we'll handle all the logistics — from the auction lot in the USA, through ocean freight, to delivery to your door in Poland.