Car Terminals
Specialized terminals and storage yards allow vehicles to be unloaded efficiently from containers and RoRo vessels and stored safely until clearance.
Port of Rotterdam
Europe's Largest Cargo Gateway
For decades Rotterdam has remained the continent's most important seaport and one of the main entry points for cargo from across the Atlantic. It's a natural foothold for US cars on their way to Poland.
Efficient Customs Administration
The Dutch customs services handle a huge volume of imports, and the procedures are digitized. This shortens the initial handling time and reduces the risk of delays.
Connection to Poland
An excellent road network connects Rotterdam with Poland. Once the T1 transit is issued, the vehicle can set off toward Poland without delay by trailer or car carrier.
Customs and Tax Charges
Duty, VAT and Excise — What Makes Up the Cost
The three main public charges are calculated cascading from the vehicle's customs value. The rates below are for information only and may be subject to changes and exemptions.
Charge
Rate
Calculation Basis
Import Duty
10%
Customs value = car price + freight and insurance to the EU border.
Excise (engine up to 2.0 L)
3,1%
On the customs value plus duty. Applies to smaller displacements.
Excise (engine above 2.0 L)
18,6%
A higher rate for cars with engine displacement over 2.0 liters.
VAT
23%
On the sum: customs value + duty + excise. Settled in Poland.
Required Documentation
Complete Set of Documents for Clearance
Smooth clearance is, above all, about complete and consistent paperwork. Any formal gap can hold the vehicle up in port, so we assemble the documentation in advance.
Bill of Lading
The ocean transport document entitling the holder to collect the vehicle at the destination port. Without it the car won't be released.
Title (Certificate of Ownership)
The American document confirming ownership of the vehicle — the basis for legal export from the USA and import into the EU.
Bill of Sale / Invoice
Proof of purchase and the vehicle's price, key to correctly determining the customs value on which the charges are based.
SAD Customs Declaration
The Single Administrative Document — the formal customs declaration on which duty and taxes are assessed.
T1 Transit Document
It allows the car to be carried under customs supervision from Rotterdam to an office in Poland, where the final clearance takes place.
COC / Individual Approval
The certificate of conformity needed for registration. Without it, US cars undergo individual inspection and approval.
Step by Step
How Clearance Works — from Port to Registration
The customs and tax process follows a clear, repeatable sequence. Here's the vehicle's journey from unloading in Rotterdam to being ready for registration in Poland.
1
Unloading and Intake
The vehicle comes off the ship, moves to the terminal and is placed under customs supervision until it is declared.
2
T1 Transit
We issue the transit document, allowing the car to travel legally to the customs office in Poland.
3
Clearance and Charges
The SAD declaration, determination of the customs value and the assessment and settlement of duty, excise and VAT.
4
Documents for Registration
You receive a complete set of paperwork (including the clearance and excise confirmations) needed to register the car.
Questions About Clearance
Frequently asked questions
Everything worth knowing about the customs clearance of US cars at the Port of Rotterdam.
The standard duty rate on passenger cars imported into the European Union is 10% of the customs value (the vehicle price plus the cost of transport and insurance to the EU border). On top of that comes VAT — 23% in Poland — assessed on the customs value plus duty, as well as excise: 3.1% for cars with engines up to 2.0 liters and 18.6% for displacements above 2.0 liters. The rates are for information only and may be subject to changes and exemptions (e.g. for electric vehicles).
Rotterdam is Europe's largest seaport and one of the main entry points for cargo from across the Atlantic. It has extensive car-terminal infrastructure, an efficient customs administration and excellent road connections with the rest of the continent. As a result, unloading and initial customs handling proceed quickly, and the vehicle can move on to Poland on a transit document.
T1 is a customs transit document that allows non-EU goods (e.g. a car from the USA) to be moved between EU customs offices without charges being assessed at the port of entry. Thanks to it, after unloading in Rotterdam the vehicle can travel legally, under customs supervision, to Poland, where the final clearance and the settlement of duty, VAT and excise take place.
The basics are: the Bill of Lading, the American certificate of ownership (Title), proof of purchase (Bill of Sale / invoice), the SAD customs declaration and the vehicle's technical data. For registration in Poland, the COC certificate of conformity is often crucial or — in its absence — individual inspection and approval, because US cars often differ in type approval (e.g. lighting) from the European versions.
The customs procedure itself, with complete and correct documents, usually takes from a few to a dozen or so business days. The timeframe depends on the workload of the port and the office, the correctness of the documentation and any inspections. Formal gaps or the need to supplement documents are the most common reason this stage is extended.
Clearance is possible both at the port of entry (the Netherlands) and — most often — in Poland after the vehicle is carried on a T1 transit document. The approach is chosen individually with regard to settling VAT and excise and the place of final registration. For imports to Poland, final clearance at home is usually more advantageous and simpler.
We'll Guide You Through the Whole Customs Process
Choose a car from our listings, and we'll handle the logistics and full customs clearance — from unloading in Rotterdam to a complete set of documents for registration in Poland.