Check that your car meets all U.S. safety standards by looking for the certification label on the driver's side door. If it is not up to standard, you must contract with a registered importer to modify the vehicle to meet compliance. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website has a list of registered importers.
Clean the undercarriage of the car before it is transported. The U.S. Department of Agriculture does not want pests arriving in soil that may be stuck to your tires or on your vehicle. Steam spraying can adequately clean the undercarriage.
Get a quote from an auto shipping company such as Auto Shippers or Ship My Vehicle. You will need to give the origin port, the destination port, the type of vehicle, the ship date and your preferred shipping method. You can choose RORO or container shipping. If you choose container shipping, be advised that U.S. government agencies advise against using your vehicle as a container for personal items.
Prepare the HS-7 declaration form, which you can get from the NHTSA website and Environmental Protection Agency Form 3520-1 from the EPA website. You must present these forms along with the vehicle bill of sale, the shipper's bill of lading and your foreign registration to U.S. Customs when your car arrives at the U.S. port.
Pay duties at the U.S. port to pick up your vehicle. As of March 2010, the duties rates are 2.5 percent for autos, 25 percent for trucks and up to 2.4 percent on motorcycles. Duties are based on the price paid for the vehicle. Returning U.S. residents can apply their $400 customs exemption toward the duty.
