Importing a car from United States to Belgium
Everything for this route: what Belgium charges, how the car gets there and what to arrange in United States — with the calculator preset for this route.
Taxes
Registration & paperwork
Not included: the annual road tax (verkeersbelasting), insurance and technical adaptations for non-EU cars.
Registration tax by CO₂ band
| CO₂ g/km | General | Canarias | Increased* |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 120 | 0 % | 0 % | 0 % |
| 121 – 159 | 4,75 % | 3,75 % | 4,75 % |
| 160 – 199 | 9,75 % | 8,75 % | 9,75 % |
| ≥ 200 | 14,75 % | 13,75 % | 15 – 16 % |
* Asturias, Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia: 16 %; Cantabria 15 %; Murcia 15.9 %. Ceuta and Melilla: 0 % in every band.
Hacienda depreciation table (Orden HAC/1501/2025)
| Age | Value | Age | Value |
|---|
Transport from United States to Belgium
Indicative costs and durations for the usual ways to move a car on this route. Enter a real quote in the calculator for your own figure.
| Option | Cost | Duration | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoRo ship (drive on, drive off) | €1,000–€1,900 | 14–25 days | New York / Baltimore → Antwerp / Zeebrugge |
| Container ship | €1,100–€3,200 | 20–50 days | East or West Coast → Antwerp |
Worked examples: United States → Belgium
Two typical cars, calculated with this tool for a purchase in United States. Change any detail in the calculator above to see your own figure.
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI (petrol), 2023, 60,000 km, 125 g/km CO₂
Purchase price: €22,000 · Transport (indicative): €1,000–€1,900
| Customs duty | €2,345 |
| VAT (import) | €5,417 |
| BIV (registration tax) | €218 |
| Technical inspection before registration | €75 |
| Individual approval (no EU type approval) | €900 |
| DIV registration + plate | €60 |
| Number plates | €0 |
Taxes & fees on top: €9,015
BMW X5 xDrive30d (diesel), 2021, 90,000 km, 185 g/km CO₂
Purchase price: €48,000 · Transport (indicative): €1,000–€1,900
| Customs duty | €4,945 |
| VAT (import) | €11,423 |
| BIV (registration tax) | €1,953 |
| Technical inspection before registration | €75 |
| Individual approval (no EU type approval) | €900 |
| DIV registration + plate | €60 |
| Number plates | €0 |
Taxes & fees on top: €19,356
Taxes and fees in Belgium for a car from United States
Outside the EU: customs value = price + transport + insurance; 10 % duty and 21 % VAT on top, plus BIV on registration.
Buying the car in United States
American cars are cheap for what you get — big engines, high specification — and classics over 25–30 years are the most common imports into Europe. Search Autotrader, Cars.com, Copart and Facebook Marketplace; always check the VIN history (Carfax/AutoCheck) for salvage or flood titles, which are frequent.
Export needs the original title (not a lien title) and an AES/ITN filing with US Customs 72 hours before the car ships. Modern US-spec cars need modifications for EU registration (lights, indicators, sometimes emissions) and an individual approval; cars over 30 years are treated as historic in most EU countries with 0 % duty and reduced VAT.
Documents to collect in United States
- Original title (certificate of title), lien-free
- Bill of sale
- AES/ITN export filing and the port's export declaration
- For cars under 30 years: EU individual approval documentation
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to transport a car from United States to Belgium?
RoRo ship (drive on, drive off): 14–25 days (New York / Baltimore → Antwerp / Zeebrugge) · Container ship: 20–50 days (East or West Coast → Antwerp)
Do I pay customs duty or VAT when importing a car from United States to Belgium?
Outside the EU: customs value = price + transport + insurance; 10 % duty and 21 % VAT on top, plus BIV on registration.
What does it cost to import a car from United States to Belgium?
For a 3-year-old Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI the taxes and fees in Belgium come to about €9,015; for a 5-year-old BMW X5 xDrive30d about €19,356 — transport from United States not included. Calculated with this tool; the calculator above gives the figure for your own car.
Import into Belgium from another country
Import from United States to another country
These guides describe the usual procedure as of September 2026 and are indicative. Rules, fees and deadlines change and vary by region and office; carimportcalculator.com accepts no liability for decisions based on them. Confirm the steps with the authority named in each guide or a licensed agent before you buy.