Why does the shipment go through Klaipeda instead of directly to Odesa?

Sea freight to Black Sea ports carries elevated war-related risk, which makes vessel and container insurance significantly more expensive, and some shipping lines don't call at Ukrainian ports at all. Klaipeda is a major, reliably operating EU port with direct sea lines from the USA; from there the car is delivered to Ukraine by truck. This route is more reliable and often faster.

How long does shipping take on the USA to Klaipeda to Ukraine route?

The full journey usually takes 45-60 days: 3-7 days to move the car from the auction to a US port, 25-35 days for the ocean crossing, and another 5-10 days for port handling in Klaipeda and truck delivery to Odesa. Exact timing depends on the shipping line's schedule and port congestion.

Do I have to pay EU customs duties while transiting through Klaipeda?

No. The car is processed under a customs transit procedure (a T1 document), which allows the cargo to move through EU territory without paying EU duties or VAT. All customs payments are made once, when the car is cleared in Ukraine.

How does customs clearance work in Ukraine after shipping via Klaipeda?

Once the truck arrives at the Ukrainian border or a bonded warehouse, the car is declared under the standard procedure: an electronic customs declaration is filed, duty, excise tax, and VAT are paid, and the car undergoes conformity certification. Our brokers manage the process from filing the declaration through to handing you the finished documents.

How can I track the car at every stage of the route?

As soon as the car is loaded at the US port, you receive the container number and vessel details, which you can use to track the shipment on the carrier's website. During the truck leg from Klaipeda, our manager gives you an estimated arrival date and keeps you updated at each key stage.

Turnkey Car Customs Clearance in Ukraine

Many people want to bring a car from the U.S., but they are put off by how complicated customs clearance is: you have to collect documents, calculate the payments correctly and complete the procedure, and now you also have to account for changed logistics. Star Trans Logistic clears cars from the U.S. and Europe on a turnkey basis. We ship American cars through the port of Klaipėda (Lithuania) with EU transit under the T1 procedure, and you pay all customs fees only once, at clearance in Ukraine. We calculate the cost of clearance in advance, before the lot is purchased. All you need to do is pay the customs fees and our specialists’ work, and we take care of everything else.

Get advice

“Star Trans Logistic” is a company that will take the hassle out of buying a car abroad. If you want to buy the car of your dreams quickly, feel free to contact us. And to find out how much it will cost to clear a car through customs in Ukraine in 2026, use the calculator on our website.

The Procedure for Clearing a Car from the U.S. Through Customs in Ukraine

We'll talk on the phone or in person at the office, and we'll provide a quote

Here is a list of documents you need to obtain from the dealer

Let's sign the contract

We receive your vehicle documents and a power of attorney for customs clearance and handling of the car in Ukraine

After the ship arrives at the port of Klaipėda, the cars are unloaded from the container and sent to Ukraine by car carrier

We take a photo report of the car’s condition at unloading

The customs clearance process is underway; you pay the taxes

Our freight forwarder will deliver the vehicle to you, or we will ship it to your city.

The Procedure for Clearing a Car from Europe Through Customs

We'll talk on the phone or in person at the office, and we'll provide a quote

Here is a list of documents you need to obtain from the dealer

Let's sign the contract

You bring your car to the customs terminal, and we process it within 1–2 days

Request a car selection and a customs clearance estimate

What documents do I need to clear my car through customs?

Invoice (bill of sale, purchase agreement)
Bill of lading
T1 document (transit declaration)
Title (vehicle title document)
Transport costs certificate
Expert appraisal report determining the market value of the car being imported into the customs territory of Ukraine (valuation expertise)
Customs broker service agreement
Ukrainian citizen’s passport with a residence registration stamp in Ukraine, or permanent residence document
Tax identification number (TIN) certificate
Physical inspection report
Customs clearance certificate confirming the car meets an emission standard of at least Euro 2
Application for a vehicle registration certificate
Customs payment receipt

Our clients ask us

Customs clearance of a car with a gasoline, diesel or hybrid engine includes a 10% import duty, an excise tax (depending on engine displacement, fuel type and age), 20% VAT and a 3–5% pension fee. VAT is calculated on the sum of “car price + duty + excise tax.” For an accurate calculation, we need the year of manufacture, engine displacement, fuel type and the invoice price. We provide the calculation free of charge before you buy the lot: use the calculator on our website or submit a request.

The basis is the price you paid at auction as stated in the invoice, plus transport costs. Customs may disagree with the declared value and order a valuation expertise. Our brokers prepare the declaration and support the clearance process.

For electric vehicles, the import duty is zero, the excise tax is €1 per kWh of battery capacity, and since January 1, 2026, 20% VAT has been added. Example: with a customs value of €20,000 and a 60 kWh battery, the excise tax is €60 and VAT is about €4,012, about €4,072 in total. The actual amount depends on the exchange rate and the invoice price.

Regular hybrids are cleared at the rates for cars with internal combustion engines: 10% duty, excise tax and 20% VAT. The exception is vehicles whose engine works only as a generator and is not connected to the transmission: the excise tax on those is €100 per unit. There are few such models, and the exact category is determined by the broker based on the VIN and the commodity code.

Used passenger cars must meet at least Euro 2, new passenger cars Euro 6. For trucks, buses and special-purpose vehicles, the minimum is Euro 5. If a car does not meet the standard, it cannot be registered.

The clearance itself usually takes 2–3 days with a complete set of documents, and may take longer if there are problems with the paperwork. The whole journey from purchase at auction to receiving the keys takes 45–60 days on average, including delivery via Klaipėda. You can clear a car on your own, but it usually takes longer, so many people turn to a broker.

No. EU transit is processed under the T1 procedure, so no EU duties or VAT are payable. You pay all customs fees only once, at clearance in Ukraine.

We work across Ukraine: Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and other cities. After clearance in Ukraine, you can pick up the car or order delivery to your city. Our office is in Odesa.

Customs Clearance of Cars from the USA in Ukraine in 2026: How It Works, What It Costs, Which Documents You Need

Updated October 2026.

In short. Customs clearance of a car from the USA in Ukraine in 2026 includes a 10% import duty, an excise tax (depending on engine displacement, fuel type and age), 20% VAT and a 3–5% pension fee. For electric vehicles, the duty is zero and the excise tax is €1 per kWh of battery capacity, but since January 1, 2026, 20% VAT has applied as well. Star Trans Logistic ships cars from the USA through the port of Klaipėda (Lithuania) with EU transit under the T1 procedure and clears them in Ukraine on a turnkey basis. We calculate the payments before you buy the lot.

How Turnkey Customs Clearance of a Car from the USA Works

Handling customs clearance on your own takes a lot of time and requires knowledge of the legislation. We take care of the process:

We select a suitable car at auction (Copart, IAAI) and check its history by VIN.
We sign a contract, and you pay for the lot and our services.
We purchase the car, prepare the export documents and deregister it in the USA.
We deliver the car to a US port, then by sea to Klaipėda and by car carrier to Ukraine. EU transit is processed under the T1 procedure, so no EU duties or VAT are payable.
We prepare the declaration and clear the car in Ukraine. You pay all customs fees only once.
We complete certification and register the car with the vehicle registration office, and you receive the registration certificate and license plates.

With a complete set of documents, legalization usually takes 2–3 days. If container service at the port of Odesa is restored, we will return to the USA–Odesa route and notify our customers.

What Customs Clearance of a Car from the USA Consists of in 2026

Import duty: 10% of the customs value (0% for electric vehicles).
Excise tax: depends on engine displacement, fuel type and the age of the car (€1 per kWh of battery capacity for electric vehicles).
VAT: 20% of the sum “car price + duty + excise tax” (for electric vehicles, also 20% since January 1, 2026).
Pension fee: 3–5% depending on the car’s value.

The customs value is the price you paid at auction as stated in the invoice, plus transport costs. Customs may disagree with the declared price and order a valuation expertise.

How to Calculate the Excise Tax on a Car from the USA

For cars with gasoline, diesel or hybrid engines, the excise tax is calculated as: base rate × engine displacement in liters × age coefficient (it increases each year, but is capped at 15).

Base rates:

gasoline up to 3,000 cm³: €50, above: €100;
diesel up to 3,500 cm³: €75, above: €150.

Displacement in liters is cm³ divided by 1,000. For an accurate calculation, you need the year of manufacture, engine displacement, fuel type and price. Use the calculator on our website, and we will prepare a calculation before you buy the lot.

Customs Clearance of Electric Vehicles from the USA Since January 1, 2026

Since January 1, 2026, 20% VAT must be paid when importing an electric vehicle. The duty is still zero, and the excise tax is €1 for each kWh of battery capacity.

Illustrative example: an electric vehicle with a customs value of €20,000 and a 60 kWh battery. The excise tax would be €60, and 20% VAT on the sum of €20,060 would be about €4,012. Total payments are about €4,072. The actual calculation depends on the exchange rate and the invoice price.

Which Emission Standard Is Required for Customs Clearance

Used passenger cars: at least Euro 2.
New passenger cars: Euro 6.
Trucks, buses and special-purpose vehicles: at least Euro 5.

If a car does not meet the standard, it cannot be registered. For cars from the USA, this is confirmed by documents and a label with emission compliance data.

What Happens If You Don’t Clear a Car from the USA Through Customs

A car imported without customs clearance is in Ukraine illegally. The legislation provides for fines and, in serious cases, confiscation of the car. The amount of penalties depends on how long the car has been in the country.

Why Star Trans Logistic

We have been working since 2006. In that time, we have cleared more than 15,300 cars and helped more than 9,550 customers. We have our own in-house brokers and freight forwarders, with no third-party intermediaries. You receive a contract, a personal manager, a detailed breakdown of every expense item before purchase and shipping with the forwarder’s full financial liability. Our office is in Odesa, and we work across Ukraine: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and other cities.

Contact Information

Address

103 Chernomorskogo Kazachestva St., Odessa, 65003

Phone Numbers

+38 (063) 242 32 45

+38 (067) 441 55 33

office@startranslog.com.ua

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