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What Customs Clearance Exactly Entails
Customs clearance means that you have to pay import duties and VAT. The customs process is a formality required to bring your car into free circulation, both literally and figuratively. Alternatively, it may involve placing the car under a customs arrangement, such as shipping your car as part of your household goods.
The customs clearance of your car includes at least the following items:
- Import duties:
When you import a vehicle from a country outside the European Union, you must pay import duties. The amount varies from 0 to 22 percent of the vehicle's value.
- VAT: You are also liable for VAT when importing a car from outside the European Union. The standard rate is 21 percent, except for classic cars, which are subject to a 9 percent VAT rate.
What we do for you
When you choose to ship with SCL, we will first check if your car meets the requirements for importing the vehicle. This is crucial for a successful customs clearance. We also handle the BPM declaration for you. Upon request, we estimate the amount of tax you owe and calculate the import duties and VAT. But that’s not all. After paying all customs fees, we arrange the registration for a Dutch license plate. We ensure that your car obtains European Type Approval and, if necessary, make minor modifications in our workshop. In most cases, this involves replacing the lights. As soon as the license plates are ready, you can hit the road in the Netherlands!
This is what we need from you
To handle the customs clearance on your behalf, we need several documents from you. The specific documents required depend partly on the country of origin, but in general, we need:
- the original registration certificate of the car;
- the purchase invoice of the car;
- a copy of the owner's passport;
- an export declaration (Shipper’s Export Declaration);
- a direct representation form;
- a VAT number (if you want to clear the vehicle on your company);
- an exemption permit (if you are moving the vehicle as part of your household goods).
Douane afhandeling auto export
Hulp nodig bij de douane afhandeling van je auto in het buitenland? Wij werken in heel veel landen samen met lokale agenten die je hierin kunnen begeleiden! Neem contact met ons op en vraag naar de mogelijkheden. Je kunt ons elke werkdag van 08.30 tot 17.00 uur bereiken via onderstaande contactgegevens.
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The most frequently asked questions about customs handling for car export
The customs clearance at the Dutch customs usually takes about 24 to 48 hours. The subsequent registration process can take several weeks. The exact duration of customs clearance depends on the speed of the different authorities involved. At SCL Rotterdam, we ensure that they receive the correct documents all at once. This way, the process runs smoothly, and your car is cleared as quickly as possible.
After the customs clearance at the Dutch customs, we arrange the RDW inspection and file the BPM declaration. From this point, you still need a fiscal approval from the Tax Authorities. Afterward, we install the Dutch license plates. If you choose to have your car shipped by SCL Rotterdam, we take care of all the paperwork for you. The only thing you need to do before you can hit the road is to arrange your car insurance.
