0% Import Duties when Importing a Car from America! The rules at a glance

Have you been eyeing a powerful RAM 1500, a brand-new Ford Mustang, or an American Tesla for a while now? Then we have fantastic news for you. Since July 1, 2026, importing original American cars has become thousands of euros cheaper. Thanks to new European legislation (Regulation (EU) 2026/1455), the standard import duty rate on American passenger cars has been slashed from 10% to 0%.

What exactly does this new regulation entail, what other exceptions allow for tax-free import, and how does SCL Rotterdam help you maximize your savings? Read all about it in this blog!

Where does this 0% import duty on car imports come from?

The abolition of import duties is the direct result of the so-called Turnberry Deal: a trade agreement between the European Union and the United States. To boost trans-Atlantic trade, both parties decided to mutually lower tariffs.

For the EU, this means that import duties on a large number of American industrial goods, including cars and car parts falling under customs code Chapter 87, have been completely eliminated.

The car's origin is everything

While this regulation is amazing news for American car enthusiasts, there is one crucial condition attached: the car must actually have been manufactured in the United States.

Customs looks very strictly at the so-called non-preferential origin of the vehicle.

In short: are you buying a European or Asian brand that was not manufactured in America? Then you will still pay the usual 10% import duties when importing it to the Netherlands. Are you going for a real American powerhouse? Then the rate is now 0%.

Important: You must be able to officially prove the American origin of the vehicle to Customs with the correct documentation. If the paperwork is not airtight, Customs can still decide to levy the 10% tariff. SCL Rotterdam is here to help you with this.

In which other cases do you also pay 0% import duties?

In addition to the new 2026 legislation for young, US-manufactured cars, there are two other important routes that allow you to completely bypass the 10% import duties. These regulations also apply to cars that were not originally built in America:

1. The Classic Car Regulation (30 years or older)

Are you looking for a true classic? Then there is good news: vehicles aged 30 years or older have long been completely exempt from import duties.

• VAT Advantage: In addition to the 0% import duties, you benefit from a reduced VAT rate for classic cars. Instead of 21%, you only pay 9% VAT upon import.
• The Conditions: The car must be at least 30 years old, in its original condition (no major modern modifications), and the model must no longer be in active production.

2. Importing a car as personal effects / exemption for relocation (Moving to NL)

Are you moving back to the Netherlands after a period of living abroad? In most cases, you can bring your car completely tax-free as part of your personal household effects. You will then pay 0% import duties and 0% VAT. Often, you will also receive a full exemption from BPM.

The Conditions:

• You have lived outside the EU (for example, in the US) for at least 12 consecutive months.
• You have owned and used the car abroad for at least 6 months.
• You are bringing the car for personal use and are not allowed to sell or rent it out during the first year after import.

What costs remain when importing a car from the US?

Although import duties are eliminated in many cases, importing a car is, of course, not entirely free. You still need to budget for the following cost items:

• VAT (9% or 21%): You pay VAT on the sum of the purchase price and transport costs (21% for modern cars, 9% for classic cars).
• BPM (Dutch vehicle tax): When registering the car on Dutch license plates, you pay BPM. For new cars, this is calculated based on CO₂ emissions. For used cars, SCL Rotterdam utilizes a favorable price list or appraisal report to keep this amount as low as possible.
• Transport and inspection costs: Inland transport in the US, shipping across the ocean, the RDW (Dutch vehicle authority) inspection, and any technical conversions (such as adapting the indicators to European legislation).

How SCL Rotterdam manages your import process flawlessly

Importing a car from the US is more attractive than ever thanks to the new legislation, but customs regulations are complex. Incorrectly filling out origin codes can lead to major delays or unexpected additional assessments.

At SCL Rotterdam, we handle the entire import process from A to Z:

• Safe Transport: We arrange inland transport in the US and shipping in secure containers or via RoRo.
• Customs Clearance: Our customs specialists ensure a flawless declaration under the new Regulation (EU) 2026/1455, or guide you through the application for personal effects or classic cars. This way, you can be sure you won't pay a single euro too much.
• RDW & BPM: We convert the car to European standards in our own workshop, handle the RDW inspection, and take care of the most advantageous BPM tax declaration.

Calculate your advantage immediately!

Want to know exactly how much you will save on importing your dream car now that the import duties have been waived? Contact the specialists at SCL Rotterdam today for a non-binding, customized quote.