Exporting a Ford Mustang from the US to Europe: what it costs
American muscle is cheap in the States and coveted in Europe — but VAT and duty add a third to the price.
By Marcus Lane, Vehicle import & export specialist · 8 min read
Europe taxes a US car twice: 10% duty on CIF, then import VAT on the duty-inclusive value.
Type-approval (TÜV / Certificate of Conformity) is the off-invoice hurdle, often $1,500–$3,500.
The full cost breakdown
Plug in your own purchase figure — everything below the vehicle scales only modestly with value. All amounts are researched 2026 estimates in USD.
| Vehicle (purchase price) | $45,000 |
| Seller-side export documentation | $150 |
| Ocean freight | $1,800 |
| Marine insurance (~1.5%) | $675 |
| EU car duty is 10% of CIF value | $4,748 |
| German import VAT is 19% on the duty-inclusive value | $9,922 |
| Customs broker & port handling | $830 |
| Type-approval / inspection | $2,500 |
| Inland transport & registration | $1,500 |
| Estimated all-in landed cost | $67,125 |
Compliance & the fine print
A US-spec Mustang needs lighting and emissions checks for EU registration; strictness and VAT vary by country, so choose the destination deliberately.
Frequently asked questions
EU duty on a US car?+
10% of CIF, with VAT charged on top of the duty.
Can I reclaim VAT?+
Private buyers generally cannot; VAT-registered businesses sometimes can.
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