Exporting a US pickup truck to Europe: duty and the size problem
Exporting a truck, not a car, triggers the EU's punishing 22% commercial-vehicle tariff.
By Sofia Berg, Customs & compliance writer · 6 min read
Light commercial vehicles attract 22% EU duty versus 10% for cars — classification is everything.
German registration of an oversized truck adds practical hurdles beyond tax.
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) | $50,000 |
| Seller-side export documentation | $150 |
| Ocean freight | $2,000 |
| Marine insurance (~1.5%) | $750 |
| EU duty on light trucks is 22%, far higher than cars | $11,605 |
| 19% German import VAT on duty-inclusive value | $12,227 |
| Customs broker & port handling | $830 |
| Type-approval / inspection | $2,500 |
| Inland transport & registration | $1,500 |
| Estimated all-in landed cost | $81,562 |
Compliance & the fine print
How the vehicle is classified (passenger vs goods) decides whether you pay 10% or 22% — get it confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Why 22%?+
The EU taxes light trucks far higher than passenger cars.
Can I avoid it?+
Only if it legitimately classifies as a passenger vehicle.
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