Import · Germany → USA

Importing a Porsche 928 S4 to the USA: What It Really Costs

Porsche's front-V8 grand tourer, a continent-crushing alternative to the 911.

Marcus Lane
By Marcus Lane, Vehicle import & export specialist · 6 min read
Porsche 928 S4 — Germany → USA cost guide
Porsche 928 S4. Photo: Dennis Elzinga · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Quick answer

A Porsche 928 S4 costs about $37,630 all-in to import on the Germany → USA route in 2026 — a $30,000 purchase plus roughly $7,630 in shipping, 2.5% duty, compliance and registration.

Route
Germany → USA
Est. all-in cost
~$37,630
Duty & tax
2.5% duty
On a purchase of
$30,000

The 928 S4 refined Porsche's water-cooled V8 GT with updated aerodynamics and power.

Euro-spec cars may differ in headlights, emissions equipment, and final drive from US versions.

How much does it cost to import a Porsche 928 S4?

Every line below is a researched 2026 estimate in USD. We start from the $30,000 purchase price, add marine insurance at about 1.5% and ocean freight, then 2.5% US duty on the declared value, and the broker, compliance and registration fees. Change the purchase price and everything else scales only modestly.

Estimated landed cost — Porsche 928 S4, Germany → USA, 2026
Vehicle (purchase price)$30,000
Export agent & auction fees$1,200
Ocean freight$2,600
Marine insurance (~1.5%)$450
The standard US passenger-car import duty is 2.5% of declared value$750
Customs broker & port handling$830
EPA / DOT entry & compliance paperwork$300
Inland transport & registration$1,500
Estimated all-in landed cost$37,630

Into USA the duty is light, just $750, so tax is the small part of the bill. It is shipping (about $2,600), compliance and registration that make up most of the roughly $7,630 you add on top of the $30,000 purchase price — around 25% before you turn a wheel.

How to import a Porsche 928 S4, step by step

  1. Agree the purchase and secure the title/export paperwork in Germany (an export agent or auction house usually handles de-registration).
  2. Book ocean freight — roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) is cheapest, a sole-use container is safest for a high-value car.
  3. Confirm eligibility from the build month — the US 25-year DOT exemption is calculated month by month, not by model year.
  4. Clear US customs and pay the 2.5% duty, then file EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7 at entry.
  5. Arrange inland transport, then title and register in your state — a few states add emissions or kei-vehicle checks.

Is a Porsche 928 S4 legal to import? Rules & compliance

An eligible 928 S4 that is 25 or more years old imports under the 25-year exemption from US conformity rules. Verify electronics, service records, and matching numbers given the model's complexity.

Frequently asked questions

Why import a 928 S4 from Europe?+

European cars are often original-spec and can offer subtle differences favored by enthusiasts.

Is VAT charged at US entry?+

No, the United States has no VAT; you pay the 2.5% duty plus shipping.

What is the total estimated cost to import a Porsche 928 S4?+

About $37,630 all-in for a $30,000 example — the purchase price plus roughly $7,630 in freight, insurance, duty, compliance and registration. Your figure shifts with the exact price, route and exchange rate.

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