American car brands have gained a significant position in the market by rolling off durable vehicles equipped with innovative features. Moreover, design language, driveability and handling also aid in their popularity. Aside from buying American cars from the local market, car enthusiasts can also opt for importing cars from the USA. The process of importing cars from the USA to the UAE can be daunting for many, as it involves multiple steps. However, with careful planning and execution, the import process can be simplified.
Here we have elaborated on how to import cars from the USA to the UAE in detail.
Steps on How to Import Cars From USA to UAE
The process of importing vehicles to the UAE involves multiple steps. Here we have mentioned the process to import cars from the USA to the UAE.
Step 1: Purchase a Car in the USA
To import cars from the USA to the UAE, the first step is to purchase the vehicle. Buyers can directly contact the showroom for new vehicles and dealers in case of a used car. Prior to buying a car in the USA, make sure it complies with the UAE regulations.
Here are some popular American car brands that you can consider buying a car from.
Step 2: Select Shipping Company
Once done with the purchase, choose a shipping company to transport the car from the USA to the Emirates. It is necessary to consider reputation, pricing, service quality and shipping time when selecting a shipping company. Browse through the list of car shipping companies in Dubai that can help you in the process.
After selecting the company, choose the shipping option. Buyers can either opt for full container service, shared container service or roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) service. The RoRo service is the most cost-effective option for shipping cars from the USA.
Step 3: Customs Clearance
After the car reaches the UAE port, it is necessary to get the vehicle customs cleared. Buyers are required to pay custom fees which is typically 5% of the total car value. Aside from the duty, here is the list of documents that may or may not be required to import cars from the USA to the UAE in 2024.
- Car title certificate (Original)
- Purchase Invoice (Original)
- Valid residence visa
- Passport (Copy)
- Registration paperwork
Step 4: Obtain a Temporary Licence Plate
Buyers require a vehicle import certificate along with a temporary licence plate to drive the vehicle legally in the UAE. However, the imported licence plate is valid for a limited time and a permanent number plate is required for the long term.
For the permanent number plate, buyers will have to register a car in Dubai or their emirate of residence.
Things to Consider When Importing Cars from the USA to UAE
Mentioned below are a few things to consider when importing a car from the USA to UAE.
Purchasing Place
When buying an import vehicle, it is suggested to opt for a port city. It will reduce transportation costs from the showroom to the port and add to the convenience. On the contrary, purchasing a vehicle from a landlocked province requires within the USA shipment, adding to the overall cost.
Cost of Importing
Buyers must understand the cost of importing vehicles into the UAE for budgeting. Typically, importing a car includes costs of shipment, duties, taxes, registration charges, insurance, storage and delivery charges and process fees.
Shipment Type
Car shipping companies offer different types of shipping options to the buyers. The first and most economical option is RoRo. In RoRo, a car is shipped through a special vessel that is specifically designed for transporting vehicles.
Next is shared container shipping in which multiple vehicles are shipped together in a 40-foot container. Whereas, in full container shipping, one vehicle is shipped in a container.
FAQs
What is the customs duty on cars in UAE?
The custom duty for importing vehicles is around 5% of the total car value.
Can I bring my car from UAE to KSA?
Yes, you can export your car to the KSA. Here is the complete process of exporting cars from UAE to KSA.
How many years old cars can be imported to the UAE?
Vehicles less than 10 years of age can be imported to the UAE.
This is how to import cars from the USA to the UAE. Importing a car from abroad is usually expensive and can be out of range for many. In that case, you can browse through these used cars for sale in the UAE and buy an imported car within the Emirate as per your budget.
If you have already purchased an imported car, here is the complete process of selling an imported car in the UAE.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s auto blog for more information on imported vehicles.
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