Can I Ship My Car to France with My Household Goods?
Yes, you can ship your car to France with your household goods, and for many Americans relocating to France it is the most practical way to do it. SDC ships vehicles inside the same container as household goods rather than as a standalone car-only shipment. This keeps your vehicle protected during transit, simplifies the logistics, and in some cases is more cost-effective than arranging separate shipments for the car and the household contents. Working with a licensed door-to-door moving company that handles both the household goods and the vehicle in a single coordinated move is the cleanest approach for most clients.
That said, shipping a vehicle to France involves specific documentation requirements, duty-free eligibility criteria, and compliance inspections that are separate from the household goods process. This guide covers how it works, what is required, and what to expect.
How the Vehicle Ships with Your Household Goods
A vehicle is loaded into a 40-foot container alongside your household goods. The car is positioned first and secured with professional bracing and wheel chocks. Household items are then packed around and above it in the remaining container space. This method keeps the vehicle enclosed and protected for the full ocean transit rather than exposed on a roll-on/roll-off vessel.
Not every move volume works for a combined container. Your move coordinator will confirm whether the household goods volume and vehicle dimensions are compatible for a single 40-foot container. If the household volume is large, a separate container for the vehicle may be necessary. This is assessed during the survey before anything is booked.
Vehicles must be shipped empty, no personal belongings can be packed inside the car for transit. All items travel in the household goods portion of the shipment.
Duty-Free Eligibility for Vehicles
A vehicle may be imported into France duty-free when the following conditions are met: you have lived outside the European Union for more than one year, you have owned and operated the vehicle for at least six months prior to importation, all customs and fiscal taxes on the vehicle have been paid in the country of origin, the vehicle is imported within 12 months of your transfer of residence to France, and you do not dispose of the vehicle within 12 months of importation.
If the vehicle is brand new or has been owned for less than six months, duty-free relief does not apply. In that case, duties of approximately 10% of the declared value will be assessed, plus VAT calculated at 19.6% on the declared value including duties. For a newer or higher-value vehicle this can be a significant cost, and is worth factoring into the decision of whether to ship the car at all versus selling it in the US and purchasing in France.
Documents Required for Vehicle Import to France
The vehicle import process requires a separate document set from the household goods customs clearance. These documents need to be original copies rather than scans in most cases.
Certificate of Title
The original US certificate of title showing your name and the vehicle serial number. This confirms ownership and is the primary document French customs uses to verify that the vehicle belongs to the person claiming the duty-free relief.
Original Purchase Invoice or Bill of Sale
Dated at least six months before the import date. This establishes that the vehicle meets the minimum ownership period for duty-free eligibility. If you purchased the vehicle less than six months before shipping, duties will apply regardless of how long you have lived outside the EU.
Insurance Certificate from a French Insurer
You are required to have French insurance in place before the vehicle clears customs. This means arranging French auto insurance before your shipment arrives, not after. Your SDC coordinator will flag this as a pre-arrival task so it does not hold up the release of the vehicle at the port.
Original Registration Card from the Country of Origin
Your current US state registration document. If the registration plates are removed by US customs at the time of departure, you will need to provide a certificate of removal or an export certificate in place of the plates.
Vehicle Inventory
The vehicle inventory must include the year, make, model, chassis number, engine details, horsepower, and registration number. This is produced as part of the overall shipment documentation and must be consistent with the title and purchase invoice.
Compliance Inspection and French Standards
This is the practical reality that stops many Americans from shipping their car to France: US-spec vehicles are not automatically road-legal in France. The vehicle must pass a compliance inspection confirming it meets European standards before it can be registered and driven on French roads.
US vehicles differ from European ones in several ways that affect compliance. Headlight beam patterns, speedometer units (miles vs. kilometres), rear fog lights, bumper height, and emissions standards are all areas where US-spec vehicles may need modification. The cost and feasibility of these modifications depends on the make, model, and year of the vehicle.
Some vehicles, particularly older models or those without European variants, can be expensive to bring into compliance and may not be worth shipping. Others, especially vehicles that are sold in both the US and European markets, are easier to modify and certify. Before committing to shipping the car, it is worth getting an assessment from a French compliance specialist or a garage experienced in importing American vehicles to understand what modifications will be needed and what they will cost.
The vehicle must also arrive with valid registration plates. If plates are removed before or during the export process, the relevant certificate of removal must accompany the shipment.
Is It Worth Shipping Your Car to France?
The answer depends on the vehicle. For a car that is owned outright, more than six months old, and has a European market equivalent, the duty-free import combined with the container shipment can be a reasonable option, particularly if the car has sentimental value or is a model that is difficult to source in France.
For a newer vehicle, a US-only model with significant compliance costs, or a vehicle that would attract substantial duties, the economics often favour selling in the US and purchasing a European-spec vehicle after arrival. France has a mature used car market, and arriving without a vehicle for a few weeks while you settle in is manageable for most clients.
Your SDC coordinator can walk through the cost components of including the vehicle in your container versus leaving it behind, which helps make the decision based on actual numbers rather than assumptions.
Packing and Preparation
When a vehicle is included in a container move, the packing and loading process is coordinated to accommodate the car first, with household items packed around it. The fuel tank should be nearly empty — typically no more than a quarter tank — for safety during ocean transit. The battery may be disconnected depending on the transit duration and the vehicle type. These are standard preparation steps that your move team will handle on packing day.
FAQs
Can I ship a left-hand drive American car to France permanently?
Yes. Unlike the UK, France drives on the right, so a left-hand drive US vehicle is not a fundamental obstacle. The compliance and modification requirements relate to technical standards such as lighting, emissions, and instrumentation rather than the steering column position.
How long does it take to clear a vehicle through French customs?
Vehicle clearance runs alongside the household goods clearance but sometimes takes a few additional days if the compliance inspection is required before the vehicle can be released. Having all documents complete and in order before the vessel arrives is the most reliable way to minimise clearance time.
Do I need to declare the vehicle separately from my household goods?
Yes. The vehicle has its own customs entry and document set, processed alongside but separately from the household goods declaration. Your destination agent handles both entries but they are distinct processes.
What if my car does not pass the compliance inspection?
If the vehicle fails, it must be modified to meet French standards before it can be registered. In some cases, if the cost of compliance is prohibitive, the vehicle may need to be re-exported or scrapped. This outcome is avoidable with proper pre-shipment assessment of compliance requirements before the car is loaded.
Can I put items inside the car for the shipment?
No. French customs requires vehicles to be shipped empty. All personal belongings must travel in the household goods portion of the container. Packing items in the car can result in customs complications and additional duties assessed on those goods.
