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FR-MKT · UAE · 21 Oct 2026

Home · Guides · Shipping a car from the USA to the UAE

Shipping a car from the USA to Dubai (Jebel Ali): costs, rules and timing

Sources checked 20 October 2026.

This guide follows a car from a US salvage auction yard to Jebel Ali, Dubai's main port: the haul to a US port, RoRo or container, the US export paperwork, the sea time and what happens on arrival. Prices come only from public price pages, with the date we read them. They are published ranges, not quotes. For duty, VAT and the full cost line by line, see Landed cost in Dubai.

Step 1: from the auction yard to a US port

The car has to be trucked or towed from the yard to the export port or the forwarder's warehouse. Public price pages give (checked 20 Oct 2026 · estimate — confirm locally):

  • About $125–$900, depending mainly on distance (3 sources). One hauler's 2026 dispatch data puts the median at $175 under 100 miles and $650 over 1,200 miles, before its own dispatch fee (Y7 Logistics). Another page gives $250–$900 for inland trucking (AB Group Shipping).
  • A car that doesn't run costs more to load. The same hauler adds $100–$300 for winch loading (Y7 Logistics).
  • Ports that appear on the price pages: New York/New Jersey, Baltimore, Savannah, Jacksonville, Miami, Houston, Long Beach/Los Angeles and Seattle. There's no official list of "main" ports. One hauler says 97% of its auction-to-port loads went to Newark, Savannah, Los Angeles and Houston (Y7 Logistics).

Step 2: US export paperwork (CBP's 72-hour rule and AES)

  • Title: CBP requires the original certificate of title (or a certified copy) and two complete copies. A salvage title that is still in force is accepted, and junk or scrap certificates are covered too (CBP, checked 20 Oct 2026).
  • 72 hours: for export by ship, the vehicle and its documents must be presented to CBP at least 72 hours before export (CBP; 19 CFR 192.2, checked 20 Oct 2026). Each port sets where to present them.
  • AES: electronic export information must be filed for used vehicles regardless of value (15 CFR 30.2, checked 20 Oct 2026). Forwarders usually file it.
  • Liens: if the car is leased or has a recorded lien, CBP also wants a signed letter from the lienholder allowing export (CBP, checked 20 Oct 2026).

Leaving the US legally isn't the same as getting UAE plates. Check plates first.

Step 3: RoRo or shared container (shipping car from USA to Dubai cost)

  • RoRo (roll-on/roll-off): the car is driven onto the ship. One shipper's page says RoRo only suits running vehicles, and non-runners go by container (BidGoDrive, checked 20 Oct 2026).
  • Shared container: your car shares a container with others. It takes non-runners, but it may wait until the container is full.
  • Own container (20ft or 40ft): costs most per car unless you fill it.

Published prices, US → Jebel Ali, per car (public price pages, checked 20 Oct 2026 · estimate — confirm locally):

MethodRangeNumber of sources
RoRo$1,200–$3,2005
Shared container$1,350–$2,600 (one Texas figure: $4,850)4
Own or whole 20ft/40ft container$2,050–$5,8005

Public prices as shown on each shipper's site on 20 October 2026. Not a recommendation or endorsement. Prices change; get a written quote.

SourceMethodPublished priceWhat it says it includes
Seaway Export (checked 20 Oct 2026)RoRo$2,200–$3,200"Indicative ranges from the U.S. East Coast", "confirmed at booking"; insurance not included unless confirmed in writing
Seaway Export (checked 20 Oct 2026)Shared container$1,800–$2,600Same notes as above
Seaway Export (checked 20 Oct 2026)Own 20ft / 40ft container$3,000–$4,200 / $4,000–$5,700Same notes as above
Royal Shipping Lines (checked 20 Oct 2026)RoRo, Baltimore / Jacksonville$2,100–$2,300 / $2,150–$2,350 (car, SUV, pickup)Gasoline and diesel vehicles. The page doesn't say what the RoRo rate includes
Royal Shipping Lines (checked 20 Oct 2026)Whole 20ft / 40ft container$2,050–$2,400 / $2,600–$3,150 (NY, Savannah, Miami, Houston, Long Beach, Seattle)"Rates are Port to Port", non-hazardous cargo. Per-car split not stated
BidGoDrive (checked 20 Oct 2026)RoRo / shared container / 40ft$1,200–$1,600 / $1,400–$1,900 / $3,000–$4,300 (to Dubai)US departure port not stated. "Customs duties, taxes, unloading charges, and port handling may apply" at destination
CFR Classic (checked 20 Oct 2026)RoRo / shared / full containerEast Coast $1,450 / $1,650 / $3,300; West Coast $1,700 / $1,900 / $3,400"Starts around" prices (page updated 13 Aug 2026). Duty, VAT, inspection and registration extra
AB Group Shipping (checked 20 Oct 2026)RoRo / container, Houston → Jebel Aliapprox. $1,750–$2,900 / approx. $3,900–$5,800Page updated 18 Oct 2026. Says inland trucking and destination duty and VAT are outside the freight number
WCS (Worldwide Cargo Shipping) (checked 20 Oct 2026)Shared container, per car (their calculator, Oct 2026)New Jersey $1,350; California $1,775; Texas $4,850; Florida 4 cars $4,100 ($1,025 a car)"Freight only". Adds a Jebel Ali destination charge of $750 (from NJ or CA) or $1,550 (from TX or FL), insurance, pickup, duty and VAT

Ask every forwarder what the price covers: port to port or door to port, loading, insurance, and the destination charge at Jebel Ali. Only one page we read prices that destination charge: $750 from NJ or CA and $1,550 from TX or FL (WCS, checked 20 Oct 2026 · estimate — confirm locally). Few pages publish prices at all, and all of them are shippers selling the service. FlipRadar has no deal with any of them and gets nothing from them.

Step 4: how long it takes

Shipper pages give about 25–45 days at sea to Jebel Ali: 25–30 days from the East Coast on one page (Royal), 31–38 days from NY/NJ and 38–45 from Houston on another (Seaway), 32–40 from Houston on a third (AB Group), all checked 20 Oct 2026 · estimate — confirm locally. One calculator gives 65–70 days for a shared container from New Jersey or California (WCS, checked 20 Oct 2026). Add the haul to the port, the 72-hour CBP window, and the wait for a shared container to fill.

Step 5: arrival at Jebel Ali (Dubai Customs and the VCC)

  • The car is declared to Dubai Customs. Import to Local and Import for Re-Export are separate declaration types (Dubai Customs guide, checked 20 Oct 2026).
  • After clearance, Dubai Customs issues the Vehicle Clearance Certificate (VCC): "a mandatory requirement for all vehicles that need to be registered within the UAE". The fee is AED 30 per vehicle (about $8.17 at the 3.6725 peg) (Dubai Customs, checked 20 Oct 2026 · estimate — confirm locally).
  • Duty, VAT and the rest of the costs are in Landed cost in Dubai. MOIAT's checks and registration are in the plates guide. The wider rules are on UAE import rules.

Put it into the free calculator

The live max bid calculator is a free USD worksheet with no account: max bid = resale − repair − buyer fee − transport − title and registration − target profit. Put the yard-to-port haul, ocean freight and the destination port charge into Transport, using the upper end of the range until you have a written quote. Duty, VAT, the VCC and registration go into Title and registration. It has no customs fields and doesn't know the UAE.

Open the max bid calculator →

Want this inside the browser? The FlipRadar Chrome extension version with Market Profiles adds dirham amounts, landed cost at your port, a walk-away line, and flags for flood, fire and beyond-repair lots when you choose local plates. It's in private beta and not in the Chrome Web Store. The private beta is free. To try it, email hello@theflipradar.com and ask for the private-beta extension.

FlipRadar is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any auction company, shipper, hauler, CBP, Dubai Customs or MOIAT. FlipRadar isn't a forwarder or broker.

Related guides: Can a US salvage car get UAE plates? · Landed cost in Dubai · UAE import rules · all guides.

FAQ

How much does it cost to ship a car from the USA to Dubai?

On public price pages checked on 20 Oct 2026, RoRo from the US to Jebel Ali runs about $1,200–$3,200 per car (5 sources) and a shared container about $1,350–$2,600 per car (4 sources), with one $4,850 outlier from Texas. Getting the car from the auction yard to the port adds about $125–$900 (3 sources). Destination port charges, duty, 5% VAT and registration are extra. These are published ranges, not quotes. Estimate — confirm locally.

Is RoRo or a shared container better for a salvage car?

RoRo ships take cars that are driven on and off. One shipper's page says RoRo is only suitable for running vehicles and that non-running cars go by shared or exclusive container (bidgodrive.com, checked 20 Oct 2026). Many salvage cars don't run, so check the condition before you book. Estimate — confirm locally.

What is CBP's 72-hour rule for exporting a car?

For a used vehicle exported by ship, US Customs and Border Protection requires the vehicle and its documents, including the original title or a certified copy plus two copies, to be presented at least 72 hours before export (cbp.gov and 19 CFR 192.2, checked 20 Oct 2026).

Do I need an AES filing to export a used car?

Yes. Electronic export information must be filed for used self-propelled vehicles regardless of value (15 CFR 30.2, checked 20 Oct 2026). It is filed through the Automated Export System, usually by the forwarder.

Can I export a car with a salvage title?

CBP lists a certificate of title or a salvage title that remains in force as acceptable export documents, and also covers junk or scrap certificates (cbp.gov, checked 20 Oct 2026). Being allowed to leave the US doesn't mean the car can get UAE plates. Check the plates guide first.

How long does shipping from the USA to Jebel Ali take?

Shipper pages give about 25–45 days at sea, depending on the US coast. One shipper's calculator gives 65–70 days for a shared container from New Jersey or California (checked 20 Oct 2026). Waiting for a shared container to fill and export clearance can add time. Estimate — confirm locally.

What is the Vehicle Clearance Certificate (VCC)?

Dubai Customs issues the VCC after clearance. It says the certificate is mandatory for all vehicles that need to be registered in the UAE, and the fee is AED 30 per vehicle (dubaicustoms.gov.ae, checked 20 Oct 2026). Estimate — confirm locally.

Where does shipping go in the FlipRadar calculator?

In the Transport line. The free max bid calculator is a USD worksheet with no customs fields: add the yard-to-port haul, ocean freight and destination port charges there, and put duty, VAT and registration in Title and registration.

Sources

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