Shipping Cars to Russia

There are always challenges and plenty of paperwork involved when shipping automobiles overseas. The same is true when shipping cars to Russia.

A reliable car shipping company, however, has enough knowledge and experience on how Russian customs work and so the process could be done quick and hassle-free.

Car shippers in America understand the intricate details and possible complications that could happen when transporting American vehicles to another country. This is exactly the reason why they should collaborate with local shippers in the target country.

Almost always, international auto shipping involves more than one shipping company, since it does cover more than one government and more than one set of laws and regulations. Typically, the first set of hurdles to international shipping involves customs duties, taxes, and fees.

Sometimes there are unforeseen fees that even the most experienced car shippers are caught by surprise. Customs duty on imported cars is a bit expensive in Russia. In some cases, changes and modifications will also be asked in excise tax, customs duties, and value-added tax.

Also, a 25% import tax is required as a foreign car goes through customs clearance. At some cases, a bigger percentage is asked. Another mandatory tax when bringing in imported cars to Russia is the VAT or value-added tax, which again could amount to 25%. This is especially true for new cars.

To avoid being fined with so many taxes and fees, there is a growing trend of bringing in cars to Russia by first disassembling them before they reach the country. For instance, a car is taken apart in Japan or other countries on the route, and then proceeds with the usual process of car shipping.

The duties for disassembled cars are much less expensive than for complete automobiles. Duties and taxes are reduced, and some other taxes are totally foregone. Some car parts may enter the country free from taxes if they were to be assembled in Russia. While inside Russia, the disassembled cars are then reassembled at local shops and still the costs would be less expensive.

However, the Russian government has noticed the influx of disassembled cars and is now reviewing this practice. It could be stopped or discouraged soon. More about shipping whole cars, it is necessary to work out the registration of an imported car at the customs department itself for cars that are registered in a foreign country and will be shipped and used in Russia for only six months or less.

On the other hand, if cars will be used in Russia for more than six months, registration would have to be done by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Russian Interior Ministry. After a car is properly registered, a Vehicle’s Import Acknowledgement Certificate or UVTS will be issued as a validating document to allow the entry and usage of an imported car on Russian soil.

Without UVTS, a foreign car cannot not be used or driven on Russian roads. Another validating document that will be issued and submitted to Russian customs is the Obligatory Third Party Car Insurance (OSAGO) policy.

Shipping cars to Russia or Europe

Taking all things into account, shipping cars to Russia is not at all that difficult. It may be done, has been done and is being regularly performed by American car shipping companies. Just make sure to hire a reliable and accredited automobile shipper with experience in shipping cars to Russia.