The question "how much does it cost to import a car from Canada" sounds simple, but an honest answer always breaks down into several line items. The price on the listing is only the beginning. Below, we at Canada Motor House lay out the entire estimate step by step, so you understand what makes up the final turnkey figure and where you can save — and where you shouldn't.
1. The Price of the Car Itself
The first and biggest line item is the price at the Canadian dealer or auction. Look not only at the sticker but at the real condition: service history, a CARFAX report, mileage in kilometres. Budget separately for local sales tax (on average 13% HST in Ontario), which can be partly recovered on export, and the platform or broker fee. At this stage, the price on our site is always listed on request — we quote the current cost for a specific trim and colour.
2. Ocean Freight and the Container
From Canada to Europe and the CIS, a car travels by sea — this is the main and safest method. There are two options:
- Container — the car is secured inside, protected from weather and damage. This is our recommended method. Roughly, shipping one car to Europe costs from $1,500 USD, to the UAE (Dubai) from $1,200 USD.
- RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) — cheaper, but the car rides "on deck" without extra protection; not suitable for every vehicle or route.
The exact price depends on the port of departure, the destination port and the vehicle's dimensions.
3. Transit Insurance
While the car crosses the ocean, it must be insured. Marine transit insurance usually runs 1–2% of the declared value of the vehicle and covers the risk of damage or loss of cargo. It is a small sum, but we strongly advise against skipping it: a container is at sea for weeks, and force-majeure events do happen.
4. Export Clearance in Canada
Before loading, the car must be legally exported from the country. This includes:
- filing an export declaration with Canadian customs (CBSA), including the mandatory 72-hour notice;
- preparing the Title and proof of ownership;
- export broker services and terminal fees at the port.
The full export clearance package usually costs a few hundred dollars. We handle this part for you, so you don't have to navigate Canadian bureaucracy on your own.
5. Customs Clearance in the Destination Country
This is the most variable line item: duties are calculated by the rules of your country, not Canada's. Rates depend on the vehicle's age, engine size and type (ICE, hybrid, electric), the customs value and the current exchange rate. For example:
- in the EAEU countries, clearance is made up of duty, excise, VAT and a recycling fee;
- for electric vehicles, many countries apply reduced rates;
- in the UAE the import duty rate is traditionally lower than in Europe and the CIS.
That is why there is no universal "customs" figure — it has to be calculated for a specific model, year and destination.
6. Extra Costs and Door-to-Door Delivery
Once the car arrives at the destination port, the final line items remain:
- temporary storage warehouse fees and port charges;
- local customs broker services;
- overland delivery by car carrier from the port to your city;
- if required — certification and vehicle registration.
These amounts are usually modest compared to freight and customs, but it is important to plan for them in advance so the budget doesn't drift at the finish line.
7. The Turnkey Estimate
Putting it all together, the final cost of a car from Canada breaks down as: the price of the car + freight (from $1,200–1,500 USD) + insurance (1–2%) + export + customs per your country's rules + storage and delivery to your city. For most destinations, logistics and clearance add a predictable, pre-calculable amount to the price of the car — with no surprises when you work with a transparent partner.
Want an exact estimate for your specific model and country? Leave a request with Canada Motor House — we'll calculate the full turnkey cost, recommend the optimal shipping method and guide the deal from the Canadian port to your garage.