Buyers around the world turn to US auctions for great value on cars, trucks and SUVs. But once you have won a vehicle on Copart, IAA, Manheim or eBay Motors, a practical question follows: how do you actually get it home? This guide walks through exporting an auction-won car from the United States, start to finish.
Step 1: Win the vehicle and pay
Once you win, the auction expects prompt payment and prompt removal. Storage fees begin to accrue at the yard, so the faster the vehicle moves, the better. Have your payment and buyer details in order before the sale closes so there is no delay collecting the car.
Step 2: Get the car from the yard to the warehouse
Auction vehicles sit at yards that are often nowhere near a port. The car needs to be moved to an export warehouse for loading. This is where many buyers get stuck — coordinating a tow from an auction yard from overseas is a headache.
Cassandra Logistics solves this with automobile towing from any state: we collect the vehicle directly from the Copart, IAA or Manheim yard and bring it to our loading warehouse, so you never have to arrange transport yourself.
Step 3: Titles & documentation
US Customs requires the original title (or appropriate documentation) before a vehicle can be exported, and it must be submitted in advance of the vessel's sailing. Auction titles sometimes arrive by mail a little after the sale, so factor that timing in. A specialist confirms exactly what is required for your vehicle and destination and handles the US export filing (AES/EEI) for you.
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Tell us the vehicle and where it's going. We'll reply with a clear, competitive quote within 24–48 hours.
Get a QuoteStep 4: Choose how it ships
Most auction vehicles ship in containers:
- Shared container: several vehicles loaded together — the most economical option for standard cars.
- Sole-use or enclosed container: for higher-value or special vehicles that warrant extra protection.
See container dimensions and capacities on our Shipping Tools page.
Step 5: Sailing & arrival
Once loaded and filed, your vehicle sails to its destination port. Popular destinations for auction-won cars include the Gulf (Dubai and the wider UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar), West and East Africa, and Europe. Look up seaports in any country with our seaport lookup tool.
Why use a licensed NVOCC
Exporting an auction car involves collection, titles, customs filing and ocean transport — several moving parts that are easy to get wrong from abroad. A licensed NVOCC like Cassandra Logistics ties them together under one accountable party, rather than leaving you to coordinate a tow company, a freight broker and a customs filer separately. For an overseas buyer, that single point of contact is the difference between a smooth export and a stressful one.
When you are ready, our online shipping form walks you through the details and produces your signed instructions as a PDF.