We ship cars, classic and collector vehicles, used machinery and general containerised cargo from anywhere in the USA to Denmark. Nationwide collection, loading at our own warehouse, US export filing handled, and a real price back in 24 to 48 hours.
Where your cargo lands
Aarhus
Denmark's largest container port and the default entry point for containers from North America, with good links across Jutland and the islands.
Copenhagen
Served as part of Copenhagen Malmo Port, suiting the capital region and Zealand.
Esbjerg and Fredericia
Esbjerg on the North Sea coast is a major vehicle terminal, and Fredericia sits centrally on the Little Belt.
Left-hand drive suits
Denmark drives on the right, so an American left-hand-drive vehicle is the correct configuration for the roads.
How long it takes
From the US East Coast to Aarhus, allow roughly 18 to 30 days port to port. Copenhagen and the smaller terminals usually run a few days longer because they see fewer direct calls. Add one to two weeks if the vehicle starts in the Gulf states or on the US West Coast. Transshipment at Rotterdam, Antwerp, Bremerhaven or Gothenburg is standard on this lane and is not a sign of a problem with your booking.
| Port | Serves | Typical USEC transit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aarhus | Jutland and the whole country | 18 to 30 days | Largest Danish container port, widest choice |
| Copenhagen | Capital region and Zealand | 20 to 32 days | Part of Copenhagen Malmo Port |
| Esbjerg | West Jutland, vehicle traffic | 20 to 32 days | Major vehicle terminal |
| Fredericia | Central Denmark | 20 to 32 days | Fewer calls, book further ahead |
Danish duty, VAT and registration tax
Denmark is in the EU, so a used passenger car from outside the Union normally attracts 10 percent customs duty on the customs value and then 25 percent Danish VAT. Those two are the straightforward part. The charge that decides whether an import is worth doing at all is the registration tax, registreringsafgift, administered by Motorstyrelsen.
Danish registration tax is charged in rising bands against the taxable value of the vehicle, starting at 25 percent on the lowest band and climbing steeply through 85 percent to 150 percent on the highest. The band thresholds are adjusted annually, so take the current figures from Motorstyrelsen rather than from an old article. The practical effect is that a valuable modern car can attract a tax that exceeds its purchase price, and that is why Denmark is the hardest Nordic market for ordinary imports and one of the better ones for old cars.
Registering an imported car in Denmark
Registration tax is assessed by Motorstyrelsen, part of the Danish Tax Agency, and vehicle registration runs through the Danish motor register. An imported vehicle needs a registration inspection, syn, at an approved station before it can be plated, where lighting, glazing, brakes, emissions equipment and safety features are checked against Danish requirements.
European cars usually arrive with a Certificate of Conformity, which makes approval simpler. American-market vehicles generally do not have one and go through individual approval, and US-specification lighting is the item most often changed. Keep the original US title, bill of sale, bill of lading and customs paperwork together, because mismatched documents are the most common cause of delay at this stage.
Classics, auction cars and general cargo
Denmark is a classic car market rather than a modern car market, and the tax structure is the whole reason. Once a vehicle passes 35 years and is in original condition, the registration tax assessment changes completely, which is why American cars from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s are a far more common import than anything recent. Originality matters here, so a car that has been heavily modified can lose the advantage.
We also ship vehicles bought at Copart, IAA, Manheim and eBay Motors. We collect from the yard anywhere in the USA, hold the car at our warehouse while you buy more, and load when you are ready. Trucks, pickups, used construction machinery and general containerised cargo move on the same lane.
If you are not in the USA, that is not a problem. Most of our Danish customers buy remotely and never see the vehicle before it sails, which is why we photograph every car at the warehouse and again before the container is sealed.
Questions about shipping to Denmark
What is the best way to ship a car from the USA to Denmark?
In a container to Aarhus or Copenhagen, booked with the licensed carrier rather than through a broker. A container protects the vehicle from weather and handling, and lets several cars share one box so the freight splits between them. Cassandra Logistics is FMC-licensed under OTI No. 025125NF and issues the bill of lading in its own name. Get a price in 24 to 48 hours.
Who ships cars from the USA to Aarhus?
We do, directly. Cassandra Logistics is a licensed US NVOCC operating under FMC OTI No. 025125NF, trading as Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. We collect anywhere in the USA, load at our own warehouse, file the US export declaration and issue the bill of lading ourselves, so you deal with the party that controls the booking rather than a reseller.
How long does it take to ship a car from the USA to Denmark?
From the US East Coast to Aarhus, allow roughly 18 to 30 days port to port. Copenhagen, Esbjerg and Fredericia usually run a few days longer because they see fewer direct calls. Add one to two weeks if the car starts in the Gulf or on the West Coast. Transshipment at a North European hub is standard on this lane.
How much tax will I pay importing a car into Denmark?
A used car from outside the EU normally attracts 10 percent customs duty and 25 percent Danish VAT. The charge that decides whether the import makes sense is the registration tax, registreringsafgift, charged in rising bands from 25 percent through 85 percent to 150 percent of taxable value. Take the current thresholds from Motorstyrelsen before you buy.
Why is the Danish registration tax so high?
Because it is deliberately steep and charged in rising bands against the taxable value of the vehicle. On a valuable modern car the tax can exceed what you paid for it. This is why Denmark is the hardest Nordic market for ordinary imports, and why almost everything we ship there is either old enough to qualify for favourable treatment or bought with the tax already priced in.
Do old cars pay less registration tax in Denmark?
Yes. A vehicle over 35 years old in original condition is assessed on a far more favourable basis than a modern car, which is why American cars from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s make up most of what we ship to Denmark. Originality matters, so a heavily modified car can lose the advantage. Confirm the current rule with Motorstyrelsen.
Which Danish port should I choose?
Aarhus for the widest choice of sailings and the shortest transit, Copenhagen if your address is in the capital region or on Zealand, and Esbjerg or Fredericia if west or central Jutland suits you better. Tell us the delivery postcode and we will compare the freight against the inland leg before you decide.
Can I ship a car into Copenhagen?
Yes, through Copenhagen Malmo Port. It suits anyone collecting in the capital region or on Zealand and saves the inland run from Jutland. There are fewer direct calls than Aarhus, so transit tends to be a little longer and booking space needs more notice, but it is a straightforward option.
Can you collect a vehicle anywhere in the USA for a Denmark shipment?
Yes. We arrange nationwide collection from auction yards, dealers and private sellers in any US state and bring the vehicle to our own loading warehouse. You do not need to arrange transport to the port yourself. Send the pickup address with the year, make and model and we will price the collection alongside the freight.
Can I ship a car I bought at a US auction to Denmark?
Yes. Copart, IAA, Manheim and eBay Motors vehicles move on this lane regularly. We collect from the yard, hold the car at our warehouse until the title arrives, and load when everything is in order. Send the lot number and the auction location and we will quote the whole move from yard to Danish port.
What if the auction has not released the title before my Denmark sailing?
We hold the vehicle at our warehouse until the title is in hand. US export rules require the original title to be presented to Customs before the vehicle may leave the country, so a car cannot sail without it. We would rather store it than promise a sailing that cannot happen, and we will tell you honestly what is realistic.
Can I put three or four cars in one container to Denmark?
Yes, and it is the cheapest way to move several vehicles. A 40ft high cube will usually take three or four cars depending on their size, with the freight split across them. Mixing a classic with ordinary vehicles is fine. Send the years, makes and models and we will confirm what actually fits in the box.
Can I share a Denmark container with another buyer?
Yes, where both parties are our customers and the cargo is going to the same port. One bill of lading is issued per container showing one receiver, so everyone sharing the box appears under a single consignee. Please make sure everyone sharing understands this before you book, because it cannot be split afterwards.
Is a 20ft or 40ft container better value to Denmark?
For a single car a 20ft container is usually right. For two or more vehicles a 40ft high cube almost always works out cheaper per car, because the freight difference between the sizes is far smaller than the difference in capacity. We will price both options and show you the comparison rather than deciding for you.
Should I use a sole-use container for a classic to Denmark?
If the car is valuable and you would rather it travelled alone, yes. A sole-use container costs more per vehicle but nothing else is loaded alongside it and nobody else's paperwork or schedule affects your sailing. This is the usual choice for concours cars and anything where the arrival date is fixed.
How is a car secured inside a Denmark container?
The vehicle is driven or winched in, the wheels are chocked, and it is lashed to the container's securing points with straps over the tyres rather than the bodywork or suspension. Fuel is run low and the battery disconnected where required. We photograph the lashing before the doors close so you can see how your car travelled.
Will I get photos before my Denmark container is sealed?
Yes. We photograph every vehicle when it reaches our warehouse and again inside the container before the doors are sealed, and we send them to you. That record protects both sides, because it shows the condition of the car and the way it was secured at the moment it left our control.
Can you ship a car that does not run to Denmark?
Yes. A non-running vehicle is winched into the container rather than driven, which takes longer and sometimes needs a forklift, so it costs more than a runner. Tell us at the start that the car does not start, and whether it rolls and steers, so we can price it properly rather than discovering it on loading day.
Can I ship parts or spares with the vehicle to Denmark?
Spares belonging to the vehicle can usually travel with it, boxed and declared, and they must appear on the packing list and the customs paperwork. Loose personal items and household goods are a different matter and are not permitted in a vehicle shipment. Tell us what you want to include and we will say what is acceptable.
Can you ship trucks and commercial vehicles to Denmark?
Yes. Pickups, vans, light trucks and commercial vehicles move on this lane in containers. Larger units may need a 40ft high cube or partial dismantling to fit, and heavy commercial vehicles are quoted individually. Send the dimensions and weight along with the year, make and model and we will work out the right equipment.
Can I ship construction machinery to Denmark?
Yes. We ship used construction and agricultural machinery bought at Ritchie Bros., IronPlanet, Purple Wave and similar auctions. Larger machines may need attachments removed to fit a container. Machinery must be cleaned of soil and plant material before it ships, because EU biosecurity rules are strict and a dirty machine can be held at the border.
Do you carry general commercial cargo to Denmark?
Yes. Alongside vehicles we move general containerised commercial cargo on this lane. What we do not do is general groupage of unrelated small consignments from different customers. We will let our own customers share a container on the same lane, which is a different arrangement and usually what people are actually asking about.
What is included in your Denmark price?
Collection from the seller or auction yard, loading and securing at our warehouse, the US export filing, ocean freight to the Danish port you choose, and the bill of lading. Charges at destination, Danish duty, VAT, registration tax, clearance and inland delivery are the receiver's account. We set out what is in and what is out on the quote itself.
Why are other Denmark quotes cheaper?
Usually because something has been left out. The common omissions are collection from the seller, the US export filing, and any mention that destination charges and the registration tax will follow. We would rather give you a complete figure than a low one that grows later. Send us a cheaper quote and we will tell you plainly what it covers.
What costs will I face on arrival in Denmark?
Terminal handling and release charges at the port, customs clearance, duty, Danish VAT, the registration tax, and inland transport to your address. The registration inspection and plating follow once the car is yours. These are the receiver's account everywhere, and a Danish customs agent is the right person to price them for your specific vehicle.
What do I need to register an imported car in Denmark?
Motorstyrelsen assesses the registration tax, and the vehicle needs a registration inspection, syn, at an approved station before it can be plated. Lighting, glazing, brakes, emissions equipment and safety features are checked against Danish requirements. American cars without a European Certificate of Conformity go through individual approval, and US-specification lighting is the usual item to change.
Can you hold my cars for a Denmark load while I buy more?
Yes. Storage at our warehouse while you build up a load is normal on this lane and is usually how people fill a 40ft container economically. Tell us roughly how long you expect to need and we will agree it up front, so there are no surprises on the invoice later on.
How fast can you quote a Denmark shipment?
Normally within 24 to 48 hours. Send the pickup address or auction location, the year, make and model, and the Danish port or delivery town. If the vehicle is non-running, oversized or a classic you want travelling alone, say so at the start, because those change the price and we would rather quote it right the first time.
What happens after I accept your Denmark quote?
We arrange collection, bring the vehicle to our warehouse, photograph it, and hold it until the title and paperwork are complete. We book the sailing, file the US export declaration, load and seal the container, and send you photographs and the bill of lading. You then pass the documents to your Danish customs agent for clearance.
Are you a licensed NVOCC on the Denmark lane or a freight broker?
A licensed NVOCC. Cassandra Logistics is the trade name of Royal Port Container Lines, Inc., licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission as an Ocean Transportation Intermediary under OTI No. 025125NF. We issue our own bill of lading on this lane and hold the carrier contract ourselves, which is why we can commit to a price and a sailing rather than passing your enquiry on.
Please note. Import rules, duties and vehicle age limits change without notice and vary by country and by importer category. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or customs advice. Confirm current requirements with a licensed customs agent in the destination country before you buy a vehicle.