We ship cars, trucks, used construction machinery and general containerised cargo from anywhere in the USA to Ireland. Nationwide collection, loading at our own warehouse, US export filing handled, and a real price back in 24 to 48 hours.
Irish ports we serve
Dublin
Ireland's dominant container port, handling roughly three quarters of the State's lift-on lift-off boxes and nearly half of all tonnage through Irish ports.
Cork Ringaskiddy
The southern deepwater terminal, with direct transatlantic container services into Cork rather than feeder legs through a European hub.
Ireland drives on the left
American left hand drive vehicles are legal to import and register, and common among enthusiasts, but they sit opposite to local traffic.
Cars, machinery, cargo
Auction and dealer vehicles, construction plant, commercial goods and general containerised freight.
What we move to Ireland
Cars and pickups from Copart, IAA, Manheim and eBay Motors, three or four to a 40ft container so the freight splits across them. American pickups, muscle cars and vintage stock are the steady trade on this lane. Trucks and commercial vehicles. Used construction machinery from Ritchie Bros., IronPlanet and Purple Wave. And general containerised cargo, including building materials, industrial goods, trade goods and spare parts.
Ireland is an EU member, so a vehicle arriving from the United States is a third country import and clears as one. That is a different procedure from moving a car within the EU, and it is also different from the Great Britain route many Irish buyers used to take. Your clearing agent handles that side. We handle everything up to the port of discharge.
Dublin or Cork, and why it matters
Dublin is the default. It is Ireland's principal container port, it has the deepest schedule coverage, and for most cargo heading anywhere from Donegal to Wexford it is the shortest route to the door.
Cork earns its place when the cargo is going to Munster, or when a direct transatlantic sailing beats a transshipped one. The deepwater terminal at Ringaskiddy takes Panamax vessels and carries direct container services to and from the United States, which can mean fewer handling points for a vehicle than a routing that transships through a European hub.
Tell us the delivery town and we will tell you which port actually lands your cargo closest, including when that answer is the one that costs you less.
What Irish registration actually involves
Three separate charges land on an imported vehicle in Ireland, and they are not the same thing. Customs duty is charged at import because the vehicle comes from outside the EU. VAT is charged at import on the customs value. Vehicle Registration Tax is charged when the vehicle is registered, and it is calculated from the Open Market Selling Price with components for carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Vehicles more than thirty years old are treated as vintage for VRT and fall into a separate category with a flat charge rather than an emissions-based one. That is the single biggest reason older American stock keeps moving on this lane. Confirm your own vehicle's position with Revenue or your agent before you bid, because thirty years is measured at the time of registration.
We are the ocean carrier. We will not quote you an Irish duty figure or rule on whether your car qualifies as vintage, because those belong to Revenue and to your clearing agent, not to a US carrier trying to win a booking.
Roadworthiness and the NCT
An imported car does not arrive with any Irish roadworthiness credit. The National Car Test applies from four years old, and a vehicle coming in from the United States gets no carry-over from a foreign test, unlike one arriving from another EU country.
Older vehicles are treated differently again, with reduced test frequency at thirty years and an exemption once a vehicle reaches its fortieth anniversary of first registration, except where it is used commercially. If you are buying a car specifically because of its age, that distinction is worth checking before the money leaves your account.
Get a real price in 24 to 48 hours
Tell us the vehicle or cargo, where it sits in the USA, and whether it is going to Dublin or Cork.
Get a free quote WhatsApp usWhy book this lane with us
We are the carrier. Cassandra Logistics is federally licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission under OTI No. 025125NF, and the bill of lading is issued in our own name rather than by a broker reselling somebody else's space.
We collect from anywhere in the USA, including non-runners, and load at our own warehouse in New Jersey, Savannah, Houston or Baltimore, where cargo is braced and photographed before the doors close.
We file the US export declaration, so the American side is clean before the vessel sails and your agent has a consistent document set. See what the US filing involves.
What is the best way to ship a car from the USA to Ireland?
In a container to Dublin or Cork, booked with the licensed carrier rather than a broker. A container protects the vehicle from weather and handling, and three or four cars can share one box so the freight splits across 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 Dublin?
We do, as a licensed US NVOCC. We collect from any state, load and brace the vehicles at our own warehouse in New Jersey, Savannah, Houston or Baltimore, file the US export declaration and ship to Dublin or Cork.
Can I ship a car I bought at a US auction to Ireland?
Yes. We collect directly from Copart, IAA, Manheim and eBay Motors yards anywhere in the United States, bring the vehicle to our warehouse and ship it to Ireland. You never need to travel to the States to make it happen.
How much does it cost to ship a car from the USA to Ireland?
It depends on where the vehicle sits in the States, which Irish port you want, and how many vehicles share the container. Because we are the NVOCC rather than a reseller, the number you get is the carrier rate rather than a marked-up broker quote. Send us the vehicle and the pickup location for a firm figure.
How long does shipping a car from the USA to Ireland take?
It depends on the US loading port and whether the sailing runs direct or transships through a European hub. Direct transatlantic services into Cork avoid a transshipment leg. We give you a concrete schedule with the quote rather than a vague range you cannot plan around.
Can I put three or four cars in one container to Ireland?
Yes, and on this lane it is the single biggest saving available. Ocean freight is charged on the container rather than per vehicle, so filling a 40ft box drops the cost per car sharply. Tell us the exact vehicles and we will confirm the loading plan before you commit.
Should I ship to Dublin or Cork?
Dublin is the default because it handles most of Ireland’s container traffic and has the widest schedule coverage. Cork suits cargo going to Munster, and its deepwater terminal at Ringaskiddy carries direct transatlantic container services, which can mean fewer handling points than a transshipped routing. Tell us the delivery town and we will route it.
Is there an age limit on importing a car into Ireland from the USA?
Ireland sets no maximum age for an imported used car. Age changes how the vehicle is taxed and tested rather than whether it may come in at all, which is why thirty year old American stock moves on this lane alongside late model pickups.
How long do I have to register an imported car in Ireland?
The vehicle must be registered within thirty days of entering the State, and the NCTS appointment has to be booked within seven days of entry. Missing the window costs additional tax rather than simply causing a delay, so line your clearing agent up before the vessel sails.
What taxes apply when I import a car into Ireland from America?
Three separate charges, and they are not the same thing. Customs duty applies at import because the vehicle comes from outside the EU. VAT applies at import on the customs value. Vehicle Registration Tax applies when the car is registered. Your clearing agent and Revenue give you the figures; we are the ocean carrier and will not invent them.
How is Vehicle Registration Tax calculated in Ireland?
VRT is based on the Open Market Selling Price of the vehicle, with the rate set by carbon dioxide emissions and a separate charge for nitrogen oxide emissions added on top. Because it keys off emissions and market value, two cars of the same age can be taxed very differently. Revenue publishes the bands.
Are classic and vintage American cars treated differently in Ireland?
Yes. A vehicle more than thirty years old at the time of registration falls into the vintage VRT category and is charged a flat amount rather than an emissions-based percentage. That treatment is what keeps older American stock commercially viable on this lane. Confirm your specific vehicle with Revenue before you bid.
Can I import an American left hand drive car into Ireland?
Yes. Ireland drives on the left, so an American car sits on the opposite side to local traffic, but left hand drive vehicles are legal to import, register and drive. No steering conversion is required. It is a practical consideration for the buyer rather than a legal barrier.
Does an imported car need an NCT in Ireland?
The National Car Test applies from four years old. A car arriving from the United States gets no credit for any American inspection, unlike a vehicle moving in from another EU country. Test frequency reduces at thirty years and an exemption applies from the fortieth anniversary of first registration, except for commercial use.
Can I ship machinery and construction plant to Ireland?
Yes. Excavators, loaders, telehandlers and plant move on this lane. Depending on dimensions we ship containerised, on flat-rack or by heavy haulage, with dismantling and securing where the size requires it. Send the model number so we can confirm dimensions rather than estimate them.
Do you carry general commercial cargo to Ireland?
Yes. Full container freight from any US origin, including building materials, industrial goods, machinery parts and trade goods. Tell us the commodity, weight and volume and we will price it the same way we price a vehicle shipment.
Can you collect a vehicle anywhere in the USA for an Ireland shipment?
Yes. Nationwide pickup and towing from any state, whether the vehicle sits at an auction yard, a dealer or a private seller. Non-runners are winched rather than driven, which is routine for us. Distance affects the cost of collection, not whether we can do it.
Which US ports do you load from for Ireland?
Our warehouses in New Jersey, Savannah, Houston and Baltimore all serve North Europe sailings, with East Coast departures most common on this lane. The loading point affects both the rate and the schedule, so tell us where the vehicle sits and we will work out which one lands it soonest.
Do you handle customs clearance in Ireland?
No. Clearance is handled by a licensed customs agent in Ireland. We are the ocean carrier, we deliver to Dublin or Cork, and we provide the documentation your agent needs. Treat any company claiming to clear customs in every country with caution, because it is describing something it cannot deliver.
What US export paperwork applies on an Ireland shipment?
We handle the US side, including the filing in the Automated Export System. You provide the title or equivalent ownership document and the bill of sale. A vehicle cannot leave the United States without its title, and there is no workaround. See the AES filing guide.
What is included in your Ireland price?
Collection from the US seller, transport to our warehouse, loading and bracing, the US export filing, and the ocean freight to Dublin or Cork. Irish duty, VAT, VRT, port handling, your agent’s fee and inland delivery are paid at the Irish end.
Why are other quotes to Ireland cheaper?
Usually because they exclude collection, loading or the export filing, or because they are broker prices that get revised once the booking becomes real. Ask what is excluded and ask who issues the bill of lading. See what actually drives the cost.
Can you hold my cars at your warehouse until I have a full container for Ireland?
Yes. We can hold vehicles while you win others, then load them together in one container. Auction yards charge daily storage and our warehouse does not work that way, so waiting for the right load usually saves money rather than costing it.
How do you secure a car for the crossing to Ireland?
Loaded on its own wheels, chocked, strapped at the wheels or suspension rather than over the bodywork, and blocked so it cannot shift at sea. Where the straps attach is what separates a careful load from a damaged car, and the North Atlantic is not a gentle crossing.
Will I get photographs before my Ireland container is sealed?
Yes. We photograph the vehicle when it reaches our warehouse and again once it is loaded and braced, before the doors close. That record also supports a claim if anything goes wrong in transit, which is why we do it as standard rather than on request.
Can I put parts or personal items inside a vehicle going to Ireland?
Only if they are declared on the export filing. Undeclared goods packed inside vehicles are one of the most common causes of clearance problems at Dublin and Cork, and the consequence lands on the importer rather than on the carrier. Send us the list when you book and it is a non-issue.
Do you deliver inland in Ireland?
Our service ends at the port of discharge. Inland delivery is arranged by your clearing agent, who is already handling clearance. Tell us the final town anyway, because it decides whether Dublin or Cork lands the cargo closest.
How fast can you quote an Ireland shipment?
Within 24 to 48 hours in normal cases. Send the vehicle details including the VIN, where it sits in the United States, and whether it is going to Dublin or Cork. For machinery, send the model number so we confirm dimensions rather than estimating them.
What happens once I confirm an Ireland booking?
We arrange collection, bring the cargo to our warehouse, photograph it, book the container, load and brace it, file the US export declaration and send you the bill of lading. Your Irish clearing agent takes over from the port of discharge.
Are you a licensed carrier on the Ireland lane or a middleman?
We are the NVOCC. Cassandra Logistics is a federally licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediary under FMC licence OTI No. 025125NF, legally Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. The licence number is public and verifiable with the Federal Maritime Commission before you send anyone money.
Can I ship a non-running or project car to Ireland?
Yes. Non-runners are winched onto the truck and into the container rather than driven, which is routine work for us. Tell us it does not run when you ask for the quote, because it changes how the collection is arranged rather than whether it can happen.
Do you ship American pickups and trucks to Ireland?
Yes, and they are among the most common vehicles on this lane. Full size American pickups are taller and longer than most European stock, so they affect how many units fit in a container. Send us the exact model and we will confirm the loading plan.
Import rules change. The customs information on this page comes from official government sources and was accurate when published, but duties, age limits and eligibility requirements are set by the destination country and can change without notice. Cassandra Logistics is a licensed ocean carrier, not a customs authority or a legal adviser. We are not responsible for changes to foreign import law, or for decisions made by customs at destination. Always confirm current requirements with a licensed customs agent in the destination country before you buy a vehicle.