What's important to know about shipping cars from America?

Reasons for the Popularity of Cars from the U.S.

Cars from the United States are in high demand, and this demand is growing year after year. The main reason for this increase is the real opportunity to save between 30 and 60 percent compared to the cost of a car in Ukraine. 

However, many Ukrainians don’t trust intermediaries or don’t fully understand how buying a car through U.S. auction platforms works. As a result, they are forced to buy used cars in Ukraine at very high prices. 

Bex Auto has 12 years of experience working with U.S. auction platforms. Over 10,000 customers have used our services. We help you purchase a reliable American-made vehicle at an affordable price. 

In this article, we’ll explain how cars are shipped from the United States to Ukraine, what you need to do to get a good price, and how to minimize risks and unnecessary costs when purchasing a car from the U.S. 

What You’ll Need to Buy a Car

To import a car from the U.S., the buyer must use the services of a reliable intermediary. Our staff will help you choose the make and model. After that, an official contract is signed. The customer must provide the following documentation:

1. Passport (copies of pages 1 and 2 showing the buyer’s registered address). 
2. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (INN). 
3. A second form of identification, such as a driver’s license or international passport. 

How Car Transportation from the U.S. Works

Purchasing a car from the U.S. involves quite a few risks that are difficult to account for when buying on your own or when working with unscrupulous intermediaries.

The shipping process involves the following steps:

1. Our staff will select a vehicle from the most well-known and largest auction sites in the U.S. based on the client’s budget and preferences. 
2. Once the client approves a lot, the manager conducts a thorough check of the car’s history. 
3. If the vehicle meets all criteria, the contract is officially signed, and we begin bidding on the lot. 
4. After purchase, the vehicle is driven to the port of departure. Before loading it into a container, it is inspected and photographed from all angles to document any damage. The report is sent to the client.
5. We handle all the paperwork required for transportation and for loading the container onto the ship. 
6. Shipping takes 4 to 10 weeks. You can track the container’s progress on the company’s website in your account. 
7. We’ll handle customs clearance for the car upon arrival. 
8. If the car was purchased with damage, you can order diagnostics, parts selection, and a complete vehicle repair from us. Additionally, we can adapt the car to meet European standards. 
9. Our staff handles the certification process and prepares all necessary documents. 
10. The final step is registration and obtaining Ukrainian license plates. 

What Are the Risks of Buying a Car from the U.S.?

Buying a vehicle from the United States on your own is a major risk. First-time buyers face numerous hidden challenges when selecting, paying for, and shipping a vehicle. All of this can lead to unexpected costs. We’ve compiled a list of the most common issues encountered when purchasing an American car:

1. If payment is not made by the due date, the auction house imposes a penalty. This penalty increases daily until the buyer pays off the accumulated amount in full. Sometimes this leads to a significant increase in costs. 
2. If you don’t thoroughly verify the documents, you could fall victim to scammers or unscrupulous dealers. This, too, can result in additional charges. You should inspect cars directly from insurers at auction, rather than through intermediaries. If non-export documents are provided, you won’t be able to export the “purchased” car from the U.S.
3. Improper selection and inspection often lead to buying a car from scammers. In photos, a car may look great, but in reality, it could be a “totaled vehicle” or a “shell.” A car that looks perfect on the outside may actually have serious mechanical issues or be missing important parts. Repairing such a vehicle will result in significant financial losses. 
4. Poorly planned logistics will increase the waiting time or the cost of delivery. The customer will still have to find a carrier to ship the car, but it’s better to save time and money by using the services of Bex Auto. 
5. Since a car from the U.S. can take up to 3 months to ship, anything can happen to it along the way, and you’ll have to cover any additional damage yourself. If you don’t purchase insurance, your expenses may also increase.

Cost and Delivery Times for Cars from the U.S.

When shipping by sea, delivery takes between 30 and 90 days. To transport a purchased car within the United States, you’ll have to pay between $250 and $1,000. The delivery time and cost of transporting a vehicle from the U.S. will depend on the location of the auction and the port from which the car will be shipped. 

The turnkey price of the car includes:

• transportation;
• brokerage services;
• customs clearance.

For an additional fee, you can order repair services and vehicle registration. 

What are the guarantees for shipping cars from the U.S.?

When you buy a car in the U.S. through Bex Auto, you can eliminate the risk of purchasing a “lemon” and, consequently, avoid increased repair costs. 

In addition:

• an official contract is signed, detailing all terms of the transaction—from purchase to delivery—and documenting the rights and obligations of both parties;
• the customer receives a CarFax report (the vehicle’s complete history), staff provide an update on the purchase process, and a report with photos of the vehicle is sent before it is loaded into the container;
• The vehicle’s location can be tracked on the Bex Auto website in your personal account, where all expenses are also listed;
• Experienced staff advise against skipping insurance, which will allow you to receive compensation if the car is damaged during transport. 

Benefits of Working with Bex Auto: Why We’re the Best

Considering the information outlined above, we can confidently state that working with us is safer and more cost-effective than buying a car from the U.S. on your own or through questionable companies. 

By working with Bex Auto, customers enjoy several benefits:

1. There is a real opportunity to save significantly on your purchase. We have extensive experience and well-established contacts. We don’t need middlemen, which reduces the cost of purchasing and shipping the car to Ukraine. Thanks to us, savings can reach up to 60%. 
2. We have a well-coordinated team of professionals who will provide you with comprehensive information about the process of buying a car from the U.S. They carefully select the vehicle and oversee every stage of transportation—right up to the point where the customer receives the vehicle with Ukrainian license plates already installed. 
3. We operate exclusively under an official contract, and payments are made to transparent bank accounts. All account details are also specified in the documents. 
4. Our fleet allows you to buy a car from the U.S. by inspecting and selecting it at our warehouse. This helps you save money and time, since the vehicle is already located in Ukraine. 

We provide a full range of services. In addition to purchasing and transporting the vehicle, we handle customs clearance, obtain all necessary certificates, and register the vehicle. Our partner auto repair shops perform comprehensive diagnostics and repairs on the vehicles.