International Vehicle Purchase Process (U.S. Dealership → EU Customer)

This process applies to international vehicle purchases where the Seller is a U.S. based dealership and the Buyer is located within the European Union (EU). All transactions are handled through Global Shipping & Freight Florida acting as a neutral escrow and logistics provider.

1. Transaction Initiation (U.S. Seller)
☐ The U.S. dealership initiates the transaction with Global Shipping & Freight Florida
☐ Buyer provides full delivery details (name, address, phone, email)
☐ Vehicle specifications and final purchase price are agreed in writing (USD or EUR equivalent)

2. Documentation & Export Preparation
☐ Seller provides required U.S. documents, including:
  • Original vehicle title (proof of ownership)
  • Bill of Sale / commercial invoice
  • Vehicle identification details (VIN, specifications)
☐ Documents are prepared for export compliance from the United States

3. Vehicle Collection & U.S. Inspection
☐ Global Shipping & Freight Florida collects the vehicle from the dealership
☐ A thorough vehicle condition inspection is performed at pickup
☐ Vehicle is secured and prepared for international shipping

4. Buyer Payment (Escrow – International Transfer)
☐ Buyer transfers funds via international bank transfer (SWIFT/SEPA) to the Escrow Agent
☐ Funds are held securely in escrow (USD or converted currency)
☐ Seller has no access to funds at this stage

5. International Shipping & Export
☐ Vehicle is shipped from the United States to the Buyer’s EU destination port
☐ Export procedures are completed in compliance with U.S. regulations
☐ Buyer receives shipping confirmation and tracking details

6. EU Import & Delivery
☐ Upon arrival in the EU, the vehicle is subject to:
  • Import duties (If not prepaid by the seller on behalf of the buyer)
  • Value Added Tax (VAT) (If not prepaid by the seller on behalf of the buyer)
  • Local customs clearance procedures
☐ Buyer is responsible for all EU import costs and compliance requirements. These may be settled upon the vehicle’s arrival or prepaid by the seller on the buyer’s behalf
☐ Vehicle is delivered to Buyer’s address or designated pickup point

7. Delivery & Inspection Period (EU Buyer)
☐ The buyer shall have between one (1) and thirty (30) days following delivery to inspect the vehicle, as mutually agreed by the parties
☐ Buyer must verify that the vehicle matches the agreed description and condition

8. Acceptance & Release of Funds
☐ If accepted:
  • Buyer confirms approval to the Escrow Agent ( escrow@globalshippingfreightflorida.com )
  • Escrow Agent releases funds to the U.S. dealership

9. Non-Acceptance / Dispute Resolution
☐ If the vehicle is not as described:
  • Buyer must notify the Escrow Agent within the inspection period
  • Funds remain securely held in escrow
  • Return shipping or resolution is coordinated

10. Role of Escrow & Shipping Agent
☐ Global Shipping & Freight Florida acts as a neutral third party
☐ Responsibilities include:
  • Holding funds in escrow
  • Coordinating vehicle transport (U.S. → EU)
  • Releasing payment only upon Buyer approval
☐ The Escrow Agent does not act as Buyer or Seller

11. Important Cross-Border Considerations
☐ Buyer is responsible for:
  • Import duties and VAT in their EU country (If not prepaid by the seller on behalf of the buyer)
  • Vehicle registration and homologation (The Certificate of Conformity (CoC) shall be sent by the seller to the buyer by mail prior to the vehicle’s arrival at the destination port. Failure to comply shall result in cancellation of the transaction and a full refund to the buyer)
  • Compliance with local road regulations
☐ Currency exchange rates and bank fees may apply
☐ Delivery timelines may vary due to customs processing

Summary
✔ Funds are securely held in escrow in the United States
✔ Vehicle is exported and shipped internationally
✔ Buyer inspects the vehicle before releasing payment
✔ Seller receives payment only after Buyer approval

An escrow is a financial arrangement where a third party holds and regulates payment of the funds required for two parties involved in a given transaction. It helps make transactions more secure by keeping the payment in a secure escrow account which is only released when all of the terms of an agreement are met as overseen by the escrow company.

Escrows are very useful in the case of a transaction where a large amount money is involved and a certain number of obligations need to be fulfilled before a payment is released like in the case of a website being built where the buyer might want confirmation of the quality of work being done before making a full payment, and the seller doesn't want to extend a massive amount of work without any assurance that he or she will receive payment. While traditional escrow service is quite difficult and must be obtained through banks and lawyers, Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow provides online escrow services at affordable rates. While the payment is 'In Escrow' the transaction can be safely carried out without risk of losing money or merchandise due to fraud. This eliminates all legal jargon and allows for secure transactions and confident buyers and sellers.

How does Escrow Work?

Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow reduces the risk of fraud by acting as a trusted third-party that collects, holds and only disburses funds when both Buyers and Sellers are satisfied.

1. Buyer and Seller agree to terms - Either the Buyer or Seller begins a transaction.
2. Buyer pays Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow - The Buyer submits a payment by bank wire transfer to our secure Escrow Account, Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow verifies the payment, the Seller is notified that funds have been secured 'In Escrow'.
3. Seller ships merchandise to Buyer - Upon payment verification, the Seller is authorised to send the merchandise through Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow. We verify that the Buyer receives the merchandise.
4. Buyer accepts merchandise - The Buyer has a set number of days to inspect the merchandise and the option to accept or reject it. The Buyer accepts the merchandise.
5. We pay the Seller - Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow releases funds to the Seller from the Escrow Account.

Transaction is complete - safely and securely!

Knowing at every step

Using Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow whether you're a buyer or a seller, you'll never get stuck wondering what to do next or where you are in the transaction.

Escrow Accounts

When you make a transaction using Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow, your funds are held in secured, non interest bearing trust Escrow Accounts until the transaction is completed. This ensures that your transaction is protected against chargebacks, fraud or wrongly described goods.

Personal service behind every transaction

Our licensed and regulated services are also backed by our experienced and knowledgeable escrow officers.
At Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow we offer email/chat support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Payment

Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow accepts for payment only bank wire transfer. Payment instructions, together with the Escrow Agreement, will be provided to the Buyer via email from escrow@globalshippingfreightflorida.com.

Advantages of Using Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow

Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow provides a host of advantages for people who choose to transact with it. Whether it is digital goods, vehicles, antiques, jewelry, art work, or domain names and websites, Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow ensures that all buyers and sellers are protected equally and their disputes dealt with the utmost concern. Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow verifies the funds sent by the buyer and keeps them in our secure trust escrow account for the seller. The seller ships the merchandise only after the buyer has made complete payment to Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow. Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow tracks your merchandise to make sure that it is delivered in time according to the conditions mentioned in the agreement. The seller is not paid until the buyer accepts the merchandise and has the chance to fully inspect it. After the buyer inspects and accepts the merchandise, the funds will be moved from our escrow account to the seller's account.

There is no scope for uncertainty or worries as the entire transaction is conducted under the supervision of Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow's honest and diligent professionals. With Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow's reliable brand shielding your transaction, you can rest assured that your funds are in safe hands, free from fraud. The sale is highly simplified as you, the buyer, just pay off your price and let Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow handle everything else, be it shipping, delivery or quality inspection. Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow's sliding revenue scale ensures that large transactions don't mean huge chargebacks and fees.

How long does the escrow process take?

It depends upon :

1. The inspection period agreed upon by both parties.
2. The Buyer's payment method.
3. Delivery time from Seller to Buyer.
4. Seller's selected disbursement option. Generally, most escrow purchases can take from five to 60 days.

How long does it take for Sellers to be paid?

Typically, funds are disbursed the same or next business day following the completion of the transaction.

How long does the Buyer have to inspect the items?

When the Buyer and Seller agree to terms, an Inspection Period between 1-30 days is specified. The Inspection Period is the time the Buyer has to examine the item once received. If the Inspection Period has expired and Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow has confirmed that the Buyer received the item, Global Shipping & Freight Florida Escrow assumes that the Buyer has accepted the item; therefore, the Seller is paid. In case the buyer rejects the item for any reason, the seller will receive his item back on his expense and the buyer will be fully refunded.

Importing Vehicles from the USA to Europe

Global Shipping & Freight Florida provides a fully managed solution for purchasing and importing vehicles from U.S. dealerships to customers across Europe. Our service combines secure escrow payment handling, international shipping, customs clearance, and final delivery.

International Purchase & Delivery Process

1. Transaction Initiation
   Buyer and U.S. dealership agree on vehicle specifications and final price. Delivery details are submitted to Global Shipping & Freight Florida.
2. Documentation & Export Preparation
   The seller provides the vehicle title, bill of sale, and VIN documentation. All export requirements are prepared in compliance with U.S. regulations.
3. Vehicle Collection & Inspection
   The vehicle is collected from the dealership and a condition verification is performed before shipment.
4. Secure Escrow Payment
   The buyer transfers funds via international bank transfer to our escrow account. Funds remain securely held until delivery and acceptance.
5. International Shipping
   The vehicle is shipped from the United States to the designated European port with full tracking provided.
6. Import & Customs Clearance
   We coordinate customs procedures. Import duties, VAT, and local taxes are applied according to destination country regulations.
7. Final Delivery
   The vehicle is delivered to the buyer’s address or designated pickup location.
8. Inspection & Acceptance
   The buyer has 1–30 days to inspect the vehicle. Upon acceptance, funds are released to the seller.

Import Taxes & VAT (Estimated 2026)

Below are standard import duties and VAT rates when importing vehicles from the United States into selected European countries. Additional national taxes may apply depending on emissions, engine size, or vehicle value.

Country	Import Duty	VAT	Additional Taxes
Germany 🇩🇪	10%	19%	TÜV compliance
Switzerland 🇨🇭	~4%	8.1%	Automobile tax (~4%)
Netherlands 🇳🇱	10%	21%	BPM (CO₂-based)
France 🇫🇷	10%	20%	CO₂ penalty (malus)
Spain 🇪🇸	10%	21%	Registration tax
Belgium 🇧🇪	10%	21%	Regional road tax
Austria 🇦🇹	10%	20%	NoVA (CO₂-based)
Italy 🇮🇹	10%	22%	IPT registration tax
Norway 🇳🇴	0–10%	25%	EV incentives available
Denmark 🇩🇰	10%	25%	High registration tax
Sweden 🇸🇪	10%	25%	Climate tax system
Finland 🇫🇮	10%	24%	Car tax (emissions)
Andorra 🇦🇩	~4.5%	4.5%	Low-tax environment
Poland 🇵🇱	10%	23%	Excise tax (3.1%–18.6%)

Buyer Responsibilities

• Payment of import duties, VAT, and local taxes (The applicable taxes may be incorporated into the final transaction price and paid by the seller, where agreed upon in advance)
• Vehicle registration and compliance in destination country
• Verification of vehicle upon delivery within inspection period

Secure Payment Notice

Payment instructions will be provided directly to the buyer by Global Shipping & Freight Florida via official communication. All escrow transactions are conducted through our designated escrow account and are released only upon buyer approval.

Why Choose Our Service