Car transport within Europe raises questions right away: what does it cost, how long does it take and what actually drives the price? In this guide we explain the cost of car transport in Europe step by step, with a handy price indicator and an overview per route.
What does car transport in Europe cost, and how long does it take?
Car transport within Europe costs, for a standard passenger car, indicatively between €250 and €1,400 (excl. VAT), depending on the route. Within the Benelux it starts around €250, the Netherlands to Spain from roughly €800 and to Portugal from roughly €950. Expect 1 to 8 working days in transit. There is no customs within the EU; when importing into the Netherlands you arrange the registration through the RDW.
Price indicator: car transport in Europe
Indicative guide price for a roadworthy standard passenger car on a fixed route. The exact price depends on your situation and is provided in a tailored quote.
What does car transport in Europe cost?
The price for car transport in Europe depends mainly on the distance, the destination, the vehicle type and whether the car is roadworthy. For a standard passenger car on a fixed route, expect indicatively:
| Route | Estimate, passenger car |
|---|---|
| Within the Benelux | from approx. €250 |
| Netherlands ↔ Germany | approx. €350-600 |
| Netherlands ↔ Spain | from approx. €800 |
| Netherlands ↔ Portugal | approx. €950-1,400 |
Please note: these are indicative market prices (excl. VAT) for a roadworthy standard passenger car on a fixed route. You receive the exact price in a tailored quote.
What drives the price of car transport?
Understand these factors and you immediately see why two quotes can differ so much:
- Distance and destination, the further away, the higher the price.
- Vehicle type, a large SUV, van or camper needs more room.
- Roadworthy or not, a non-running vehicle needs extra equipment (winch, ramps).
- Open or enclosed transport, enclosed costs more but protects better.
- Pickup at your address or at a fixed point, door-to-door is more convenient, a fixed point along the route is often cheaper.
- Direction and load, riding along on a scheduled trip with no empty kilometres keeps the price sharp.
- Number of vehicles, several cars at once lowers the price per car.
How long does car transport in Europe take?
Expect indicatively:
- Within the Benelux: 1 to 3 working days
- Netherlands and Germany: 2 to 4 working days
- Netherlands and Spain: 3 to 7 working days
- Netherlands and Portugal: 4 to 8 working days
If the transporter runs fixed lines between the countries, there are more departure slots and the lead time is easier to plan. The pickup and delivery locations and the availability of a place on the transporter determine exactly when your car leaves and arrives.
“The biggest saving is in the route itself. Because we already run loaded trips between the Netherlands and Spain every week, we let cars ride along on journeys that are already happening, which cuts out empty kilometres and lowers the cost for the customer.”
Open or enclosed transport: what is the price difference?
Open transport is the standard and the most affordable option. Your car travels on an open transporter, fine for almost any passenger car and the most chosen option between the Netherlands and Spain or Portugal.
Enclosed transport costs more, but protects your car from weather and dust. Recommended for classics, youngtimers or exclusive vehicles.
How do you save on car transport costs?
- Choose a transporter with scheduled lines, so your car rides along without empty kilometres.
- Be flexible with the date, a window of a few days is cheaper than a fixed day.
- Combine the direction with return freight, riding along on a trip that is already planned is always cheaper.
- Choose easy-to-reach pickup and delivery points, an address along the route is cheaper than a busy city centre.
- Request several cars together, transporting them together lowers the price per vehicle.
Do I pay customs or VAT within the EU?
No. Spain, Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands are all EU countries, so there is no customs or import duty on the transport itself. Do keep the import formalities in mind:
- Bringing a car to the Netherlands? Arrange the import and registration through the RDW.
- Taking a car to another EU country? Your Europe has the rules on registration and insurance.
How do you request a quote, step by step?
- Request a quote, you provide the pickup and delivery location, make/model and the desired period.
- Confirm the planning, you receive a price and a pickup date is scheduled.
- Loading and securing, the car is carefully loaded, professionally secured and documented with photos.
- In transit, you are kept informed of the progress.
- Delivery, the vehicle is delivered damage-free at the agreed location and checked together.
Car transport in Europe with Portex
Portex Logistics has run fixed trips between the Netherlands and Spain, Portugal, the Benelux and Germany for over 18 years. Because we run these routes planned and loaded in both directions, your car can travel on capacity that is already there: no empty kilometres, a fair price and departure slots that are easy to plan. We are AEO-certified, a PANCO member, based in Rotterdam, and you are helped by a multilingual team (EN, NL, ES) that knows the route and formalities on both sides.
Want to read more? See our guide on international car transport or our transport to Spain page.
