Route rate sheet · Sea freight · USA to India
Ship a car from the USA to India
Newark/Elizabeth, Los Angeles to JNPT Port Mumbai in a sealed container. One price covers ocean freight, export handling in the USA and marine insurance; destination port charges, duty and VAT are shown separately below.
Rates verified 9 Nov 2026 · page refreshed 10 Nov 2026
12,560 km great circle · 18-50 days
Rates verified 9 Nov 2026 · page refreshed 10 Nov 2026
At a glance
USA to India car shipping: cost, time and rules
Shipping a car from the USA to India with IPAS Express costs from $4,133 port to port for one car in its own 20ft container, with live rates from our shipping desk. Duty and VAT in India are quoted separately in the landed-cost examples below.
Cars from the USA are usually LHD; India registers RHD vehicles as standard — check eligibility before shipping.
- Ocean freight · 20ft
- $2,000–4,600
- Newark/Elizabeth / Los Angeles → JNPT Port Mumbai
- Ocean freight · 40ft
- $2,500–5,400
- Two cars, or one large SUV plus parts
- Port to port, 1 car
- from $4,133
- Ocean freight + export handling + insurance
- Sea transit
- 18-50 days
- Port to port
- Import Duty
- 105-194%
- BCD 70% + AIDC 40% + IGST 18% on large petrol/diesel; 105% on engines under 1,500cc
- VAT/GST
- 18% IGST
- Reduced to 5% for battery electric vehicles under GST 2.0
- Steering
- RHD only
- LHD vehicles cannot be registered; USA imports require $30,000 RHD conversion
- Age Limit
- New cars only
- Used imports banned under Foreign Trade Policy; TOR and diplomatic exceptions only
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Rate sheet · Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal → JNPT Port Mumbai
What it costs, line by line
Insurance is figured on a declared value of $48,600 (reference vehicle: 2026 Ford Bronco). Every line comes from the same tables the calculator reads, so the quote you get matches this sheet.
1 car · own 20ft container
Any car up to 5.6 m, sealed; door-to-door available
$4,133per car $4,133- Ocean freight
- $2,300
- Export handling
- $1,728
- Insurance
- $105
- Destination est. (at port)
- $3,350
2 cars · 40ft high-cube
Two cars you ship together, or a group booking
$6,385per car $3,192- Ocean freight
- $3,200
- Export handling
- $2,978
- Insurance
- $207
- Destination est. (at port)
- $3,350
3–4 cars · racked 40ft HC
Compact cars on a rack system; racking quoted per booking
Quoteper car from ~$2,100- Ocean freight
- $3,200
- Export handling
- on request
- Insurance
- per value
- Destination est. (at port)
- —
RoRo · per car
Oversize vehicles only; not offered for passenger cars
On requestper car —- Ocean freight
- on request
- Export handling
- on request
- Insurance
- —
- Destination est. (at port)
- —
Air freight
Fastest option, 3–7 days; quoted per aircraft load
Quoteper car —- Ocean freight
- on request
- Export handling
- on request
- Insurance
- per value
- Destination est. (at port)
- —
Scroll for line-by-line costs →
| Shipping option | Total · IPAS price | Per car | Ocean freight | Export handling (USA) | Insurance 0.2% | Destination charges · est., payable at port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 car · own 20ft containerAny car up to 5.6 m, sealed; door-to-door available | $4,133 | $4,133 | $2,300 | $1,728packaging $1,250 · THC $33 · clearance $30 | $105 | $3,350THC $350 · customs handling $3,000 |
| 2 cars · 40ft high-cubeTwo cars you ship together, or a group booking | $6,385 | $3,192 | $3,200 | $2,978packaging 2×$1,250 · THC $33 · clearance $30 | $207 | $3,350THC $350 · customs handling $3,000 |
| 3–4 cars · racked 40ft HCCompact cars on a rack system; racking quoted per booking | Quote | from ~$2,100 | $3,200 | on request | per value | — |
| RoRo · per carOversize vehicles only; not offered for passenger cars | On request | — | on request | on request | — | — |
| Air freightFastest option, 3–7 days; quoted per aircraft load | Quote | — | on request | on request | per value | — |
Door pick-up within the port's standard radius adds about $970 per car. Insurance is 0.2% of the declared vehicle value, with a per-car minimum. Destination charges are paid at JNPT Port Mumbai on arrival and are not part of the total. Duty and VAT are not in this table either: see the landed-cost examples below or run CarImport.AI. Ocean figures are our current route rates and update when the rate table changes.
Included in the IPAS price
- Included: Export packaging, chocking and lashing inside the container
- Included: Export customs clearance in USA
- Included: Terminal handling at Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal
- Included: Ocean freight Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal → JNPT Port Mumbai
- Included: Marine insurance at 0.2% of the declared value
- Included: Bill of Lading, packing list and tracking
Not included
- Not included: Destination port charges (shown per row; paid at JNPT Port Mumbai on arrival)
- Not included: India customs duty and VAT
- Not included: Conformity certification and registration inspection
- Not included: Inland collection unless door pick-up is selected
- Not included: Storage or demurrage after the port's free days
- Not included: Personal effects: the car ships empty
Ports & inland reach
Where your car leaves and arrives
Load ports · USA
USA
Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal
Port of Los Angeles
Discharge ports · India
India
JNPT Port Mumbai
Chennai Port
Landed-cost examples · India
Cars worth importing to India
Each card is a full landed-cost worksheet computed against the destination's live duty rules. Expand one for the breakdown or open its calculator with the destination pre-selected.
Here is the full landed cost of one car, a 2026 Ford Bronco shipped from the USA to India, worked out on 9 November 2026 with the customs rules in force that day. It lands at 2,80,53,257 INR (about US$298,259), and duties and taxes come to 194% of its CIF value.
| Item | Share of CIF | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle priceIPAS price for a car sourced in the USA | 45,71,156 INRUS$48,600 | |
| Right-hand-drive conversion | 28,21,701 INRUS$30,000 | |
| Shipping and insuranceUSA to India | 17,71,558 INRUS$18,835 | |
| CIF valueCost, insurance and freight: the customs value | 91,64,415 INRUS$97,435 | |
| Customs duties and taxes | ||
| Basic customs duty (70%)70% of CIF | 64,15,043 INRUS$68,204 | |
| Additional duty (40%)40% of CIF | 36,65,766 INRUS$38,974 | |
| GST/VAT (40%)40% of CIF plus the duties above84% of CIF | 76,98,071 INRUS$81,845 | |
| Total duties and taxes194% of CIF | 1,77,78,880 INRUS$189,023 | |
| Service and handling | ||
| Premium Import ServiceOptional end-to-end import management by IPAS | 7,94,873 INRUS$8,451 | |
| Destination handlingPort terminal and customs clearance handling | 3,15,090 INRUS$3,350 | |
| Total landed cost | 2,80,53,257 INRUS$298,259 | |
Available now in USA
Export-ready units from USA
Steering differs from India's standard: confirm registration eligibility or conversion before shipping
Importing to India
Registering a car from the USA in India
What buyers shipping from the USA need to know about India's import duties, steering rules and registration.
Importing a passenger car to India costs approximately 105-194% of CIF value, with electric vehicles taxed at 120.5% and petrol cars above 3,000cc hitting 194%. All vehicles must be right-hand drive and comply with AIS-129 safety and BS-VI emission standards. Used car imports are effectively banned under the Foreign Trade Policy except for Transfer of Residence or diplomatic exceptions.
Import Process: India
- 1
Confirm RHD compliance
Source a right-hand drive vehicle or budget $30,000 for conversion at the UAE facility. LHD cars cannot be registered at any Indian RTO.
- 2
Obtain import license
File for DGFT import authorization if importing a new car from a non-manufacturer route. Manufacturer-homologated vehicles follow the AIS-129 certification path.
- 3
Prepare shipping documents
Secure Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, insurance certificate, and original manufacturer invoice. Port of entry is typically Nhava Sheva, Chennai, or Mundra.
- 4
File Bill of Entry
Submit Bill of Entry through ICEGATE with HS code classification and CIF declaration. Customs officers verify documents and assess BCD, AIDC, and IGST.
- 5
Pay duties and clear customs
Pay 105-194% in duties through authorized bank before container release. EPCG or FTA preferences apply only in limited commercial cases.
- 6
Register at state RTO
Pay state road tax (8-20% of invoice value), obtain registration number, and complete Pollution Under Control certification before driving on Indian roads.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Importing an LHD vehicle assuming conversion is optional
Fix
India does not register left-hand drive passenger cars. Either source RHD from origin or budget the $30,000 UAE conversion before shipment.
Declaring a hybrid vehicle to claim the 105.2% HEV rate on high-value imports
Fix
India customs reclassifies high-value hybrids (Ford F-150 PowerBoost, Toyota Tundra i-FORCE MAX) as petrol under HS 87032491 at 194%. Classify by primary fuel and engine size.
Attempting to import a used vehicle through a commercial channel
Fix
Used car imports are banned except for Transfer of Residence or diplomatic missions. Plan around new vehicles or pursue TOR eligibility with 2-year prior ownership abroad.
FAQ
USA to India shipping questions
With IPAS Express, shipping one car from the USA to India costs from $4,133 port to port in its own 20ft container, with sea transit of 18-50 days. Import duty and VAT in India are quoted separately in the landed-cost examples on this page.
India charges 70% Basic Customs Duty + 40% Additional Duty + GST (5-48% depending on engine size). Total taxes range from 120% for EVs to 194% for large petrol vehicles.
Passenger cars pay 105.2% on engines under 1,500cc and 194% on petrol above 1,500cc or diesel above 1,500cc. Battery electric vehicles pay 120.5% and commercial trucks pay 65.2%. All rates are calculated on CIF value under the GST 2.0 regime effective September 22, 2025.
No. India requires right-hand drive for passenger vehicle registration at any state RTO. USA-sourced cars must undergo a $30,000 LHD-to-RHD conversion at the UAE facility before shipment or arrival.
India effectively bans used passenger car imports under the Foreign Trade Policy. Only Transfer of Residence returnees (2-year prior ownership abroad) and diplomatic missions qualify for exceptions. Commercial importers must source new vehicles.
Yes. Battery electric vehicles pay 5% IGST instead of the standard 18%, but still face 70% BCD and 15% compensation cess, producing a 120.5% effective rate. The concession supports India EV adoption policy under HS code 87038030.
The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement offers tariff concessions on select categories but excludes CBU passenger vehicles from preferential BCD rates. Full 70% BCD still applies to cars imported from UAE origin.
Keep exploring
Related routes and guides
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