Car shipping in a sealed container from Dubai to the USA — Jebel Ali port

JEBEL ALI → NEW YORK · BALTIMORE · SAVANNAH · LOS ANGELES

Car Shipping from Dubai to the USA

Ship a car from Dubai to the USA inside a sealed, single-car container — the standard for collectors importing dry-climate, low-mileage Gulf cars under the 25-Year Rule. Delta Global exports from Jebel Ali to every major US port and handles the UAE side and ocean freight door-to-port; your US customs broker completes CBP entry. We’ll help you check eligibility before you ship.

Fully enclosed
25-year classic route
Door-to-port
COC & SOC options
25-yrYear classic rule
4+Major US ports
Door-to-portOur service
SealedContainer
TRANSIT

How Long Does Car Shipping from Dubai to the USA Take?

~30–40 days

Jebel Ali → US East Coast (NY/NJ, Baltimore, Savannah).

~40–50 days

Jebel Ali → US West Coast (LA / Long Beach).

Transit varies by coast and routing — we confirm the current schedule for your port when you book.

CONTAINER vs RORO

Why Ship Your Car in a Container

Enclosed container

  • Fully sealed — protected from salt air, weather and deck damage
  • No third-party drivers; sealed at Jebel Ali, opened at destination
  • Non-running, project and modified cars welcome (winched in)
  • Load spare parts & declared personal effects around the car
  • Reaches any container port worldwide

RoRo (drive-on deck)

  • Car sits exposed on an open vehicle deck
  • Handled and driven by port staff
  • Running cars only
  • No personal items inside
  • Limited to RoRo terminals

Container shipping is a premium, secure service — dearer and slightly slower to arrange than RoRo. For any car you value, that trade-off is worth it.

CONTAINER CAPACITY

How Many of Your Cars Fit in One Container?

Every shipment is your own dedicated container — we don’t share your box with other owners. Cars are driven or winched in, then chocked and lashed to the securing points. Switch the tabs to see capacity by container size.

20FT

40FT

45FT HIGH-CUBE

20ft — 1 car

A single vehicle, floor-loaded and lashed to the container’s securing rings. The most secure option for one high-value or classic car.

40ft — 2–4 cars

Two cars loaded flat nose-to-tail, or three to four using purpose-built steel racking — strong economics for dealers.

45ft High-Cube — up to 6 cars

With racking, a 45ft HC carries up to six vehicles depending on their size — the lowest cost per car for bulk movements. The real limit is payload weight, so sedans stack better than large SUVs.

USA IMPORT RULES

Importing a Car into the USA from Dubai

25-Year RuleA car 25+ years old from its manufacture date (not model year) is exempt from FMVSS/DOT safety standards — the classic-import route most Dubai buyers use.
EPA emissionsVehicles 21+ years old are EPA-exempt if the original engine is fitted. Newer cars need EPA/DOT conformity via an RI/ICI — usually impractical.
Entry formsDOT HS-7 and EPA 3520-1; the undercarriage must be clean of soil (USDA). Filed by your US customs broker.
ISF & bondISF (“10+2”) and a customs bond are required for US entry — arranged by your US broker/importer of record. We provide the shipping documents they need.
DutyBase 2.5% on cars (25% on light trucks). A 2025 Section 232 tariff (25%) may also apply — confirm the current rate with your broker at import.
PortsNew York/New Jersey, Baltimore, Savannah, Los Angeles/Long Beach.
Buying a classic to import? Eligibility is set by the month and year of manufacture, not the model year, and the EPA exemption needs the original engine. Send us the VIN and we’ll sanity-check eligibility before you ship. US customs entry, forms, ISF, bond and duties are completed at the port by your US customs broker.
HOW IT WORKS — DOOR-TO-PORT

What Delta Global Handles, and What Happens at the US port

Clear scope, no surprises. We move the car out of Dubai and across the water; a licensed agent at the destination clears it in.

Delta Global · Dubai → destination port

We handle

  • RTA Vehicle Export Certificate & de-registration
  • Clearing fines, Salik and bank-finance blocks
  • Dubai Customs export declaration
  • Professional loading, chocking & lashing in the container
  • Ocean freight from Jebel Ali + the Bill of Lading
  • Optional all-risk marine cargo insurance
You / your clearing agent · at destination

Handled at destination

  • CBP customs entry (via your US broker)
  • ISF “10+2” filing & customs bond
  • DOT HS-7 / EPA 3520-1 forms
  • Duties incl. any Section 232 tariff
  • Collection from the port
Our service is door-to-port: we deliver your car to the destination seaport and hand over every document. Import customs, duties, inspection and registration are completed by you or your local clearing agent.
WHY DELTA GLOBAL

Why Ship to the USA with Delta Global

Enclosed & Sealed

A dedicated container from Jebel Ali — no open decks, no third-party drivers, no salt-air damage to paint or chrome.

UAE Export Done For You

RTA export certificate, de-registration, bank-finance clearance and Dubai Customs export — handled in-house.

Dealer & Bulk Rates

Racking for up to six cars per 45ft HC, trade pricing and a dedicated account contact for regular volume.

COC & SOC Options

Carrier-owned (COC) or shipper-owned (SOC) containers — we arrange whichever suits the carrier and your route.

13+ Years on the Lane

An established Dubai freight forwarder — documentation done right so your car clears smoothly at the other end.

Insured in Transit

Optional all-risk marine cargo cover and a condition report at loading protect your car’s agreed value.

FAQ

Car Shipping Dubai to USA — FAQ

What is the 25-year import rule?

A vehicle at least 25 years old, measured from its month and year of manufacture, is exempt from US DOT/FMVSS safety standards — so it can be imported without a Registered Importer. It’s the route most Dubai collector-car buyers use.

Do you offer shared containers to the USA?

No — every shipment is your own dedicated container, which is exactly what collectors want for a valuable classic.

Who files the ISF and customs entry?

US customs entry, the ISF (“10+2”) and the customs bond are handled by your US customs broker or importer of record. We ship the car door-to-port and provide all the documents they need, including the Bill of Lading.

How much duty will I pay importing a car to the USA?

The base rate is 2.5% on passenger cars, but a 2025 Section 232 tariff of 25% may also apply. Because this is changing, confirm the current applicable duty with your broker at import rather than relying on a fixed figure.

Why ship in a container instead of RoRo to the USA?

A sealed container fully protects the car and is far more secure — the standard for the valuable classics and low-mileage Gulf cars typically imported from Dubai.

GET A CAR-SHIPPING QUOTE

Ship Your Car from Dubai to the USA

Send the VIN, manufacture date and destination port — we’ll check 25-year eligibility, advise container type and ship door-to-port.



Global Network

We move your cargo on the world’s leading carriers

As a Dubai freight forwarder we book FCL & LCL space with major shipping lines and clear through the UAE’s key ports and authorities — so your cargo keeps moving, wherever it’s headed.

MSCMSC
CMACMA CGM
HLHapag-Lloyd
EGEvergreen
COCOSCO
MSCMSC
CMACMA CGM
HLHapag-Lloyd
EGEvergreen
COCOSCO

Ports & Authorities We Work Through

JAJebel Ali Port
PKPort Khalid – Sharjah
MEUAE Ministry of Economy
DCDubai Customs