Buying from USAutozilla takes seven steps and 6–10 weeks. You pick a car, hold it with a refundable deposit, review the inspection, wire the balance, and we handle export, ocean freight, customs and title. You receive the car at one of five US ports or at your door, with a US title from Salvage Motors LLC.
Step 1 — Choose a car
Browse Inventory (cars in Portugal, ready to ship), En Route (cars already on the water with an ETA), or submit a Custom Order for a car we source on request. Every listing shows the landed price to each of our five ports, the month and year of manufacture, the VIN, 60+ photos and a video.
Questions on a specific car? Call (754) 303-1194 or use the form on the listing. We answer within one business day, and we’ll tell you what’s wrong with the car as readily as what’s right.
Step 2 — Place a refundable deposit
A deposit takes the car off the market and starts the process. The amount depends on the landed price:
| Landed price | Deposit |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $2,000 |
| $30,000 to $60,000 | $3,000 |
| Over $60,000 | $5,000 |
The deposit is fully refundable for 7 days, no questions asked. If the inspection report in Step 3 shows something you don’t like, you walk away with your money. After 7 days the deposit becomes non-refundable, because by then we’ve committed to the seller in Europe.
Deposits are paid by wire transfer. We’ll send wire instructions by email from a @usautozilla.com address; we never change bank details by email, so call us to confirm before any wire.
Step 3 — Pre-shipment inspection
Within 5 business days of your deposit, our team completes the full pre-shipment inspection in Europe and sends you the file:
- 60+ high-resolution photos: every panel, every wheel arch, underbody, engine bay, interior, trunk, spare, tool kit
- Video: cold start, idle, walk-around, underbody on the lift, a short drive
- Written condition report: paint depth readings, rust check, fluid leaks, tire date codes, electrical check, known faults
- Documents: European registration, VIN plate photo, chassis-number stamping photo, manufacturer build-date confirmation, service history if any
We also verify the month of manufacture against the manufacturer’s records before the car is purchased. If the car won’t be 25 years old on its planned arrival date, we don’t buy it, and we refund you.
Step 4 — Sign and pay the balance
You receive the Bill of Sale and our Terms of Sale by e-signature. The balance is due by wire transfer within 7 days of signing. We don’t accept credit cards, PayPal or cryptocurrency. Financing customers: your lender wires us directly; see Financing.
Once the balance clears, Autozilla completes the purchase in Europe, cancels the European registration (the Portuguese cancelamento de matrícula or equivalent export procedure), and books the ocean freight.
Step 5 — Shipping
Cars leave from the nearest European RoRo port — Lisbon, Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Le Havre or Genoa — by RoRo or in a container. Standard service is RoRo to Baltimore, Newark, Savannah or Houston; container is recommended above $60,000 and standard for Long Beach. Transit time is 3–5 weeks to the East Coast and Gulf, 5–7 weeks to Long Beach. You get the booking confirmation, the bill of lading and tracking.
Marine cargo insurance is included in the landed price at the full purchase value.
Step 6 — Customs clearance
Our licensed customs broker files the entry: CBP Form 7501, CBP 3461, NHTSA HS-7 (box 1, 25-year exemption), EPA 3520-1 (code E, 21-year exemption), commercial invoice, European title and bill of lading. Duty is paid at the rate in effect on the entry date and is already in your landed price. Clearance typically takes 3–7 business days after the vessel docks.
You receive the stamped CBP 7501 and the full entry package. This is the document your DMV will ask for.
Step 7 — Delivery and title
Pick up the car at the port yourself, or we arrange enclosed or open transport to your address ($300–$2,000 depending on distance, quoted up front). Salvage Motors LLC issues the US title and bill of sale in your name. You take the title, the stamped 7501, HS-7 and 3520-1 to your DMV and register the car like any other.
Total time, deposit to car at the port: 6–10 weeks.
What we don’t do
- We don’t sell cars under 25 years old. Not with a “kit”, not “for off-road use”, not for parts.
- We don’t add a doc fee, an import fee or a port fee on top of the listed price.
- We don’t take your money without an inspection report in your hands first.
FAQ
Can I see the car before I buy?
Yes, in Portugal. Autozilla is in Ouca, 15 minutes from Aveiro and an hour from Porto airport. Book a visit and we’ll have the car ready. If you can’t travel, the inspection file is designed to replace the visit, and we’ll walk you through it on a video call.
Can I use my own inspector?
Yes. Any independent inspector you choose can inspect the car at Autozilla before you pay the balance. You pay the inspector; we provide access and the lift.
What if the car is damaged in transit?
Marine insurance covers the full purchase value. We file the claim and handle it with the carrier. You’re not out of pocket.
Can I ship to a port that’s not on your list?
Sometimes. Charleston, Jacksonville, Miami, Norfolk and Tacoma are possible on request. Price and timing vary; ask before you deposit.
Do you ship to Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico?
Yes, via Long Beach or Houston plus a second leg. Quoted case by case.