Seven reasons, each one checkable. We’re a licensed US dealer selling cars sourced by our own company in Portugal, inspected on our own lift, cleared by a licensed broker, and priced landed at the port. Every car comes with a VIN, a verified build date, 60+ photos, a video and a US title.
1. A real European network, not a middleman
USAutozilla is the US arm of Autozilla, a classic-car dealer based in Ouca, Aveiro, Portugal. Autozilla has been importing American classics into Europe for the European trade for years and holds its own stock of European cars. The same buyers, the same workshop and the same paperwork team now work in the other direction. When we say we can find a car, it’s because our people are already in the market: dealers, auctions, clubs and private sellers across Portugal, Spain, Italy, France and Germany.
2. A licensed US dealer, with a US title
Salvage Motors LLC, Arkansas Dealer License M-13632, is the seller on every transaction. You get a US bill of sale and a US title, not a foreign invoice and a stack of forms to figure out. We’ve handled the title side of imported vehicles for years through our wholesale business. If a state DMV asks for something unusual, we’ve probably seen it.
3. Cars from the part of Europe that doesn’t rust
Germany and the UK salt their roads. Portugal, Spain and southern Italy don’t. We source south first because the underbody tells the story: original floors, original sills, original chassis rails. Every inspection includes underbody photos and video on a lift so you can see it for yourself. Where we source a car from northern Europe, we say so, and we show the underbody even more carefully.
4. The inspection is documented, and the flaws are in writing
Before any car ships, Autozilla produces:
- 60+ photos, including underbody, engine bay, door jambs, under carpets and in the spare-wheel well
- Video: cold start, idle, drive, underbody on the lift
- Paint depth readings on every panel
- A written list of faults: what’s worn, what leaks, what doesn’t work, what’s been replaced
- Tire date codes, fluid condition, battery date
Listings on this site carry the same honesty. If a Defender has a weeping transfer case or an E36 has a cracked dash, it’s in the Mechanical or Interior section, not hidden behind a filter.
5. VIN and build date verified before we buy
The 25-year rule counts from the month of manufacture, not the model year. We verify the build month through the manufacturer’s heritage service (Mercedes-Benz Classic, BMW Group Classic, Land Rover Heritage) or the chassis plate and factory records before we commit to a car. The VIN is on every listing. We’ve never had a car refused at a US port for age, and we intend to keep it that way.
6. One price, landed
The listed price includes:
- The car
- European export paperwork and registration cancellation
- Transport to the European port
- Ocean freight (RoRo or container) to your chosen US port
- Marine cargo insurance at full value
- US customs duty at the rate in effect on the entry date
- Licensed customs broker fees
- US port and documentation fees, MPF and HMF
Not included, and quoted separately: inland transport from the port ($300–$2,000), state sales tax, title and registration fees. No doc fee. No “import fee.”
7. The deposit is refundable, and the process is in writing
$2,000, $3,000 or $5,000 depending on price, refundable for 7 days. The 7-step process, the deposit scale, the delivery timeline and the limits of what we promise are all published on How It Works and in the Terms of Sale. Read them before you call.
What we are not
We are not a restoration shop and we don’t sell restomods. We don’t sell cars under 25 years old. We don’t guarantee registration in California for cars built after 1975. We don’t offer a warranty; every car is sold as-is after a documented inspection. If that’s a problem, we’re not your dealer, and we’d rather say so now.
FAQ
Who actually owns the car during shipping?
Salvage Motors LLC. The car is bought by our group in Europe, shipped under our name, cleared under our broker’s bond and titled to you on delivery. You’re never the importer of record.
Can I talk to someone who’s bought from you?
Yes. Ask and we’ll connect you with recent customers who’ve agreed to take a call.
Where are you located?
Santa Barbara, California (US office, Salvage Motors LLC) and Ouca, Aveiro, Portugal (Autozilla, cars and workshop). The cars are in Portugal until they ship.