Question 1

What are the most common shipping ports in Belgium?

Accepted Answer

The most common shipping ports include both seaports and inland ports. There are eight main ports that are scattered among the country:

The Port of Antwerp – Antwerp is located on the Scheldt River and is considered Europe’s second-largest port after Rotterdam. This port is Belgium’s primary gateway into Europe and is situated approximately 80 kilometers southeast of the North Sea.
The Port of Ghent – The port of Ghent is located in Ghent, East Flanders, in the Flemish Region and is Belgium’s third busiest seaport. The first port in Ghent was on the Scheldt Canal but was shifted to the Leie River.
The Port of Zeebrugge – Located in the city of Bruges, the port of Zeebrugge is where the city’s rich past intertwines with its link to the sea. The port handles approximately 50+ million tons of cargo annually.
The Port of Ostend – The port of Ostend is located in the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region. The port is a flexible seaport that is located in Europe’s busiest maritime area and serves all forms of maritime traffic.
The Port of Brussels – The port of Brussels is the second-largest inland port in the country. It is strategically located in the heart of Europe. It promotes water transportation, job creation, global warming mitigation, and better urban distribution.
The Port of Liege – The port of Liege is the third largest inland port in Europe. It is located in the Province of Liege in Wallonia at the Meuse river.
The Port of Genk – The port of Genk is an inland port and container terminal that provides a full range of facilities, including a tri-modal platform (water, rail, and road) and capable of handling and transporting containers, traditional freight, and bulk.
The Port of Namur – The port of Namur is situated in the south of Belgium, situated on the Rivers Meuse and Sambre, and is a comparatively tiny port.

Question 2

What is required when importing a car into Belgium?

Accepted Answer

If a car is being imported into Belgium from within the European Union, the owner will be required to provide the following to customs:

A residency permit showing a permanent address in Belgium
Proof of purchase for the vehicle to be imported
Previous registration document

If these conditions are met, there will be no import tax levied.

If a car is being imported into Belgium from outside the European Union, the owner is required to undergo a lengthier process that requires the following:

The owner of the car must have lived outside of the European Union for at least the twelve months prior to import
The car must have been bought outside of the European Union and driven by the owner for at least six months before arriving in Belgium
The owner must have already paid the VAT equivalent in another country
The vehicle must be kept for personal use for at least twelve months following the import of it

Due to the heightened requirements for importing from outside the European Union, many people do not import their vehicles into Belgium.

Question 3

How do I register an imported car in Belgium?

Accepted Answer

Foreign vehicles that are being permanently imported have to be registered in the country. In some cases, there may even need to be physical changes to the vehicle need to be made to satisfy authorities. Anyone staying for more than a year needs to undergo registration procedures. From the time you are a Belgium citizen, you have six months to register the car.

The main registration office “Direction des Immatriculations des Véhicules/Dienst voor Inschrijving van de Voertuigen (DIV)” is located in Brussels, with regional offices scattered throughout the country. The following must be presented to the DIV to obtain registration and plates in Belgium:

Proof of residency
A certificate of conformity for the vehicle – often supplied by the manufacturer or local agent
The invoice/proof of purchase for the vehicle
The vehicle’s original registration certificate
Evidence of insurance coverage, provided by a Belgium insurer
Customs clearance forms, provided by Customs
A vehicle-roadworthiness certificate – completed at a local test center
The registration application form
The required fees – this includes a one-off introductory tax and an annual road tax, dependent on the vehicle’s engine size
Fiscal tax stamps – available from Post Offices

Question 4

What are the car insurance requirements in Belgium?

Accepted Answer

In Belgium, it is the car (not the driver) that is insured. Proof of insurance must be carried in the vehicle at all times, and not having proof of valid insurance can result in a fine. Car insurance can be expensive and is subject to VAT. Premiums are dependent on factors such as the age, make, and model of the car, the power of the car; the age of the driver; and the driving history of the driver of the vehicle.

Belgium has three types of insurance available:

Third-Party Liability Insurance: Provides coverage against damages to a third party
Part Comprehensive: Provides coverage for a third party as well as fire damage
Fully Comprehensive: Provides coverage for virtually anything

The minimum coverage required is Third-Party Liability Insurance to cover damages that may occur to a third party or their property.

Question 5

Should I use an auto transport company to ship my car to Belgium?

Accepted Answer

The short answer to this question is “yes, you should use an auto transport company to ship your car to Belgium.” We aren’t just saying this because we are an auto transport company. In fact, we believe in complete transparency – but when trying to ship a car to Belgium, it is best if you call on experts in international shipping.

Why should you? That’s the question, right? Well, here are some reasons that we think calling on the experts to handle your car shipment is necessary:

Less planning or worrying
Saves time
Protects your vehicle during shipping
Saves money
Lower insurance costs
Door-to-Door shipping opportunity
Reliability and professionalism
Attractive rates and discounts

Question 6

What types of vehicles can be moved overseas to Belgium?

Accepted Answer

As an international car shipping company, we offer transport services for multiple types of vehicles and oversized equipment. Some of the most common vehicle types include:

Classic Cars	Luxury Cars	Antique Cars
SUVs & ATVs	Motorcycles	Sport Bikes
Electric and Alternative Vehicles	Dealership Inventory	RVs, Motor Homes, and Fifth Wheels
POVs for the Military	Oversized Vehicles	Yachts
Heavy Equipment	Boats	Watercraft

Question 7

What shipping methods are available for car shipments to Belgium?

Accepted Answer

There are a few methods of shipment that are preferable for shipping vehicles of various types to Belgium. We have four overseas methods that we use for transport. These include flat rack, RoRo, LoLo, and container shipping.

Flat Rack: On a flat rack, your cargo is secured to a large metal rack before being placed on a ship that is on course for Belgium.
Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo): RoRo is the most affordable method of shipping that requires the vehicle or large equipment to drive onto the ship using the ramp, and it is taken off the ship in the same manner
Lift-On/Lift-Off (LoLo): This is the shipping method that is used for inoperable vehicles. These are lifted using a crane for loading and unloading the vehicles onto the ship.
Container Shipping: the safest transport method is also the most expensive method. Cargo is placed in a 40 ft shipping container so that it is protected on all sides

Question 8

Is there anything that could delay my car shipment to Belgium?

Accepted Answer

There are many different reasons why your car shipment could be delayed. Understandably, this could cause frustration, but the more you understand, the less likely you are to become overwhelmed by the delays. The most common delays include:

Pandemic-Related Delays
- The COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of delays, and some of them are still creating problems today. When pandemic cases are on the rise, it can create even more delays.
Extraordinary Events and External Factors
- External factors like weather, piracy, fire, wars, and other extraordinary events are described as “force majeure” – these can have a severe impact on ocean freight. For example, the blockage of the Suez Canal in March 2021, which made shipping cargo without delay difficult
Schedule Changes and Traffic Challenges
- If inland shipping is involved in a shipment, traffic challenges and schedule changes can create problems. These can occur especially in peak seasons, making it difficult to ensure that shipments arrive on time as they should.
Customs Issues
- When shipping cargo internationally, especially vehicles, there can be issues with the importation process. When this happens, your vehicle may end up stuck at customs or require you to put it in storage temporarily. When customs hold up cargo, it can take days to weeks to rectify, depending on what customs needs to release the vehicle.
Lack of Clarity in Direction for Shipment
- Every shipment comes with a set of directions that ensure it requires where it needs to go safely and timely. When there is a lack of clarity in those directions, it can create miscommunications and delays
Lack of Technology
- Not every port has the technological advances as others do. When this occurs, it can create delays in processing – some ports have digital platforms, track and trace, and simple reporting procedures, while others don’t
Port Congestion/Strikes
- Ports are dependent upon the workers who load and unload the ships. When these workers are unhappy or do not like the regulations and conditions, they may go on strike. Strikes can delay shipments for weeks and months, depending on when conditions are rectified, and the workers return to work. Sometimes, when strikes occur, these ships are rerouted. These rerouted ships can create congestion at other ports, further delaying shipments.
Cargo Damage During Transport
- Sometimes when shipping cargo, there is damage to the cargo or even the ship. Damages are rare, but they do happen. When this happens, the ship’s crew and the transport company must go through proper procedures before delivery can occur. In some instances, it may even require the cargo to return to the point of origin.

Question 9

Will my car shipment have a Bill of Lading (BoL)?

Accepted Answer

A BoL is a legal document that is issued by a carrier to a shipper detailing the type, quantity, and destination of the cargo in question. When you ship your car, you will have a BoL with the shipping company, and it will begin with the pickup of your vehicle.

At pickup, the vehicle is inspected by you and the driver of the ground transport (or the shipping representative at the transport hub). Any imperfections like scratches or dents are noted on the BoL and signed off on by both parties. After transport, the same inspection is completed and signed off on. If there is any new damage, it needs to be notated by both parties and presented to insurance.

The most common information found on the BoL:

Consignor
Consignee
Address of both parties
Shipment date
Quantity
Exact weight
Monetary value
Freight classification

Other information that the shipping company may add includes if there is any hazardous classification, type of packaging used, and any specific instructions for delivery.

Question 10

How long will my shipment take, and how much will it cost?

Accepted Answer

Here is where a definitive answer is hard to supply. Depending on the port of origin and the port of destination for your car, and if ground transport is required, the time and pricing will vary. If you are shipping from the east coast of the US to Belgium, it will be cheaper than shipping from the west coast.

The number of days will also be less shipping from the east coast versus the west coast. You can also expect the shipping process to be much cheaper and take less time if shipping within the European Union. The importation of a car from the United States is going to take much longer than within the European Union.

On average, you can expect a shipment of around $3,500 and up to 40 or more days to receive your car in Belgium. Some areas may require less time and money, whereas others may require more.

Value for Money	★★★★★	4.9
Vehicle Care	★★★★★	4.9
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Friendly Staff	★★★★★	4.9

To/From	Ground	Ocean	Estimated Time
Los Angeles to (California port) to Antwerp	$350	$3,000	5+30 days
Boston, MA to (New York port) to Antwerp	$400	$2,100	5+12 days
Las Vegas, NV to (California port) to Antwerp	$450	$3,000	5+30 days
Phoenix, AZ to (California port) to Antwerp	$550	$3,000	6+30 days
Seattle, WA to (California port) to Antwerp	$550	$3,000	6+30 days
Detroit, MI to (New York port) to Antwerp	$575	$2,100	6+12 days
Chicago, IL to (New York port) to Antwerp	$675	$2,100	6+12 days
Denver, CO to (California port) to Antwerp	$775	$3,000	7+30 days
Memphis, TN to (New York port) to Antwerp	$800	$2,100	6+12 days
Miami, FL to (New York port) to Antwerp	$925	$2,100	7+12 days

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