Importing a Volkswagen Beetle 1967 (example value $18,000) from the USA into Europe costs from about €1,253 in taxes by the right route. The figures below cover customs duty, import VAT and the national registration tax (transport and fees excluded). A vehicle over 30 years old can qualify for the collection regime, which legally reduces the registration tax. Run your own case in the free calculator.
Run the full free simulation for this car →| Country | Total cost | Annual tax |
|---|---|---|
| Poland Cheapest | 1,253 € | — |
| Luxembourg | 1,273 € | 25 €/yr |
| France | 1,288 € | — |
| Belgium | 1,340 € | 110 €/yr |
| Italy | 1,399 € | 28 €/yr |
| Germany | 1,423 € | 192 €/yr |
| Sweden | 1,473 € | — |
| Portugal | 1,869 € | — |
| Netherlands | 2,173 € | — |
| Spain | 4,785 € | 120 €/yr |
The 1967 Beetle is a one-year-only model valued by collectors, and many of them are imported from California, where dry weather spares the bodywork. It was built in Germany, not in the United States.
Rust attacks the heater channels, the floor pans and the battery area under the rear seat: these are the first places to check. The 1967 model has several one-year-only parts, which can be hard to find. A California car often has a much healthier body than a European one.
The Volkswagen Beetle 1967 left the factory with several engines. Registration taxes are mostly calculated on engine size, so the same car can cost very different amounts to register. Same purchase value (18,000 $), best route in each case:
| Engine | Portugal (best route) | Cheapest country |
|---|---|---|
| 1300 (1.3 L) | 1,602 € | 1,219 € (Poland) |
| 1500 (1.5 L) | 1,869 € | 1,253 € (Poland) |
Same car, same engine, three purchase prices. Taxes based on the value (import VAT, and in some countries the registration tax) follow the price; taxes based on engine size and age do not.
| Purchase price | Portugal (best route) | Cheapest country |
|---|---|---|
| 9,000 $ | 1,372 € | 756 € (Poland) |
| 18,000 $ | 1,869 € | 1,253 € (Poland) |
| 36,000 $ | 2,781 € | 2,165 € (Poland) |
The figures above assume the car is accepted as a collector vehicle: more than 30 years old and in original condition. If customs refuse that status, the Volkswagen Beetle is taxed like an ordinary used car:
| Portugal (best route) | Cheapest country | |
|---|---|---|
| With collector status | 1,869 € | 1,253 € (Poland) |
| Without collector status | 6,030 € | 5,414 € (Poland) |
A vehicle over 30 years old usually qualifies for the EU collection regime (0% customs duty, reduced VAT, exemption from many registration taxes) — when the status is granted. This 1967 model is over 30 years old → eligible for the collection regime.
It depends on the vehicle: engine size, CO₂, value and age all change the ranking, as does the route the car takes into the EU. The full comparison for this example is in the table above — run your own case in the free simulator.
No — the figures cover taxes and the national registration tax only. Ocean freight (USA→Europe), handling and customs-broker fees are added separately in the calculator.
Estimates based on 2026 rates — to be confirmed with the competent authorities. Not tax advice.