How Importing a Car from the USA to Lithuania Works

Importing a car from the USA to Lithuania breaks down into a few clear stages: finding and buying the car at auction, shipping it from the USA to a Lithuanian port, and then customs clearance and registration. Below we explain how each stage works in practice.

Where are the cars bought in US auctions?

Most imported vehicles are bought at the large US auctions such as Copart and IAAI. These auctions sell both cars that have been through minor incidents or need repair and completely sound vehicles sold by insurance companies, leasing firms or dealers. Every auction listing carries photographs, a condition description and usually vehicle history data, so a buyer can assess the car before placing a bid. Which of the two platforms a car sits on does not change its quality — we covered that difference separately in Copart or IAAI: which US auction to choose.

How does the auction purchase itself work?

Once a specific car is chosen, a bid is placed for it — offers are submitted online and the highest bidder wins. After winning, a Bill of Sale is issued, confirming the transfer of ownership to the new owner. That document is needed later both to arrange shipping and for the import paperwork.

How does the car get from the auction lot onto a ship?

After purchase, the car is moved by road from the auction lot to a US port, from which sea freight to Europe is arranged. Vehicles are usually shipped in containers or on specialised vessels built to carry cars. The sea crossing takes several weeks — the exact time depends on the route and the shipping line's schedule.

What happens on arrival in Lithuania?

On arrival at a Lithuanian port, the car goes through customs procedures. The purchase documents, shipping documents and other vehicle-related paperwork required to clear the import are submitted to customs. After clearance the car can be registered in Lithuania and put into road use, provided it meets the technical and legal requirements. That stage has its own separate procedure for non-EEA vehicles — set out in what happens when your car arrives in Klaipėda. The duty rate applied here depends on the car's origin, not on where it was bought — see how to prove your car's US origin to customs.

Which documents do I receive after importing a car?

Once the car is imported, the buyer receives the auction Bill of Sale, the shipping documents and the customs-cleared import documents. Together these form the package required to register the car in Lithuania.

Can the import be done independently?

Technically yes — but every stage (bidding at auction, arranging transport, customs procedures) requires its own experience and contact with parties in different countries: the auction, the road carrier, the shipping line and customs. That is why most buyers choose to work with an intermediary who joins the whole process into one understandable path, from choosing the car to its arrival at your door. What to check before choosing one is set out in how to choose a car import broker from the USA.