Frequently asked questions

First you choose a specific vehicle or send us a non-binding inquiry. We then arrange inspection, purchase, US inland transport, export, ocean freight, customs clearance and, if agreed, homologation and registration in the Czech Republic or Slovakia.

You can follow the whole import in your customer dashboard.

We import passenger cars, pick-ups, motorcycles, ATVs, buggies, trucks, caravans, boats and other vehicles and machinery. Before purchase we always check whether the specific vehicle can be exported and then registered.

No. You can send us the make, model, year, equipment and budget you want. We will find suitable offers and help you choose a vehicle that makes sense not only by purchase price, but also by total import cost.

Yes. If you already own the vehicle or found it outside our catalogue, we can arrange pickup, transport to the port, export, shipping to Europe, customs clearance and subsequent homologation.

For an exact quote send us the VIN, the pickup address or ZIP, and any available vehicle documents.

From purchase to handover you should usually allow about 6–12 weeks. Timing depends on where the vehicle is, how quickly the title is issued, ocean availability, customs clearance and any technical modifications.

Once we know the sailing date, we show the estimated arrival in the customer dashboard.

In the GetCars offer you will find vehicles from US auctions, stock vehicles in the USA and cars already available in the Czech Republic. If you cannot find the car you want, send us a non-binding inquiry.

We work with Copart, IAAI, Manheim, NPA and other sources. We can also buy from US dealers, company fleets or private sellers.

We review available VIN information, vehicle history, document type, photos, listed damage, the seller and the pickup location. We also assess shipping cost, possible export issues and the outlook for registration in Europe.

For an auction vehicle we cannot guarantee the actual mechanical condition without a physical inspection.

We show one of three statuses:

• We recommend – based on available data we found no major obstacle to purchase.
• We recommend checking – before bidding you need to verify paperwork, damage or another important detail.
• We do not recommend – the vehicle may have problematic documents, limited export or another significant risk.

The recommendation is a helper filter, not a warranty of condition. Details: GetCars recommendations.

A title is the US document of ownership and legal status of the vehicle. You may see labels such as Clean Title, Original Title, Salvage Title or Bill of Sale.

The document type affects export, later registration and the value of the vehicle. Check the title before you bid. Overview: auction titles.

For auction vehicles we rely on information, photos and documents provided by the auction house or seller. GetCars is not the manufacturer or original seller and cannot guarantee the vehicle has no hidden defects.

If you are unsure about the condition or the extent of damage, contact us before bidding.

To bid you need a created and verified account, completed billing details and an active deposit. The deposit amount sets your bidding power and how many auctions you can join at once.

The deposit is a security and unlocks bidding through GetCars. It is not part of the vehicle purchase price and cannot be used to pay for the car, shipping, customs or other invoices.

You can request a refund under the contract if you have no active bids, unpaid balances or an open business case. Details: deposit and bidding power.

After you send a bank transfer, crediting and matching usually takes 24–48 hours. Always use the exact variable symbol from the payment instructions.

If the deposit is still inactive after 48 hours, contact us and attach the payment confirmation.

A prebid is the highest amount in USD you are willing to offer for the vehicle. The auction system bids for you step by step only up to that limit.

The amount you enter therefore may not immediately appear as the current vehicle price. Step-by-step: How to bid.

Yes. A confirmed active bid is binding. If you win the auction, you must pay for the vehicle and continue with the purchase.

An active bid usually cannot be lowered or cancelled. A pending approval request can be cancelled only until GetCars approves it.

Some vehicles have a fixed Buy Now price that lets you buy without waiting for the auction to end. After confirmation or approval the order is binding and a business case is created. Guide: Buy now.

It means your offer was the highest but did not reach the seller’s reserve. The seller may accept, decline or propose a higher amount.

In the customer dashboard you can accept the higher offer or keep your original bid. Accepting the new price is binding.

Details: If Bid after the auction.

The total is driven by the vehicle purchase price, auction fees, distance to the port, ocean freight, the exchange rate, duty, VAT, GetCars services and any homologation or registration.

You can get an indicative figure in the import calculator.

No. The calculator gives an indicative estimate from the data available at the time of the calculation.

The final price can change because of the exchange rate, actual shipping cost, waiting at the port, a customs decision or extra technical work. Only issued invoices are binding.

A calculation may include:

• the vehicle price,
• auction or dealer fees,
• US inland transport,
• ocean freight to Europe,
• GetCars services,
• duty and VAT,
• transport to the Czech Republic or Slovakia,
• homologation and registration, if they are part of the chosen scope.

Always check the specific breakdown before you buy. More: import calculator.

For a vehicle of US origin, current customs rules may allow a zero duty rate. It is not enough that the vehicle was bought or shipped from the USA. What matters is the actual origin of the vehicle and proof of it at customs.

The calculator option is therefore only an indicative calculation. The final rate is always confirmed in customs clearance.

After purchase we issue invoices for the individual parts of the business case. Payment details, currency, due date and payment status are in the customer dashboard.

The deposit cannot be used to pay for the vehicle or import invoices.

After purchase we arrange pickup and transport to the chosen US port. Then come export documents, ocean freight to Europe, unloading, customs clearance and transport to the Czech Republic or Slovakia.

The specific route depends on where the vehicle is, shipping availability and the resulting price. Flow: business cases and shipping.

You follow the import in the customer dashboard on the business case detail. You will see the current status, shipping information, title, container, vessel, estimated arrival, invoices and tasks still to complete.

Photos from the auction, port, unloading and handover may also be added over time.

Yes, we arrange shipping with insurance. The exact cover depends on the vehicle type, the transport method and the carrier’s or insurer’s terms.

We will share the details before shipping starts.

The most common reasons are waiting for the title, distance from the vehicle to the port, a changed sailing date, port capacity, weather, a customs inspection or the scope of technical work.

If there is a significant change, we show it on the business case or contact you.

Yes. Depending on the chosen scope we can arrange customs clearance, technical modifications, light homologation, STK, the registration inspection and registration in the Czech Republic or Slovakia.

Most often this means front and rear lights, amber indicators, a rear fog light, VIN check and other technical requirements needed for STK and registration.

The exact scope depends on make, model, year and the vehicle’s current specification. Guide: homologation and STK.

Yes. We can also arrange homologation, technical modifications and registration for a vehicle you already have in the Czech Republic or imported through another company.

Fill in the homologation form and attach the documents you have.

We usually need the title or another proof of ownership, purchase and customs documents, a photo of the manufacturer plate and any available technical paperwork.

The exact list depends on the vehicle type and the service you need. After we check the VIN and documents we will tell you what else to add.

Not always. Registration depends on the title type, the vehicle’s legal status, its technical specification, whether the needed modifications are available and current legal requirements.

If you want to register the vehicle afterwards, we recommend checking this before you bid or buy.

Price and timing are set individually by vehicle type, the work needed, the condition of the lights, paperwork and the service scope. We prepare a more precise quote after we receive the VIN and photos of the vehicle.

You can browse the vehicle offer and the calculator without signing in. You need an account to bid, buy from auction, manage a deposit and follow business cases, invoices and shipping.

An auction vehicle is still being sold or offered via Buy Now. A stock vehicle is already in the Czech Republic, in the USA or in an import that is underway.

Each stock vehicle shows its current availability and how to buy or inquire.

All issued invoices are in the Invoices section after you sign in. Documents for a specific vehicle are also on that business case.

You will see the amount, currency, due date, payment status and a PDF to download.

Step-by-step guides for the account, auctions, deposits, shipping and homologation are in Help.

If you are dealing with a specific vehicle, send us the VIN or auction lot number. For an import already in progress, also add the business case or invoice number.