The important distinction is that carrier documents, ownership documents and federal import declarations are not the same thing. A vehicle can be accepted for transport while its import path still requires separate federal review.
Ship or Sell checks the vehicle, import path, Germany origin and U.S. destination first, so you can identify the questions that may change the decision before booking.
Analyze my vehicle →VIN, make, model, model year and registration details establish which vehicle is being shipped and which import rules apply.
Title, registration or other ownership evidence may be required. Financed or leased vehicles can also require lender, lessor or provider authorization depending on the shipment.
The commercial provider can require booking confirmations, identification, contact details, turn-in instructions and shipment-specific declarations.
NHTSA and EPA have separate federal requirements. The correct declaration path depends on the actual vehicle and how it was manufactured or certified.
NHTSA uses the HS-7 Declaration for motor vehicles and motor-vehicle equipment entering the United States. The form identifies the vehicle and the legal basis under which it is being imported. For example, the form includes a path for a vehicle that is at least 25 years old and a path for a vehicle bearing the original manufacturer’s U.S. certification label.
A nonconforming vehicle under 25 years old can require a completely different path, including an NHTSA eligibility determination and a Registered Importer where applicable. Do not select an HS-7 box simply because it appears convenient; the declaration has to match the actual vehicle.
EPA publishes Form 3520-1 for importing passenger vehicles, highway motorcycles and the corresponding engines. EPA emissions compliance is separate from NHTSA safety compliance, so passing one agency’s test does not automatically satisfy the other.
For a normal passenger vehicle, the correct EPA declaration code depends on the vehicle’s certification and the applicable exemption or exclusion, if any. Confirm the correct filing path before the vehicle reaches U.S. entry.
Military OneSource states that only one personally owned or leased POV may generally be shipped at government expense on OCONUS moves, subject to exceptions handled through the transportation office. Government-contracted POV processing has its own documentation and appointment workflow.
If you are arranging a second POV privately, do not assume that the government-contractor checklist is your commercial carrier’s checklist. Use the government guidance for entitlement context, but obtain the final private-shipment document list from the provider handling your booking.
An unavailable title does not have one universal solution. The acceptable ownership evidence can depend on the vehicle, jurisdiction, lien status, export process and provider. Do not substitute a generic document without confirming that the carrier/export process and U.S. entry will accept it. See the title and ownership documents guide for the decision points to verify.
That question should be answered before you pay for transportation. NHTSA states that a vehicle less than 25 years old that was not originally manufactured and certified to applicable U.S. standards generally needs an approved import-eligibility path. EPA requirements remain separate. Start with the U.S. car import check and 25-year rule guide.
Published and last reviewed: 6 October 2026.
Check SHIP, SELL and STORE using your actual vehicle and destination, then verify the shipment-specific document packet with the provider.
Run free analysis →