There is no universal “free storage” rule for a shipped vehicle. The terminal and its published tariff matter, and delayed pickup can turn a small timing problem into a meaningful destination-side cost.
Ship or Sell combines your route, vehicle, U.S. gateway and destination with the cost evidence currently available. Terminal storage is shown separately from the core transport price so it does not disappear inside one headline number.
Analyze my vehicle →The AVP Marine Terminal tariff effective January 19, 2026 gives 15 calendar days of outdoor free time. Its auto outdoor schedule then lists $12/day through day 30, $15/day for days 31–60, $30/day for days 61–90 and $60/day from day 91 onward.
Brunswick tariff ↗The current SC Ports vehicle/POV tariff gives 10 days of free time. For POVs not exceeding 10,000 lb it publishes an open-storage position of $12.50 per vehicle/day and another $25/day storage position; confirm the actual terminal billing arrangement for the shipment.
Charleston tariff ↗The Baltimore terminal schedule gives four business days of general import free time. It also publishes a privately-owned-vehicle terminal charge, but not one universal POV storage rate; storage not shown in the schedule may require an arrangement with the terminal operator.
Baltimore terminal schedule ↗Free time should be treated as a pickup-planning window, not as a guarantee that every shipment will be billed the same way. The published tariff is only one part of the operational picture: the vehicle must also be available for release, the required documents must be ready and the person collecting it must be able to act within the terminal’s process.
That is why the report keeps port storage separate from U.S. inland transport. A vehicle can arrive at the gateway and still need another trucking leg to the final destination. See the U.S. inland vehicle transport guide for that part of the route.
PCS schedules do not always line up neatly with vessel arrival. Leave dates, flights, temporary lodging, report dates and household transportation needs can all affect when someone is actually available to collect the vehicle. If pickup depends on another person, confirm whether a power of attorney or other release documentation is needed before the vehicle reaches the terminal.
The arrival and pickup guide and power of attorney pickup guide cover those practical steps.
Free time varies by port and terminal. Ship or Sell labels unmapped ports as “confirm with terminal/provider” instead of inventing a fee. When a published tariff does not give a defensible POV storage amount, the report keeps that line item in Review.
Port storage usually is not the biggest part of the decision, but it can matter when the economics are close. A shipping path should be compared against the German sale value, U.S. replacement-market evidence, import/compliance exposure, inland transport and the real household cost of being without the vehicle. For the wider calculation, see how much it costs to ship a car from Germany to the USA and whether you should ship or sell before PCS.
Last reviewed: 5 October 2026.
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