Guide
Importing a car from the USA to Azerbaijan
You don't need to travel to the USA to import a car from America. You buy it online at a Copart or IAAI auction, and we pick it up from the yard and deliver it to Baku. Below is the whole route: steps, costs, timelines and customs. The figures use the current rates on this site.
- Shipping to Baku
- 2 350 – 3 150 $
- Depends on the state (10 states)
- In transit
- 35–58 days
- From the state to Baku
- Auctions
- Copart, IAAI
- Online, from your account
- Registration fee
- 800 $
- Your account opens after payment
Auction calculator
- Car (auction price)
- 18 400 $
- Auction fee
- 650 $
- Shipping (Newark → Baku)
- 2 350 $
To Baku
≈ 36 380 ₼ · 35–40 days in transit
21 400 $
Estimate only, customs not included. Shipping depends on the auction.
Calculate with customs →Ordering a car from the USA: 8 steps
- 01
Registration
Sign up on the website and confirm with the SMS code sent to your phone. The registration fee (800 $) is paid by card or bank transfer. Your login and password arrive by SMS and email.
- 02
Choosing a car
Check the lot's photos, damage description and VIN history. The state where the lot stands changes the shipping price and time.
- 03
Cost estimate
Enter the price, engine size, year and state in the calculator to see the total to Baku with the auction fee, shipping and customs.
- 04
Auction
The “Auction” button in your account takes you to Copart to bid; at IAAI you take part by ordering through a manager. When you win, the car shows up in your account at once.
- 05
Invoice
A won car has 2 invoice options: Total (car, auction fee, shipping and service in one payment) or the car first, with the other costs invoiced later.
- 06
Shipping
After the invoice is paid, the car is picked up from the yard within 2–5 days, taken to the port, loaded into a container and shipped to a port in Georgia, and from there to Baku.
- 07
Customs
You can clear customs yourself or choose the CarBuy additional service: the offer arrives in your account when the car gets close to customs.
- 08
Handover
You receive the car in Baku and confirm it in your account. All along the way you get an SMS and an email when the status changes.
How much does it cost to import a car from the USA
The final price in Baku has two parts. On the US side, in dollars: the auction price, the auction fee and shipping from the state to Baku (2 350 – 3 150 $). At Azerbaijani customs, in manats: import duty, excise tax, VAT (18%) and the customs fee. The auction fee goes up in steps with the price: for a car priced at 5 000 $ or less it is 400 $.
Example: what popular models cost in Baku
Calculated the same way as in the calculator: the lot is at a Copart yard in New Jersey, and the price is the lower end of the model's estimated auction range.
| Model | Auction price | US side | Customs | Total in Baku |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexus RX 350 2020 | 16 000 $ | 19 000 $ | 30 670 ₼ | ≈ 37 041 $ |
| Toyota Camry 2019 | 9 000 $ | 11 900 $ | 13 066 ₼ | ≈ 19 586 $ |
| Hyundai Tucson 2021 | 12 000 $ | 15 000 $ | 14 096 ₼ | ≈ 23 292 $ |
| BMW X5 2019 | 22 000 $ | 25 150 $ | 21 310 ₼ | ≈ 37 685 $ |
| Mercedes-Benz E 300 2018 | 15 000 $ | 18 000 $ | 13 205 ₼ | ≈ 25 768 $ |
| Kia Sportage 2022 | 13 000 $ | 16 000 $ | 14 402 ₼ | ≈ 24 472 $ |
Exchange rate: 1 $ = 1,7 ₼. The figures are estimates: the price of a specific lot is set at the auction, and the exact customs amount is set by the customs authority when the declaration is filed.
Not included in this estimate
- Registration fee (800 $): your account opens after it is paid.
- Repairs: for a damaged lot, the repair cost is known after the car is inspected.
- Additional services: customs clearance, repairs, interior cleaning and putting the car up for sale.
- Full insurance: basic insurance is included in shipping, full insurance is extra.
- State registration of the car in Azerbaijan.
How long it takes to ship a car from the USA to Baku
The time depends on the state where the lot stands: currently 35–58 days. After the invoice is paid, the car is picked up from the yard within 2–5 days, and the sea route usually takes 25–35 days. Cars from New Jersey arrive first (35–40 days), cars from Washington take the longest (48–58 days).
| State and port | To Baku, days | Shipping, Copart | Shipping, IAAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey · Newark | 35–40 | 2 350 $ | 2 350 $ |
| New York · Newark | 35–40 | 2 400 $ | 2 400 $ |
| Pennsylvania · Newark | 36–42 | 2 450 $ | 2 450 $ |
| Georgia · Savannah | 38–44 | 2 450 $ | 2 450 $ |
| Florida · Miami | 38–45 | 2 500 $ | 2 500 $ |
| Texas · Houston | 40–46 | 2 550 $ | 2 550 $ |
| Illinois · Newark | 40–47 | 2 650 $ | 2 650 $ |
| California · Los Angeles | 45–55 | 2 950 $ | 2 950 $ |
| Nevada · Los Angeles | 46–56 | 3 050 $ | 3 050 $ |
| Washington · Seattle | 48–58 | 3 150 $ | 3 150 $ |
How customs duty is calculated
The base is the customs value: the auction price, the auction fee and shipping added up, in manats. Import duty depends on the engine size and the car's age, and excise tax on the engine size. VAT (18%) is charged on the customs value plus duty and excise, and the customs fee comes on top.
The engine size makes the biggest difference: the larger it is, the faster both duty and excise grow. So calculate the specific lot in the calculator before you bid. The rates are in the article how customs duty is calculated.
For an electric car, the calculator sets import duty, excise and VAT to zero; for a hybrid it counts 50% of the excise. Check the current terms of these exemptions with customs before clearance: importing an electric car from the USA.
Before you bid
- Look at all the lot's photos and the damage description: the “run and drive” note and where the damage is change the repair cost (how to read a lot description).
- A salvage title means the insurer declared the car heavily damaged; it can be registered after repair.
- Work out the total cost with shipping and customs, not just the auction price.
- Backing out of a won lot leads to an auction penalty. See the Terms page.
Everything in one account
Auction
Go to Copart from your account; order IAAI lots through a manager.
Payment
Invoices are paid by card or bank transfer. A Total invoice covers the car, auction fee and shipping in one payment.
Status
Yard, port, container, sea, customs and handover: every stage is in your account, with an SMS and email on each change.
Insurance
Basic insurance is included in shipping: it covers total loss of the car in transit.
Importing a car from the USA: questions
01Do I need to go to the USA to import a car?
No. Copart and IAAI auctions are held online. You go to Copart from your account and bid; at IAAI you take part by ordering through a manager. We pick the car up from the yard and deliver it to Baku.
02How much does it cost to import a car from the USA?
The total is made up of the auction price, the auction fee, shipping (2 350 – 3 150 $) and customs payments (import duty, excise, VAT, customs fee). Calculate a specific car in the customs calculator.
03How long does it take to ship a car from the USA?
35–58 days, depending on the state. After payment the car is picked up from the yard within 2–5 days, and the sea route usually takes 25–35 days. Times by state are on the states page.
04Which state is the cheapest to ship a car from?
Shipping is currently cheapest from New Jersey (2 350 $) and most expensive from Washington (3 150 $). More: which state is the best to buy from.
05What do I need to order a car from the USA?
Sign up on the website and pay the 800 $ registration fee. Your account opens after payment, and the login and password arrive by SMS and email. The steps are on the How to bid page.
06Can I import a damaged (salvage) car?
Yes. Most auction lots come from insurance companies. A salvage title means the insurer declared the car heavily damaged; it can be registered after repair. Check the damage description and all the photos before you bid.
07Is customs different for an electric car?
Yes. The calculator sets import duty, excise and VAT to zero for an electric car and counts 50% of the excise for a hybrid. Check the current terms of the exemptions with customs.
Calculate the cost of a specific car
Enter the price, engine, year and state to get the total to Baku with auction fee, shipping and customs.
Related articles
- How much does it cost to import a car from the USAEvery cost item from the auction price to customs, with three worked examples.Read →
- How long does it take to ship a car from the USAFrom the yard to the port, the sea leg, Georgia and Baku: how long each stage takes.Read →
- How to buy a car on Copart: a step-by-step guideFrom registration to delivery in Baku: how to choose a lot, place a bid and what happens after payment.Read →
- How to buy a car on IAAI from Azerbaijan: step-by-step guideHow to choose an IAAI lot, place an order through a manager and what happens after you win.Read →