How much a turnkey car from the USA costs: what makes up the final amount
When someone asks “how much does a turnkey car from the USA cost”, they are really asking something else: how much money will be spent in total, from the bid at the auction to the license plates on the car. The bid is only the first part. Then come auction fees, transport within the USA, the ocean, customs payments, certification and paperwork. Each of these items is calculated separately, and that is exactly why an honest answer is a calculation for a specific lot, not “roughly this much”.
What “turnkey” means and up to what point the amount is calculated
For us, “turnkey” means: you get the keys, the documents and the car registered in Ukraine. Everything between the auction and that moment is included in the calculation. It is important to agree on this at the start, because different companies draw the line in different places — some calculate up to the port, some up to customs, and bill the rest later as separate invoices.
Repairs are a separate question. A large share of cars from US auctions are damaged — from cosmetic to serious. The cost of restoration is usually not included in the turnkey amount, because it cannot be named before the car is inspected in person. If you need a car that is ready to drive, agree on the repair as a separate stage with a separate estimate.
The auction bid: the winning price is not yet the price of the car
The bid is the only part you influence directly. And the only one that cannot be predicted in advance: a specific lot may go cheaper than expected or jump because of two interested bidders in the last seconds. That is why any preliminary calculation is built from the maximum bid you are ready to place, not from “the price you would like”.
One more point: cars of the same year and model can differ in price several times over — because of the nature of the damage, whether there is a key, the condition of the interior, the type of the car’s document, the region of sale. Comparing lots without looking into these details is pointless.
Auction fees and logistics within the USA
Right after the winning bid, the yard’s fees are added. They are not fixed: they depend on the lot amount, the type of auction and the payment method. The next step is to get the car from the yard to the port of loading. Here the price depends on the distance and the condition of the car: a car that does not start or roll is loaded differently, and that costs more.
This group of costs usually includes:
These figures become final when the specific lot and the specific state are known. Until then, any amount here is an estimate.
The ocean and the way to Ukraine
Ocean freight rates change — they depend on the route, how busy the line is, the season and how many cars go in a container. Then, after unloading at the port of destination, the car travels overland to Ukraine. This part of the route has its own cost too.
Timelines are a separate topic, and they affect the amount as well: every extra week of waiting means either paid storage or shifted plans. Where exactly these weeks hide along the route is covered in a separate article about the delivery stages.
Customs payments: the biggest line after the bid
Three payments are made at customs, and they are calculated one after another. First the import duty — from the customs value of the car. Then the excise tax — it is calculated using a formula that takes into account the engine size, the fuel type and the age of the car. And VAT is charged on the customs value together with the duty and the excise tax.
Two of the three rates are stable and give you a basis for a rough estimate: import duty is 10%, VAT is 20%. The reduced duty that applies to cars of European origin does not apply to American cars — this is one of the most common mistakes in do-it-yourself calculations. The excise tax, however, has no percentage at all, and it is what makes two similar-looking crossovers different in payment. How it is calculated and why electric cars and hybrids stand apart is covered in detail in the article about customs clearance.
Certification, registration and documents
The last group of costs is the smallest in amount, but without it the car cannot be on the road legally: the certificate of conformity, translation of the US documents, broker services, registration at the MIA service center with license plates, insurance and the pension fund fee at first registration. Each item on its own is small, together they are noticeable — so in the calculation each of them should have its own line, not be “small things at the end”.
Also keep in mind possible storage costs: if the car stays at the yard or in the port longer than the free period, a daily fee builds up. This is the item that most often ruins the calculation for people importing a car on their own for the first time.
How to calculate the budget backwards — from the turnkey amount
It is easier to calculate not forwards but the other way round: name the turnkey amount you are ready to spend and subtract everything that is added after the auction — fees, logistics, customs payments, paperwork and a reserve for repairs. What is left is your bid ceiling. Then lots that fit within it are selected, and the question “what if it goes higher at the auction” is settled in advance, not in the last seconds of bidding.
To calculate this in practical terms, a few inputs are enough:
With this set, specific lots from the nearest auctions can be calculated and the full structure of the amount shown — line by line, not as one number.
The most unpleasant scenario in car import is not an expensive car but an amount that “grew” after the lot was already paid for. That is why at KTrans we show the calculation before the bid: you can see how much of it is your bid, how much is logistics, how much goes to the state and how much is left for repairs. Send us the model and budget, and we will break down the amount for your case.
