I was planning to move to EU (Finland) a few years back but had change of plans. Did some research and was going to use A.S. Motorsport (active in NSX community) in NL to help with the import process - they were incredibly helpful in providing info so if/when I make the move, I am going to use their services. Their transporter also quoted about €1.600 from Ohio to A.S. Motorsport - this was 2021 so costs might be different.
Here is the info I got from Adnan at A.S.:
Are you taking your NSX with you as a part of your personal effects during immigration? (< that's a procedure that exempts you taxes and certain inspections)
To qualify for this you'll need to have had the NSX registered in the states on your name 3 years and it needs to arrive with the rest of your belongings (for example furniture etc would fall in that tax exemption)
If that doesn't apply, and you are importing it as a regular individual.
Value of the car + transport = total customs value 10% duty will be charged, then 21% VAT will be charged
Then your NSX will have a EU customs clearance document, you can then go to the registration step in which you have two methods.
- Having the car inspected at the RDW (DMV) main test center in Lelystad, €900-1200 ish affair BUT they will take a day to completely examine that your car meets standards of it's production year.
- If it's a 1991 for example there is quite some flexibility in emissions and sound will be a bigger factor, that said it's to a extent up-to the government inspector i've had luck with them and have had some overly strict ones
- Do note often they will require here to convert the car to a Honda NSX in terms of lighting (rear fog light, no red side markers, front fog light or daytime running light, EU approved headlights)
- I've done that a few times. It's not that difficult. I've got a few tricks to make a NSX temporally compliant.
- German method, import the car do all customs work in NL then apply for German registration and get a TUV inspection this is a lot easier and will be basic safety and paperwork inspection, afterwards import the NSX as a German car which is €150-200 and a hour of work
- Occasionally we can get cars inspected here by a TUV approved inspector those generally charge 1300-1500 but sometimes we have to ship cars to Germany have it done there that is 1000-1200 it's actually a very common method for importing specialty cars here
- This I've done quite a few times with exotic cars that potentially would have had issues here with exhaust, lighting, etc
- Do note: TUV inspectors will want to see "EC" approvals but we can have individual approvals done on certain parts.
Once the NSX has a Dutch plate, there are few formalities (for example making sure they give you a exemption on EU plates, so you can run US sized plates) applying for your BPM taxes (luxury tax, which depreciates to 0% over 20 year period so any NSX will be zero or a tiny amount on a 2005.
Then you'd need a regular APK (MOT) which is a very straightforward safety inspection which every car needs to have done yearly. I do those here any car at any time should meet that for safety reasons.
