To ship a Copart or IAA car to Libya, have it moved from the auction yard to your shipping agent's warehouse at a US port such as Newark, Baltimore, Savannah or Houston. There it is loaded into a container for Misrata, Khoms or Benghazi. Salvage cars are commonly shipped to Libya, but check the current age rules with your clearing agent before you bid. Shipping usually takes about four to six weeks because containers change ships in the Mediterranean.
How do you ship a Copart or IAA car to Libya?
- Check the import rules first. Age limits and damage rules decide which cars you can bring in. See the rules below.
- Get the US transport price before you bid. Enter the lot number in our calculator and choose the warehouse your shipping agent uses.
- Win, pay and book transport the same day. This keeps auction storage low. We collect the car from the yard and deliver it to your shipping agent's warehouse.
- Your shipping agent loads and files. They load the car into a container, file the export information (AES) and present the title to US customs at least 72 hours before sailing.
- Ocean shipping and arrival. The ship sails to Libya (Misrata, Khoms or Benghazi), where your clearing agent handles customs.
DispatchAuction handles step 3: the trip from any Copart or IAA yard in the lower 48 to the US warehouse. Your shipping agent handles the ocean part.
Which US port should you ship to Libya from?
Cars for Libya commonly leave from Newark, NJ, Baltimore, MD, Savannah, GA, Houston, TX. The best choice is the port your shipping agent loads from with the best rate and sailing schedule, weighed against how far the auction yard is from it. Every extra mile on the truck in the US costs money, so a car bought in Texas usually goes out of Houston, and a car bought in the Northeast out of Newark.
Newark warehouses is selected. Enter the lot number, or choose your agent's warehouse.
What are the import rules for Libya?
- Age limit: shipping companies report a limit of about 5 years for used passenger cars, but enforcement varies between the western and eastern authorities. Ask your clearing agent what applies at your port.
- Salvage cars: salvage and rebuilt cars are regularly imported, which is why Libya is a big market for US auction cars.
- Left-hand drive: accepted.
- Taxes: instead of classic customs duty, Libya charges port and service taxes based on a customs-estimated value, not your auction invoice. Estimated values for 4x4 and front-wheel-drive cars were raised in September 2025.
- Two authorities: western and eastern Libya clear goods separately, so agree on the destination port with your consignee before booking.
Checked November 2026. Import rules change often, and the sources below are shipping companies and news reports, not government notices. Confirm with your clearing agent in Libya before you bid. Sources: Linear Shipping (Aug 2026)
Container or RoRo, and how long does it take?
Most cars go to Libya by container. It takes cars that don't run, and two to four cars can share a 40 ft container, which lowers the cost per car. Direct RoRo service from the US to Libya is rare. There are no direct sailings, so containers change ships at a Mediterranean hub such as Algeciras, Malta or Port Said, and the trip usually takes about 28 to 45 days from the US port.
What documents do you need on the US side?
For every used car leaving the US, your shipping agent needs the original title and files the export information in AES, which gives an ITN number. Both go to US customs at least 72 hours before the ship sails. The title is the most common delay: auctions often mail it separately, so ask for it as soon as you pay. Our guide to exporting a car from the USA explains each document.
If we haven't picked up your car within 5 business days, we pay the auction storage charged for every day after that until pickup. The 5 business days start on the latest of three dates: the day you order with us, the day your auction balance reaches $0, and the day you send us the gate pass PIN (where the auction uses one). It doesn't apply to weather events, sublot or off-site cars, auctions that are hard to reach such as rural yards, delays the auction causes, or wrong lot or gate pass details. Send us the auction invoice within 30 days of pickup and we reimburse it. Full wording is in section 7 of our Terms.
What happens when the car arrives?
Misrata is the main container port for cars in western Libya, and Khoms is a smaller alternative east of Tripoli. Benghazi serves eastern Libya. Your clearing agent handles customs, and the bill of lading must name the consignee in the form Libyan customs expects, so check the spelling before the ship sails.
Frequently asked questions
How do I ship a Copart car to Libya?
Buy and pay for the car, then book transport from the Copart yard to your shipping agent's warehouse at a US port such as Newark, Baltimore, Savannah. Your shipping agent loads it into a container, files the US export paperwork and ships it to Libya (Misrata, Khoms or Benghazi).
How much does it cost to get a Copart car to the port for Libya?
The US part depends on the distance from the auction yard to the warehouse, the car's size and whether it runs. Enter the lot number in our calculator to see the exact price. The ocean freight is quoted separately by your shipping agent.
Does DispatchAuction ship the car overseas?
No. We move the car inside the US, from any Copart or IAA yard in the lower 48 to your shipping agent's warehouse or any address you choose. Your shipping agent handles the ocean shipping.
Can I ship a salvage car from Copart to Libya?
Salvage and rebuilt cars are regularly shipped from US auctions to Libya. Check the current age rules and the estimated duty value with your clearing agent before you bid.
Which Libyan port should I ship to?
Misrata is the main container port for cars in western Libya, Khoms is a smaller alternative, and Benghazi serves the east. Choose the port with your consignee before booking, because western and eastern Libya clear goods separately.