Los Angeles – Turkey vehicle transport
From Los Angeles, the way across the ocean is an enclosed container: your car is secured and sealed in, 17–30 days port to port, 5–10 weeks door to door.
Request a quote
Fill in the details and a ready-made WhatsApp message opens. We usually reply with a firm price within 30 minutes.
At a glance
- Origin
- Los AngelesUSA
- Distance to Turkey
- ~11,020 km to Istanbulstraight line; the sea route is longer
- Typical transit
- 5–10 weeksdoor to door; 17–30 days port to port
- Transport method
- Enclosed container (by sea)
- Nearby container ports
- Los Angeles / Long Beach (~30 km), Oakland (~550 km)
- Arrival ports in Turkey
- Ambarlı (Istanbul), Izmir and Mersin
- Pickup areas
- Orange County, Glendale, Irvine, Santa Monica, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley
Straight-line distances are for orientation; road distance is longer. We give you the timing for your route in writing when we quote.
Los Angeles and Turkey
Southern California (Los Angeles and Orange County) has the West Coast's largest Turkish community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey, more than 4,000 Turkish-born residents live in Los Angeles.
Many customers in Los Angeles send the car to Turkey at the start of summer and bring it back at the end; those returning for good usually book one way. Besides central Los Angeles, we also collect from surrounding areas such as Orange County, Glendale, Irvine, Santa Monica.
Container shipping from Los Angeles
Inland transport to the port
Your vehicle travels from the Los Angeles area to the export port by truck or rail. The nearest port is Los Angeles / Long Beach (~30 km); for Mediterranean sailings, the nearest East Coast option is Houston (~2,220 km). We confirm the port in your quote.
Los Angeles is one of our regular North American routes.
Ocean transit
The vehicle is secured inside an enclosed container and the container is sealed. Port-to-port transit usually takes 17–30 days; arrival ports in Turkey are Ambarlı (Istanbul), Izmir and Mersin. On arrival we hand the vehicle over to your customs broker; customs and inland delivery can take 1–3 weeks.
DetailsPaperwork and customs
What to do in the USA:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires the original title and export documents to be presented at the port at least 72 hours before export.
- From Turkey to the USA, a vehicle generally needs to be at least 25 years old for the standard exemption.
- In Turkey, duty-free import is only possible for vehicles under 3 years old with definitive-return status.
For temporary import, stay limits and exemptions on the Turkish side, see our Turkey customs guide.
From Turkey back to Los Angeles
Shipping the other way, from Turkey to Los Angeles, is possible too – but North American age rules (generally 15 years for Canada, 25 for the USA) decide whether it works.
Frequently asked questions
How long does container shipping between Los Angeles and Turkey take?
Port to port usually takes 17–30 days, plus about 1–3 weeks for customs and inland delivery – so 5–10 weeks door to door.
Which port does a car from Los Angeles ship from?
The nearest port is Los Angeles / Long Beach. For Mediterranean sailings an East Coast port such as Houston may be used; we confirm the port in your quote.
Which areas around Los Angeles do you collect from?
We collect in Los Angeles and the surrounding area, including Orange County, Glendale, Irvine, Santa Monica, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley. If your address isn't listed, ask via the quote form and we'll confirm.
Can you ship any vehicle?
Age rules depend on the direction. In Turkey, duty-free import is only possible for vehicles under 3 years old with definitive-return status; entering Canada a vehicle generally needs to be at least 15 years old, entering the USA at least 25.
Can a non-running car go in a container?
In most cases yes, with the right equipment. Tell us the condition when you ask for a quote.
Other cities in USA
Our other city pages near Los Angeles (straight line): San Diego (~180 km), San Francisco Bay Area (~560 km), Phoenix (~570 km), Albuquerque (~1,070 km).
Ready to ship your vehicle?
Send us your route and vehicle, and we'll get back to you with a firm price.