Buying a new car usually involves sitting in a bleak dealership office drinking stale coffee while haggling over floor mats. Volvo, however, has a slightly different approach. If you are willing to custom-order your next vehicle, the Swedish automaker offers a wildly popular, insider perk known as the Volvo Overseas Delivery Program.
Instead of taking delivery of your new SUV or wagon at your local dealership, Volvo will literally fly you to Sweden, put you up in a luxury hotel, and hand you the keys so you can road-trip across Europe.
The Ultimate Delivery Experience
The program sounds like an internet scam, but it is a very real, long-standing offer. To participate, you simply go to your local U.S. Volvo dealership, configure your custom build, and put down a deposit (usually between $3,000 and $6,000).
Once your car is built, the VIP treatment begins. The package currently includes:
- The Flights: Two complimentary round-trip tickets to Gothenburg, Sweden (Volvo’s hometown).
- The Hospitality: Airport pick-up and a stay at a luxury hotel in the heart of Gothenburg.
- The VIP Experience: A specialized delivery experience at the massive World of Volvo facility, complete with a factory tour.
- The Road Trip: Volvo provides you with temporary European registration and 15 days of complimentary auto insurance so you can explore Europe in your own brand-new car.
Getting the Car Home
Once your European vacation wraps up, you don’t have to worry about figuring out international freight logistics. You simply drop the car back off in Gothenburg (or at one of several other approved ports across Europe). Volvo takes the keys, loads the car onto a cargo ship, and transports it to your local U.S. dealership absolutely free, marine insurance included.
Historically, buyers who use the Overseas Delivery Program even get a slight discount off the standard U.S. MSRP. You are essentially getting paid to take a vacation.
So, What is the Catch?
It sounds like Volvo is losing a fortune by paying for your flights and hotel, but it is actually a brilliant financial loophole.
When an automaker builds a new car overseas and ships it to a U.S. dealership to be sold, they are hit with hefty commercial import duties and tariffs. However, under this program, you take legal ownership of the vehicle in Sweden. When the car is eventually shipped across the ocean, it is legally imported as a “used personal vehicle” belonging to a U.S. citizen.
This legal distinction bypasses the massive commercial import tariffs. Volvo takes the thousands of dollars they saved on taxes and uses that money to fund your vacation. It is a win-win scenario that builds incredible brand loyalty.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
While the program is undeniably awesome, there are a few caveats. First, you cannot lease the car; you have to purchase or finance it. Second, it requires a lot of patience. You have to wait for the car to be built, take the trip, and then wait another six to ten weeks for the cargo ship to actually deliver it to your hometown.
Finally, not every Volvo qualifies. The program generally only applies to vehicles actually manufactured in their European plants, meaning cars built at Volvo’s South Carolina facility won’t get you a free ticket to Sweden.
