Problem
The auction price alone does not show the cost of an imported vehicle. Customers need visibility into fees, inland and ocean transport, customs, tax, excise and delivery.
Case study
StarCars Import — automotive service website and landed-cost calculator
An import service experience combining the US/Canada sourcing journey, an interactive cost estimate and a contact flow.
Goal
Explain the import journey, provide a practical initial estimate and make it easy to request a tailored quote with relevant parameters.
Status
Public business website / evolving
Stack
ReactTypeScriptViteThree.jsGSAPNBP APIVercel
Users and roles
Customer
Enters vehicle parameters, reviews the estimate and sends a request.
Advisor
Receives the enquiry context and can prepare a tailored offer.
Key features
- Service, process, realizations and FAQ sections.
- Estimator covering auction type, origin region, vehicle class and destination port.
- Indicative transport, customs, VAT, excise and other fees.
- NBP USD/PLN exchange rate with a fallback value.
- Enquiry prefilled with the calculation summary.
- Three.js and animation-driven brand visuals.
Technical decisions
- Display the cost components rather than only one total.
- Treat calculations as estimates, not binding quotes.
- Carry calculation context into the enquiry form.
- Use 3D for brand storytelling while keeping practical information clear.
What I learned
- Designing calculators with multiple dependent inputs and currencies.
- Combining conversion-oriented content with a useful self-service tool.
- Balancing immersive visuals with understandable business actions.
Next improvements
- Review shipping rates and tax assumptions regularly.
- Increase calculator test coverage for edge cases.
- Further optimize 3D performance on lower-end devices.
Limitations
The calculator is indicative, not a binding offer. Rates and taxes must be checked and updated. The artwork above is illustrative.