Shipping a Vehicle Overseas
Moving overseas and don’t fancy facing the hectic public transport of a foreign city? With this guide you will be able to seamlessly transport your vehicle internationally, eliminating the need for those complicated bus timetables.
There are 4 steps to shipping your vehicle overseas:
- Research different shipment companies.
- Request quotes.
- Select the shipment company and gather paperwork.
- Inspect vehicle condition.
Let's break these down.
1) Research Different Shipment Companies
The first step is to research different transport companies that are available in your area. Make sure you gather companies that have the right credentials and certifications. When you collect these companies, ask each one if they fully insure the vehicles, or if they use a third party insurance service.
If you have a special car for shipping, perhaps a classic or slightly unusual vehicle, make sure that the company you choose has experience driving and/or shipping them.
Tip: Be wary of companies offering cheap quotes & prices, they may be an unlicensed/uninsured transporter.
2) Request Quotes
Due to the variety of vehicles available, each quote has a custom price. This means you will need to request a quote for your specific vehicle. Some companies have a generic quote price that's available online, yet some have variable rates that depend on the vehicle's size, the destination, fuel costs, and other varying costs. Requesting a quote means you will also receive information on the company's port of departure & arrival, overall costs, necessary documentation, etc.
Request quotes from all the companies that you researched, then you can compare these factors:
- The total cost to ship your car or vehicle.
- Type of service: is it port to port, door to port, or door to door?
- Method used: airfreight vs shipping overseas? Is it shipping via roll on roll off or an ocean container? Share a container or sole container?
- Destination fees: how much are the fees for unloading, customs, and transport from arrival?
- Insurance: is it included? What is the price/rate? What does the insurance cover? When does coverage start?
- Schedule: when can they send your vehicle and when does it arrive in the destination country? How long is the transit time?
3) Select Shipment Company and Gather Paperwork
By this point, you have a clear picture of the shipping companies in your area and have a preference for a particular company and their quote. Now you can select a shipment company and can gather the paperwork that the company requires. Try not to delay this process, sending the paperwork ASAP will speed up the whole process.
Most of the time, the documents needed include:
- The vehicle’s V5C (vehicle logbook or title).
- Copy of a purchase receipt.
- Copy of your passport / ID.
Some overseas destinations require an import permit. Consult with your shipment company regarding the requirements.
4) Inspect Vehicle's Condition
Before shipping any of your vehicles, always take plenty of pictures. We also recommend you service your vehicle before handing it over.
A careful inspection of your vehicle makes damages caused in transit easier to identify. Most companies will also perform an inspection both before and after shipment, but it’s best to have an inspection done for your personal records. This way, you have a chance to argue any claims the company may make.
Make sure your vehicle's conditions comply with the shipment company's regulations. Most companies require your vehicle's brakes to be working properly to ensure a safe shipping process. Also, look into the details of whether or not the shipping company prefers your vehicle to have a full gas tank. If it's port to door or door to port, a full gas tank is often preferred.
Lastly, do not forget to take all your personal belongings out of the vehicle before passing it over to the shipment company.
There you have it, four simple steps and you can kiss that bus timetable goodbye! For more help in shipping your vehicle overseas, consult your personal moving assistant.
