If you are planning
an international move, you may already feel overwhelmed by the number
of things you need to do, so you could get your affairs in order. As
shipping your current car overseas is much
cheaper than buying a new vehicle
once you get there, this is likely to also be one of the items on
your list. While seemingly quite complicated, the process of shipping
a car overseas is actually pretty straightforward. In this guide on
how to ship a car overseas, we will try to answer all of the
questions you may have about this process. Bear in mind that all of
this applies to shipping your car by boat. International air
transport for cars is very pricey. This is why it is only recommended
if the vehicle you are shipping is very rare and valuable.

Your guide to
international car shipping

Here is a breakdown of what you
need to do to ship your car overseas.

Research

As cars are among
the biggest items you can have shipped, you don’t want to put them
in the care of just about anybody. Doing thorough research is the
only way you can ensure you are hiring a reliable
and trustworthy moving company.
Many companies like allseasonmovers.com
will offer full services and be your one-stop shop for all of your
moving needs. You should start your search online and check the
credentials of several different companies. One of the things that is
very important to research is whether or not the moving company and
its affiliates are fully
licensed, bonded, and insured.
If you are having trouble finding proof of this, do not be afraid to
ask. Also, even if their answer is yes, you want to ask for their
licensing number so
you can verify it yourself.

Once you have a
couple of picks, you can shop around a little. Try to see who can
offer you the best deal for your money. Many companies will help you
transport
a vehicle or relocate anywhere in the world
so it would be great to find one that will help you do both.

Documents

So, you’ve settled
on the moving company. The next step in your guide to international
car shipping is collecting all of the documentation. The two
main pieces of paper
you will need are the US Customs & Border Protection Vehicle
Export Cover Sheet and the original Certificate of Title for your car
or a certified copy of the original. You will also need two
additional copies of the Certificate. These are the basics, but you
can never be too careful. You can consult with your shipping company
as well as the Port of Entry to see if you might need to hand in
anything else. You have to bring these documents to the Port of Entry
your car will be shipping out of at
least
72 hours before shipping.

Prepare
your car

One of the important
things about knowing how to ship a car overseas is knowing what can
stay in your car during shipping. The answer will be – very little.

For the most part,
the things that you can keep in your car will be the things
that are directly related to it,
like a spare tire. In most cases, there will even be limits to the
amount of gas in your tank. Most companies will allow only as much as
a quarter of your tank to be full.  So your best bet would be to
fully clean out your car. Make sure no important documents, such as
registration or insurance, stay inside. On your way to the United
States Port of Entry, you will want to get
your car washed
thoroughly. The Customs at the border will check your car for pests
or debris illegal to bring into the country of import.

The
cost

The cost of shipping
your car overseas can vary. The final amount will depend on the
company you choose and the distance the transport will cover.
Usually, you will end up coughing up somewhere between
$1,000 and $2,000.
This will be the base cost, but expect that some additional costs may
arise. Though there is a way to ship a car overseas without
additional insurance, we recommend purchasing marine insurance to
guarantee the safety of your car in open water. Furthermore, you will
need to cover destination charges and customs
duty of the country to which you are moving. There may be some
additional taxes and fees as well. Your shipping company should be
able to tell you what you can expect. All in all, it would be a good
idea to budget
for a more expensive shipping just to be safe.

Shipping
methods

There is a variety
of ways to ship a car overseas. The basic one that most people go for
is booking a
sole shipping container.
This is also the quickest way. But some cheaper options are available
as well. Consolidated
vehicle shipping
will cost you less, but it will take longer. This method implies that
your car will share a container with other vehicles going to the same
destination. The reason it takes longer is because the shipping
company only transports the vehicles once the container is full.
Another method is roll-on/roll-off
shipping,
where your car will be shipping on a vessel without a container.
While this is cheaper than a sole shipping container, it takes longer
and it might be damaging to your car as it is exposed to the
elements.

How
long will it take for the car to reach its destination?

The time it takes
for shipping a car overseas also varies. It depends on how far the
destination is and what method of international
shipping you choose. In some cases, you will be able to get your
car about a week after shipping it out. In others, though, you might
have to wait longer. Your shipping company will know how to ship a
car overseas and how long it might take. However, bear in mind that
going through customs upon entry into the country can last longer
than expected.