Shipping Your Vehicle Overseas

There are few possessions nearer and dearer to a person’s heart than their vehicle. Case in point—those who collect vintage automobiles. Such people have formed attachments to their vehicles, and have even assigned them a gender and name. To others, their car is simply means to get from Point A to Point B.
Where the former is concerned, their automobile is much more than mere transportation. The prospect of leaving it behind when confronted with an international move is unimaginable.
It’s no wonder, then, that so many people consider taking their car with them when moving overseas.

If you decide to ship your vehicle when you move overseas, you must be aware of a few things. First, inquire as to the regulatory policies of your destination country regarding the importation of automobiles.

Does the destination country even allow the importing of vehicles? If so, what are the restrictions? Some countries allow only certain makes and models, while others only allow the import of newer cars.
Assuming that the destination country allows you to self-import, is a special permit required? Some countries will require an importer license, which requires few weeks to process.
Does your car require repairs or adjustments to pass the DMV inspection in your destination country? How much will it cost? What are the import taxes in the destination country etc…?

Well, no one said that shipping a vehicle would be simple.

The Logistics

There are two ways to ship a car overseas. The first is called Ro-Ro, which is an abbreviation for roll-on/roll-off. The car is actually driven on to the ship, and is not loaded inside the container.
The other way to ship your vehicle is to load the car inside a container.

Personally, I think that loading a car in a container is safer. If the car is worth so much that you are willing to schlep it across the world, you won’t want it exposed to the elements.
Some shipping companies specialize in sending cars in containers. They will be able to fit three 16 – 18 ft long cars in a 40 ft long container. They are able to fit so many cars in a 40 ft container by building ramps in the container so the cars are placed in an angle.
Most people will choose to load their car in a container along with their belongings, because it is the most cost-effective way to move. Be sure to choose a professional moving company that is experienced in shipping vehicles. The documentation required for such shipments is quite complex, much more so than for a standard international shipment. Moreover, this way everything arrives in the destination country at one time.

On Your Moving Day

All we need you, our client, to do is to make sure that the vehicle has less than ⅛ of a tank of gas. For obvious reasons, shipping a car with a full tank is prohibited. Next, we will need the ORIGINAL title. US customs needs to receive your original title prior to shipping in order for the title to clear customs. This process can take anywhere from four to twenty-one days.

On the day of the move, the movers will measure 19 to 20-ft into the container and mark off a space for your vehicle. Most cars are 17’ to 18’-long, but one foot of leeway in the front and back is required.
Your belongings will be loaded into the container first. Usually, the mattresses are the last to go, after securing with wood they are used as a blocking wall to keep your belongings from damaging the car.

Finally, your vehicle is loaded. If this is done at the loading docks warehouse, your vehicle will simply be driven into the container. Otherwise, if this is done at your home, which is preferable, a flatbed truck is used to hoist your car up to the container and then it is driven inside.
Once the car is safely in the container, the battery is disconnected and your vehicle is rendered immobile. This is achieved by using 2” x 4” pieces of wood to secure each wheel. Strapping the chassis of the car to the container’s walls is advisable, but not required.
The windows are left open with the keys inside so the movers who await the shipment in the destination country can access your vehicle.
At this point, all that is left is the sealing of the container door. Your vehicle and belongings are all set to sail the ocean blue!