How to Ship a Car Overseas: Complete Guide with Tips!

Step 1: Do Your Research

So one of the first steps in any purchasing decision is to do the research and when shipping a vehicle overseas, research is a very important step.

When we say do your research, there are a few things that need to be considered and we’ll explain how they should be done.

Company Research

The first things that you want to do is gather a list of international auto transporters and shipping companies that you’re considering using.

Search in Google, Bing, Yahoo etc. but also use sites like BBB.org, FMC.gov, review sites, as well as forums. Don’t forget to use friends or friends of friends for references either.

Look at each company’s credentials and certifications. See whether or not the company is licensed, insured and bonded. If a company is all of the above they won’t hide it.

The licenses will vary also by the type of company you deal with. For example, freight forwarders will have FMC licensing and some may also have a special license if they operate as an NVOCC.

All domestic transporters are required to have their DOT license and if the international shipping company has an in house domestic pickup department, ask for their DOT information.

Additionally, make sure to ask each and every company, no matter how trivial it may seem, whether they are fully insured and licensed and whether they use licensed and insured carriers/third party services.

Go a step further and ask for those companies names and conduct some research on them as well.

Tip: Do this before you go out and request a quote from tons of websites. Anyone working from a computer can email you a price that looks great but it could be from an unlicensed company, for an uninsured transporter or a broker that never actually handles your automobile.

Most people searching for “how to ship your car overseas” rarely consider the entire process and all parties involved.

Cost Research

If you want to determine how much it cost to ship a vehicle overseas you will need to request an online quote. Getting a quote is also a great way to learn how to ship your car overseas as well. This is because quotes will contain info on the port of departure/arrival, overall costs, necessary documentation, etc. With our company, we create custom quotes for each shipment because we know every detail has a major effect on the cost.

Fill out our Online Quote Form and learn how to ship your car today!

Some companies will list a generic rate online. It’s important to note that the rates on websites are for ideal shipments (smallest size vehicle, to a popular destination, at their best rate). Also, rates change quite frequently with the rise of fuel costs and other surcharges so online prices are not 100% up to date. When this happens, you may try to book and encounter a price change from what you saw.

Another way to research shipping costs is by visiting a few forums and seeing what others paid for international auto shipping. The price that you’ll find will vary based on vehicle type, the company used, the shipping method used and their departure location. Make sure to look at the date of the response as some of the forums may contain responses from 5 or even 10 years ago.

Step 2: Request Quotes and Compare Them

When comparing quotes, obviously the first thing that we do is look at a dollar amount. We don’t always look to see exactly what it includes. So make sure to read through each quote you receive carefully.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Car Overseas?

There’s a lot more to it than simply the ocean freight costs. Below are some key points to look for which can all have a direct impact on cost. Clarify all of these factors before booking with a company.

1. The type of service quoted: Are you paying for a port to port, door to port, or door to door service?
2. The method used: Is it shipping via roll on roll off vs. ocean container? Is it in a shared container or sole 20ft?
3. Inland transportation: This goes hand in hand with number one. Some companies quote with domestic transport included, others only include the ocean transport.
4. Destination Fees: Note: There will always be destination fees at every port, no matter the destination. This also relates to number one. If you are paying for door to port or port to port, this handles everything on the exporting side including US customs clearance. Unloading, customs clearance at the destination and transport from the arrival port all vary by destination. Make sure to ask about this!

Ask About Insurance

Most of the time, international auto transporters will offer this to you either through their own in house program or through a company they work with. Once again, these numbers differ by carriers and providers.

The rates can vary between 1.5% of the value to 2.5%. Make sure you understand exactly what the insurance covers and ask your company! Are you purchasing a policy for total loss or all risk? When does coverage start? Make sure you know your deductible associated with your rate as well!

Just like any type of insurance, when shipping an automobile abroad, the insurance is there for peace of mind. You will almost never need it, but if you do you’ll be glad.

Step 3: Determine Your Cost vs. Time Trade Off

This consideration is really all about your shipping preferences. Do you want the car shipped asap or are you more concerned with getting the cheapest rate?

Most people are uninformed of how long the process can take and how much it varies based on the method you choose.

Determining Shipping Method

There are different ways to ship your car that all have different benefits.

Consolidated Vehicle Shipping

The most popular method is consolidated vehicle shipping. This is where your car is shipped in a container with other vehicles bound for the same final destination port.

Not always, but it generally takes longer since the company must have other vehicles to fill the container before it can be shipped overseas.

However, you get the added protection of a containerized shipment and you can save hundreds of dollars if not more than that.

Sole Container Shipping

If you are trying to determine how to ship your car overseas quickly, then the answer is simple. Book your own 20ft container, supply the paperwork, and pay the bill.

As soon as it gets into the hands of your shipper with the documentation, the company will clear US customs and it will be loaded on the next available vessel then shipped.

The trade off here is the cost so expect to pay hundreds of dollars more than you would for some the other methods.

Roll-on Roll-off

The middle ground for time vs. cost could be considered roll on roll off. Your automobile will be driven into the hull or belly of a RORO vessel and then secured and braced. This method is slower than the one listed above but costs less.

Three things to consider with this method are that these vessels often transship, meaning they don’t go directly to your final destination. So they can end up taking longer. This isn’t always the case.

The other problem is that it lacks the added protection and security that transporting a in a container offers. So it will be open to the elements such as sea water, moisture, etc.

Lastly, using RORO, absolutely nothing is allowed inside the vehicle other than standard tire jack, spare tire, etc. So if you wanted to supply a small manifest and place items inside, that’s out of the question with this method.

Note: This does not mean that the automobiles are showered with ocean water, but cars do end up getting exposure to the elements.

Selecting a Departure Port

Now most of the time, the shipper you select to move your auto overseas will give you their best rate from their closest departure port.

They should also give you other options. So, for example let’s say you are shipping your ford truck to Australia and you live in New Jersey.

A company may have a location in New York and you may want to ship out of New York but they offer you a rate from the west coast in Los Angeles as well. At first it seems obvious that you’ll want to ship from the east coast, but there are two reasons it may be beneficial to move it to California first.

1. West coast to Australia is a much quicker sail time and shorter distance meaning…the ocean freight will cost less.
2. Most of the time there is a higher volume since Australia is a more common destination from the West coast.

*This type of scenario is more relevant to overseas consolidators but it is still useful when you’re trying to figure out how to ship your car overseas.

Step 4: Choose Your Shipper and Gather All the Paperwork

The first part is a result of the previous three steps and hopefully by this point you’ve already selected your shipper.

The next step is to gather all the paperwork that the company requires and send it to them as soon as possible to speed up the shipping process.

Most of the time the documentation is straightforward. Documents needed to ship include a:

• Clear original title
• Copy of bill of sale
• Copy of your US Passport

*If you’re shipping via RORO, then we’ll only need copies and the originals can stay with you.

There are additional forms or documentation required by particular ports or final destinations. We won’t list every single example because that list is exhaustive but we will list a few just to give you an idea.

Shipping a car overseas from Miami requires a special notarized power of attorney, whereas that’s not required in Los Angeles. New York sometimes requires proof of payment on vehicles newer than 2010.

If you want to ship a vehicle to Australia, you absolutely must have an import approval prior to shipping. These are just a few examples but the sales reps are fully capable of answering these types of questions.

Step 5: Vehicle Inspection and Condition

When shipping any type of vehicle overseas, always do your own vehicle inspection report and take pictures. We recommend first servicing your vehicle before handing it over as well as getting it washed. Please make sure brakes work properly for maximum safety during the loading and unloading of your car.

This way, you know for sure the running condition of the vehicle and it will be much easier to spot any exterior dings or damage that your exterior already has to include in your report.

Most overseas auto transporters will also do this as soon as the vehicle arrivals at their warehouse or office but two inspection reports are better than one.

Additional Advice on How to Ship a Car Overseas

If your company does not have it’s own warehouse or office overseas at your final destination city they’ll most likely be working with their own partners or agents.

Make sure to ask for their agent’s information and contact them well ahead of time. They’ll be able to answer more destination oriented questions.

In the end, there are numerous details and things that may come up during this process but being more informed about it will help you out in the end.

If you are ready to start shipping, fill out our Online Quote Form or call in at:

US 562-408-6677 // 800-599-0190

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