There’s no doubt about it. Your life will change when you move abroad. However, your car doesn’t have to.
There are many reasons why you might decide to make a major move to a new country. When you do, it can be useful to have your current vehicle with you instead of buying a new one.
So can you ship a car internationally? Yes, you can. Here’s everything that you need to know about the process.
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Can You Ship a Car Internationally?
Believe it or not, it’s very possible to ship a car internationally and it can be easier than you might think. Cars are most often shipped internationally by freight ship but sometimes can be shipped by air as well.
The process is fairly straightforward, but it will require a good bit of paperwork and a lot of patience.
International car shipping is a popular service and there are multiple options for doing it, no matter what the destination for your vehicle might be. While it can be pretty pricey to ship a car a long distance, it may be well worth it if you want to use your vehicle abroad and especially if you’re making a permanent move.
Methods For Shipping a Car Internationally
There are several popular methods for shipping vehicles overseas. Here are a few of the most common ones that you should know about.
Roll-On, Roll-Off Shipping (RORO)
Roll-on roll-off (RORO) shipping is a type of shipping that allows your vehicle to be transported by boat. The vehicle will simply be driven onto a boat, parked and secured, and then moved to a new destination.
This is the most affordable type of car shipping but it comes with its drawbacks. Your car will simply be parked on the ship near other vehicles. However, there will be little protection for the vehicle when compared to using a shipping container.
Shipping Containers
Shipping a vehicle via a shipping container is another popular option for shipping a car internationally. This option can be safer and more secure since the shipping container will offer extra protection.
You can get your car shipped in a shared container with other vehicles or on its own in an individual container.
Getting your car shipped in a container can be cheaper than RORO shipping. It’ll be even cheaper if you use a shared container instead of an individual one for your car.
On the negative side, shipping a car in a shipping container will be more expensive than RORO shipping.
Air Shipping
Air shipping is the most expensive option for shipping a vehicle internationally but it’s also the safest and fastest option. With air freight, your car will reach its destination very quickly but it will cost you.
In most cases, an air shipping method won’t be the best option to choose because the shipping itself will be more expensive than the average car is.
If you need to ship an expensive or exotic car safely, however, you may want to choose this option to get increased security and speed.
Documents You Need For International Car Shipping
There are certain documents you’ll need in order to ship a car internationally. It can require a lot of paperwork in order to ship a vehicle to another country.
The exact requirements will vary from destination to destination, but generally, you’ll need to provide a photo ID, proof of vehicle ownership, and vehicle registration. If you have a loan for your vehicle, you’ll also need to provide an official written letter from your lienholder to verify that you have permission to send the car out of the country.
You’ll need to have all of these documents ready and will need to submit them to customs a minimum of 72 hours in advance of shipping your vehicle.
Cost to Ship a Car Internationally
The cost of shipping a car internationally will range by quite a bit. Generally, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,000 for your shipment but it could cost as much as $5000.
Many things will impact the cost of your vehicle transport including the country you’re shipping it to, the distance, the time of year, the shipping method, and pickup and dropoff locations.
To get an accurate idea of what the cost will be, you’ll want to get quotes from car shipping companies. Be sure to do some digging to find the best car shipping company to use.
Time Required to Ship a Car Internationally
The time it takes to ship a vehicle will vary a bit as well, but it will usually take between 30 and 60 days.
The main thing that affects the time it takes is where you will be shipping the car too.
Additionally, you’ll need to consider the entire process when planning shipping times. The time it takes will include the loading and preparation time as well as the time in transit. Also, remember that some shipping methods will be a bit faster than others.
When shipping a car by a shipping container, it will be faster to book a container for only your vehicle instead of using a shared container. A shared container won’t depart until it is full of other cars.
While it can be expensive, getting a car shipped by plane will be the fastest option. Air shipping might take as few as two weeks instead of 30-60 days like the other shipping options.
Final Thoughts
If you want to ship a car internationally, make sure that you know what to expect. While shipping a car can be expensive and can take time, it can also be well worth it if you’re making a big move.
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