Steps to Shipping Your Car Overseas

Going overseas, and want to ship your car there, as well? The best way to set about this task is to begin by finding a professional company to do the job for you. Research potential companies, including through the Better Business Bureau, to make sure that they are reputable and reliable. The last thing you want to do is pick a transport company with a laundry list of unresolved complaints to its name. Choose a business that has a solid record behind it, is known for doing the job well, and has a reputation for resolving any problems to customer satisfaction.

Next, you’ll want to find out just how much money this overseas shipping will cost you. Car transportation rates are dependent on a number of factors, including type of vehicle, vehicle weight, shipping date, delivery date, method of transportation, where the vehicle is being shipped from, delivery destination, any extra services, and of course, insurance. You should obtain quotes from multiple businesses (preferably at least three) to aid you in making your decision. Take care to know what the total charges will be for this transaction, so that you don’t get hit with a larger-than-expected bill to cover costs you hadn’t included in your plans.

Preparing your car for its overseas journey is also very important. Since insurance usually won’t cover the value of loose items inside the vehicle, you should clean it out and remove any stray belongings that happen to be present. Find out the specific documentation you’ll need for customs once the car reaches its destination, as well as any restrictions or duties/taxes due to the destination country. You’ll need your car’s title, a letter of permission to transport from the car’s lien holder (if one exists), and possibly other documentation, depending on your individual circumstances, which you can find out about by checking with customs or possibly with the transport company itself.

Next, when the date comes to actually ship the vehicle, the transport company will first thoroughly inspect it and then give you a status report to sign. Before you sign, you should take the time to carefully check over your car yourself to make sure the details listed are all accurate. Don’t overlook any aspect of your car, no matter how seemingly minor it is. This paper serves as a record that the insurance company will consult in the event of damage incurred during shipping. If you want to be reimbursed should a problem occur, it is vital for the records to be correct.

Eventually, your vehicle is in transit and there’s not much for you to do except to wait. Upon its delivery, though, you must go into action again. Once more, you should examine the vehicle to ascertain that it’s in the same condition as when you last saw it, prior to shipping. If you notice any damage or other issues, you’ll need to point out the problems on the spot and then allow your insurance company to take over. Assuming the car made its way to you with no complications, however, you can sign off on the delivery and enjoy driving your own vehicle in your new overseas location.