International Auto Transport: This is What You Need to Know

International auto transport involves a lot, and your success in getting a good experience depends on the information you have and the kind of preparation you put in place. The following are a few things everyone thinking about shipping their cars overseas should know about:

Overall cost of international car shipping

The overall cost of international car shipping will vary from one company to another depending on a number of factors. Some of the factors that will determine the cost include but are not limited to:

• The distance to be covered from the current location of the car to the final destination
• Taxes and tariffs
• The type and size of the car
• The mode of shipping, i.e enclosed car shipping is expensive than RoRo shipping
• Regulatory expenses
• The documentation processes

Find out from the customs officials or the shipping company about all the costs you will be required to take care of to have the car shipped.

Documentation

For safe, smooth and efficient auto shipping, you must be ready with all the necessary documentation needed by the carrier as well as the regulatory authorities. Be sure to inquire advance and have all the documents ready before the shipping so that you avoid unnecessary delays or detention of your car.

Mode of transportation

With regards to international auto shipping, there are basically three modes of transportation available. They are as follows:

• Shipping containers – shipping containers are used for enclosed auto car shipping where the car will be transported in a standard 20ft or 40ft shipping container. Depending on your preferences and willingness to spend more, you can decide to have the car shipped in a dedicated container, where only the car and a few of your personal items may be included. This method is preferred when you are shipping a classic car or a very expensive sports car.
• RoRo Container – Roll-on-Roll-off containers are the most common mode of shipping cars overseas. They are relatively affordable and they allow the shipping companies to ship a large number of cars at the same time. With this mode, the car will be driven onto the RoRo ships at the port of origin and driven off the RoRo ships at the destination ports. Unlike vehicles shipped with enclosed car shipping, all cars shipped with RoRo ships must be in working condition to facilitate the driving on and off the ships.
• Air Freight – Air freight is an option when you are in a hurry to ship the car overseas. Just like enclosed auto shipping, some people like using this method when they have to ship classic or very expensive cars. You must be warned, however, that this is a very expensive mode of international car shipping.

Insurance

In most cases, the shipping company will provide basic insurance cover for the shipping. However, you have the freedom to get additional cover for peace of mind if you feel that what is covered by the shipping company is not sufficient. For instance, you may need additional cover for a very expensive sports car being shipped using enclosed auto transport.