According to Forbes experts, auto shipping from the U.S.A. to international destinations typically costs between $850 and $4,500, an economical price compared to buying a new car when you arrive at your destination. That’s why many choose to ship their car when moving from the U.S.A. But if you’re still unsure how USA to abroad car shipping works, here’s everything you need to know about shipping your car to another country from the U.S.A.
How to Ship a Car from the U.S.A.?
It all begins with researching different companies in the market that offer international car shipping to your destination country and shortlisting the most suitable ones for you. Then, the rest of the process follows, which includes getting quotes, making a selection, preparing your documents, getting your car ready for transport, and finally, the shipment day.
1.Start with your research
Just like with all other things, begin your research at a search engine (for instance, Google). Look for U.S.A. to abroad car shipping door to door companies working in your area and offering car shipping to your destination country. Narrow down your list to only those with proper licensing and insurance. And then, read online reviews about them on sites like Better Business Bureau or Yelp.
Find out about their experience with international shipping and further shortlist your potential companies that export cars from U.S.A. And in case you need an offer for electric vehicle transport companies U.S.A, make sure your shipment company has the right equipment and experience with battery compliance standards.
2.Get multiple quotes
Next, with auto shipping from the U.S.A., you need to get multiple quotes from your selected companies. Ideally, you should get a quote from 3-4 international auto shipping companies and compare the prices. Make sure this quote covers the complete cost involved when you export a car from the U.S.A. And if some quote seems too low or too high comparatively, that’s a red flag.
Ask questions about the cost and be clear about the pricing before you begin. Or otherwise, you might end up like many car owners who eventually paid almost half above the initial quoted price because they did not ask questions about hidden fees.
Note: When getting quotes for SUV transport overseas, confirm about cost adjustments and loading method, because it’s likely that shipping fees will be higher due to the larger size and weight.
3.Make a selection
Finally selecting your shipping company is a very crucial step when transporting your car from the U.S.A. Make your selection based on the quotes you receive, discount offers, online reviews, insurance coverage, licensing of the company, and transit time.
Reputable international shipping companies often hold membership with organizations like the FMC (Federal Maritime Commission), NVOCC license (a license issued by the FMC for ocean freight), and the International Association of Movers (IAM). Make sure you know your shipping company well before you hand over your car to them.
Another very important thing that you need to consider during the selection step is your transportation method. There are 3 main ways you can ship your car to another country from the U.S.A.
- Roll-on/Roll-off method
- Container shipping for cars
- Air Freight
Pick a company that specializes in your required transportation method and offers a competitive price for it along with other additional benefits. For instance, if you’re planning classic car transportation U.S.A to another country, container shipping is the most affordable and safest option.
Or go for air shipping if you have the budget and the right reason (can cost 3-5 times more than standard ocean shipping).
4.Prepare your documents
There’s quite a list of documents that you need to handle when shipping your car overseas. But you have the advantage of leaving all your paperwork to your shipping company. Just set aside a month before your shipping date to complete and submit all your required documents to your shipping company.
And then, they’ll handle the rest from submitting those documents to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to help you clear your car through customs at the destination country. Here’s a list of basic documents that you’ll need when shipping your car overseas:
- Original vehicle title
- Your photo ID
- A filled-out U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicle export cover sheet
- Notarized bill of sale
- A completed Department of Transportation form showing the safety compliance of your car
- Shipper’s export declaration form
- Completed and notarized Power of Attorney (POA) form (when the shipping company is handling customs clearance)
You might not need all of these documents or you may need a few more when container shipping for cars, depending on your customs and port requirements. So, it’s better if you contact your shipping company or your Port of Entry directly to inquire about the exact documents required and when you need to submit those.
Note: When it comes to classic car transport USA, documentation requirements may vary, especially when your car is registered as historic or antique.
5.Get your car ready for transport
Once you’re done with the major step which is getting your documents ready, start preparing your vehicle for international shipping. And just like shipping your vehicle across the country, SUV transport overseas also does not allow any personal equipment in the car while shipping. So make sure you don’t leave any non-car items in the car and get your car washed and serviced before shipping.
It’s very important for your car to be spik and span with no traces of pests and debris during customs inspection, because these are illegal to bring into the country. Also, make sure to ask your shipping company about how much gas can be in the car.
Most container shipping for cars services do not allow over one-quarter full, while carriers offering electric vehicle transport U.S.A have strict safety protocols to handle lithium-ion batteries and ensure compliance with shipping regulations.
6.Shipment day
Now, finally, the day comes when you hand over your car to your shipment company. However, before that, just make sure you’ve finalized all the details with your shipping company and remember to take photos and videos from all angles to document your car’s condition before shipping.
Also, this is the day when you’ll sign your bill of lading for the first time to record your car’s condition prior to shipping and confirm other details.
Conclusion
