Moving home internationally can be a minefield of red tape and bureaucracy. And moving a car overseas yourself can be especially difficult with so many rules and regulations to be followed.
Some container ships can hold up to 6,000 crates
Regulations for importing and exporting cars varies from country to country and failing to comply with them can end up costing you a ton of money.
So this week’s home moving blog is dedicated to answering all the most frequently asked questions about international vehicle transport so that you can avoid the most common car shipping mistakes.
Your first instinct is probably that buying a new car when you get overseas is the easiest and cheapest option. And it may well be, but you should carefully weigh up the pros and cons of taking a car overseas.
First of all you need to consider what your car is worth and how much it would cost you to replace it in your new country.
Consider not only the price that you will pay for a new car, but how well maintained that car is likely to have been.
If you are moving to a relatively poor country or region of a country, it is unlikely that any local car you buy has been regularly serviced, and if it has been, the cheapest lubricants have probably been used. Replacement parts are unlikely to be from the original manufacturer, and in all likelihood will be replaced with secondhand parts.
Think about how difficult and dangerous it will be to drive from the ‘wrong side’ of the car.
And of course there is that unquantifiable to throw into the equation, how much do you love your car?
Many people moving overseas will think it just too much stress, and too difficult to ship a car. Try to transport a car yourself and it may be, but hiring a really good international car shipping company takes that concern away from you, and remember that buying and selling a car is a minefield too, especially in a country you may be unfamiliar with or have communication problems in.
The only way you will know for sure if it is cost effective to ship a car is to find out how much it will cost.
Only then will you be able to make a decision on whether it is worth shipping your car or selling it and buying a new one in your new home country.
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Most auto transporters will move boats and other vehicles too
The price of shipping a car overseas can vary anywhere between £850 to £3000 depending on where it is picked up from and delivered to, how the car is shipped, and what type of car is moved.
Here is a selection of the most popular car shipping destinations from the UK and what you could roughly expect to pay to ship a car there.
The UK to Adelaide, Australia £785
The UK to New York, USA £840
The UK to Civitavecchia, Italy £720
The UK to Valencia, Spain £595
The UK to Dubai, UAE £815
One of the busiest routes for importing cars is from the USA to the UK. You can get an instant quote for your international vehicle move at www.mymovingreviews.com, which will be tailored to the exact vehicle you intend to move and will therefore be more accurate.
But to give you an idea of the average cost of shipping a car via sea to the UK here are some example cost estimates:
California to UK £2,550
New York to UK £1,440
Boston to UK £1,700
Detroit to UK £1,700
Dallas to UK £2,550
Other popular car import routes:
Australia to UK $2,000 – $3,500
UAE to UK Dh7,000 – Dh8,000
Italy to UK €800
Spain to UK €750
How to Export a Car Out of the UK
If you intend to take your car out of the UK for more than 12 months then you need to notify DVLA.
Taking your car out of the UK for more than 12 months is known as permanent export.
You should complete the ‘permanent export’ section on your V5 and send it back to DVLA.
Ensure you keep the rest of the V5 in a safe place as you will need it to register your vehicle in your new country of residence.
You can find out more about exporting your car out of the UK at www.gov.uk
Hiring a reputable vehicle transportation company will ensure that all the importation paperwork and regulations in your new home country are fully complied with, and will make the process a lot less stressful for you.
How to Import a Car to the UK
Hire a good vehicle shipping company and they will take care of all the importation paperwork and formalities for you, ensuring that the process is as stress-free and easy as possible.
But here are a few things you should be aware of before you decide to import a car to the UK.
Before you can drive your car on UK roads ensure that you have the proper insurance in place.
You may need to pay VAT and duty on the vehicle so make sure you tell HMRC within 14 days of the car’s arrival in the UK.
You will need to get the car MOT’d
You must register the car and pay road tax with the DVLA so that you can get new registration plates for your car.
Find out more about importing a car to the UK at www.gov.uk
What are the Best Ways to Ship a Car Abroad?
There are various ways to ship a vehicle abroad, and the cost of moving your vehicle will vary depending on the way you choose to ship it.
Roll on Roll Off (RoRo) Car Shipping
RORO is the most cost effective way to ship a vehicle
The term RoRo refers to the way the car is loaded, it is rolled onto and rolled off of the ships via loading ramps.
Due to the increased load capacity of the ship, some of these ships can carry up to 6,000 cars at a time, this is the most economical way to ship your car overseas.
Each car is secured to the deck using tie-downs and is fully enclosed so that it is not exposed to the elements.
Note that no personal items can be transported within the car when using the RoRo shipping method.
Vehicle Container Shipping
If you have a particularly cherished car you may wish to ship it within its own enclosed container.
They come in two sizes, 20ft and 40ft, a single car would be shipped in a 20ft unit, so if you have two cars to ship the 40ft unit would be more economical.
When moving household items abroad, you can use the shipping container to ship your household things within the same unit as your car.
Shipping a Vehicle by Air Freight
Although this is the most expensive way to move your vehicle overseas, it is the fastest and most secure way of doing so.
For comparison, shipping a car via sea to Dubai will on average cost you between £800-£900, by air it would cost around £5,400. So this is only a viable option if you are on a tight timescale to move, or if your car is particularly expensive and cherished.
However, there are a few rules for shipping a vehicle by air freight that you should be aware of:
The vehicle must be able to be driven and in working order
You can ship your classic car internationally using the three methods outlined above:
Roll on Roll off, Container, and Air Freight.
Most classic car enthusiasts will opt for the 20ft container option as it offers great protection for your vehicle at a reasonable cost.
For rare and very expensive classic cars that require a white-glove service and maximum protection, then opt for air freight.
Shipping a Motorcycle Overseas
Ship or ride? That is the question
Most bikes will be shipped via the RoRo method as it is the most cost effective option.
However, may vehicle shippers also offer a crating service, where a bespoke crate is made to custom fit your particular bike, offering it optimum protection.
This is the best option if your bike has fairing for example which can easily be damaged in transit.
A custom bike crate costs in the region of £400-£600 on average, depending on the size and weight of the bike.
How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Motorbike Abroad?
Excluding crating, packing, export certificate, destination taxes and duty, shipping insurance, and onward delivery, for the average motorbike you can expect to pay around:
The UK to Adelaide, Australia £365
The UK to New York, USA £310
The UK to Dubai, UAE £300
The UK to Limassol, Cyprus £330
The UK to Hong Kong, China £290
Can I Ship My Motorhome Abroad?
Bespoke shipping quotes for unique campers
Motorhomes can be shipped abroad using the RoRo and container shipping methods.
Due to the huge number of variations in size and weight of campervans it hard to give an average cost to ship then internationally.
Just use the quote form so that you can get a bespoke quote for your particular make and model of the motorhome.
How to Find a Reputable International Car Shipping Company
Your vehicle can represent a significant portion of your assets and you will want to ensure that its shipping is carried out as safely and economically as possible.
So whether you are looking to import a car into the UK, or ship a car overseas from the UK, hiring a professional car shipper is essential.
If you are exporting a car from the UK you should know that the best car shipping companies will belong to the British International Freight Association (www.bifa.org).
You can find a list of BIFA members in your area here.
What to Know About Shipping a Car from the USA to the UK
When importing a car from the USA ensure that the auto shipper you are considering using is properly licensed and insured.
Auto shippers in the USA should be BBB (Better Business Bureau) Accredited.
By law, all USA auto transporters must have a FMSCA number (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).
Be aware that in the USA especially, there are auto transporters and auto brokers.
Avoid using a broker if possible. A broker does not ship your vehicle themselves, they find the cheapest option for you, not always the best shipper for you. You cannot always be sure who your vehicle will be shipped with, and if there is a problem it can often be hard to rectify as the broker is just a middleman.
The DOT number check above will clearly state if the company you are dealing with is a broker or actual shipper.
You can find pre-vetted and licensed auto transporters in the USA at www.mymovingreviews.com. You will be able to read previous customer reviews and get up to four quotes to compare using the easy online quote form.
How Can I Avoid Car Shipping Scams?
Be vigilant when looking to hire a vehicle transporter
International vehicle transportation is a big business that handles millions of pounds worth of vehicles every day.
And due to the high value of the vehicles being moved, it is a lucrative market for unscrupulous dealers to get into.
Whilst fraud is not common, it is a risk that you should be aware of. Many hundreds of people do get scammed when shipping cars every year.
So here are a few tips to help you avoid being scammed when shipping a car overseas:
If the price to ship your car seems too good to be true, it probably is. There is not a huge amount of profit to be made in shipping cars overseas, so most car shippers will earn business through excellent customer service, not on price.
Thoroughly research any car shipper you are thinking of hiring.
Read reviews on reputable review sites
Seek advice on vehicle or expat forums
Check that they are a legitimate business through one of the trade associations
Check that the companies membership to any professional trade body is still in date
Scrutinize their website, how professional is it?
How long has the business been trading?
Is there a physical address for the company or just a PO Box number?
Do you have multiple ways to contact their customer service team? Call the numbers, send an email, etc, and see what response you get.
If you receive an emailed quote, does the email address match the one on their website?
Does the link to their website on any emails sent you match the site URL you found through a search engine?
Thoroughly check the small print on the contract you are given
Ensure you have adequate insurance to cover your car in the event you should need it
Verify that the insurance that the shipper offers is still in date by calling the insurance issuer
Whenever possible avoid using brokers, deal directly with the shipping company
Choosing to ship a car internationally can be a very cost-effective option, especially if you have a cherished or particularly valuable vehicle.
Choose your auto shipper wisely and you will enjoy a stress free and easy transition to your new country.
Good luck with your vehicle move, and don’t forget to leave a review so that others knew what a great, or poor, experience you had.
*At RemovalReviews we will connect you with a professional moving company. Please note that we may not be affiliated with
and you may be speaking with another licensed provider.
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