Shipping your car overseas could turn out to be a far more challenging prospect than your other items, however. Here are some factors that will help you to determine whether shipping your car is worth it…
Find a Reliable Shipper
To ship your car you need to first zero in on a reliable shipper. As with a traditional moving company, one of the biggest factors in selecting a shipper is the ability to trust the shipper. An online search or a look at the Yellow Pages should give you a number of options. Don’t forget to follow up on references and records to be sure the company is legitimate.
You could opt for RO/RO that is ‘roll on, roll off’ shipping service in which the car is rolled onto the ship at the port and then rolled off at its destination. However, this is not available in every case.
Keep your budget in mind when you are shopping for shipping service. This will help you zero in on the companies that are right for you.
Shop Around
When you consider various shipping companies to help you move your car, you will find that there is a wide range of quotes for certain services. Shop around to get the best deal as well as the services you are looking for.
Know What Shipping Your Car Involves
In most cases, shipping your car overseas will involve shipping it in an ocean container. This means that you will be allowed to ship the car in the container as well as personal items in the remaining space. The container will be then delivered to your new location.
Loading your car in the container is not a simple process. You might still want to use the services of professional car shippers to help you load your car in a secure manner so that the car remains bump and scratch free.
You will need more than one container in the entire shipping process. Once the car arrives at its destination, you will need to hire a moving company or a truck to unload it and then send it to your home.
Documentation
Ensure that all your papers are in order. The documents required include a copy of the original title for your car together with a letter from the lien holder, if there is one. This allows the car to be exported. Other documents that you might need include a bill of sale or bills of lading, depending on where you purchased the car. In case you are not sure about what documents you will need, check with customs or local legal agencies.
Insurance
When you are shipping your car, including loading and unloading it yourself when any damage ensues, your insurance might not cover any such damage, so remember to check with your insurance agent first. If you hire professionals to load and ship your car, your insurance may cover any problems that may occur during the process.
Weigh all these costs and procedures against the cost of buying a new car in your new country. If that works out to be cheaper then obviously shipping your car may not be worth it after all.
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