Archive for the ‘Overseas Shipping’ Category
By: Christine Harrell
Moving overseas is certainly quite a bit more complicated than moving to another city. Unless you are going to sell your car and buy a new one at your destination, you are going to have to employ a car shipping service. Many people are unsure if it is worthwhile to have their car transported when staying overseas for a while.
Understandably, it seems like a complicated process. However, with the help of a full service auto transport service, the process is fairly simple and stress-free. If you’ve never shipped a car overseas before, this article will provide an overview about your car’s upcoming journey.
Types of Overseas Transports
The first leg of your car’s journey is the trip from your home to the port. If the port is close you can drive it yourself. If it is farther away, you will probably have the auto transport company handle that part of the journey as well.
Once your car arrives at the dock it will be shipped one of three ways: RORO (Roll On Roll Off), in a 20-foot container, or in a 40-foot container.
Roll On Roll Off is commonly used for short trips. For example, it is the most common way that cars are shipped to Hawaii or Puerto Rico. The ship is basically a large car ferry. Your vehicle is driven aboard and parked along with many other vehicles. Upon arrival, it is driven out onto the dock. RORO service is usually cheaper than container shipping. However it is also less safe and your vehicle is more likely to be damaged. This shipping method covers the car itself. There is no provision for shipping any personal belongings. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Nir Dotan
When relocating, especially to an international destination, it is very important to keep in mind the need to relocate the automobile. Most often the requirements for car relocation differ from that of other possessions. When you involve the services of an international auto shipping company to move your car, you need to keep certain basics in mind and research them thoroughly.
International shipping companies charge extra for relocation of automobiles, cars in particular and SUVs and other oversized vehicles. You need to ensure that the international auto shipping company engaged to move your car offers you a reliable shipping quote, either directly or via a dedicated transporter or broker, before you sign any contract.
It pays to investigate the dedicated Car Movers Directory. This directory lists automobile, car and other vehicle shipping companies for national and international destinations. The international auto shipping company engaged to move your car should offer services taken care of by brokers, who belong to the Auto Transport Brokers Association. The brokerage fee should be charged per vehicle.
When you work with an international auto shipping company equipped to move your car or an auto transport company directly instead of through a broker, you enjoy flexibility in price negotiation. However, most of the international auto shipping companies that handle car relocation charge the broker fee anyway. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Nir Dotan
Companies providing international auto shipping deliver cars throughout the world, for individuals and other companies.
Shipping regulations for automobiles are quite stringent, requiring documentation of a wide variety of information including the vehicle identification number (VIN), details of the shipping and receiver, and dimensions of the vehicle.
The automobiles are required to only be filled with minimal amounts of gasoline and must be kept underneath the deck of the shipping vessel. Customs regulations for international auto shipping also require extensive documentation, such as the original titles and multiple copies of both sides of the titles.
When preparing a car for international auto shipping, all of the details the shipping company needs must be ready. A vehicle without proper paperwork may be placed in storage, with daily fees assessed until the paperwork is corrected and the vehicle claimed.
This includes written permission for the transportation of the vehicle from the lender, if the car is under a loan. Most international auto shipping companies offer up to $10,000 USD in insurance for each vehicle shipped. The car must be empty, with no other items inside.
The keys and original title must travel with the vehicle. The auto must be in working condition and care must be taken to ensure that there is not too much gasoline in the tank. After the vehicles paperwork is completed, including a bill of health assuring its condition, it is loaded onto a ship. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Christine Harrell
Although the concept of car shipping may seem simple, car owners often find many of the decisions they have to make confusing. For example, what’s the difference between terminal and door-to-door service and how do these choices impact you?
Terminal Shipping
Many car shipping companies use terminals to coordinate their loads. A terminal is often simply a big parking lot. The car owner drops the car off at a terminal near the starting point. The car is held there until sufficient vehicles are heading in the same direction. The vehicles are all loaded on a truck which drives to a terminal near the destination where the owner can pick it up.
Some shippers offer discounts for terminal-to-terminal auto transport. This is a convenient method for people who live in dense downtown areas where door-to-door service might be impossible.
On the other hand, the car may sit in the terminal for days, subject to theft and vandalism. The terminals have better security than the owner’s garage, but the concentration of cars is a tempting target for criminals. The car is likely to be exposed to the elements which can also lead to damage, and the contract will almost certainly have a clause to absolve the shipper of weather-related damage. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Murat Demir
I just saw my uncle who worked in a covered auto shipping company. That was the first time I saw him after 6 years. I think that is why we spend a lot of time exchanging stories about almost everything.
I just remembered we talked about the kind of work he did in his last job. I thought it was a really cool job because he got to drive and handle a lot of different cars not to mention the business of covered auto shipping wherein these cars are mostly expensive and even brand new.
(By the way, I think this blog would be very helpful for those who are about to ship their car and who are scheduled to have their car picked up.)
Although he told me it was real fun but at the same time, it was a difficult job since he was responsible in handling and taking good care of the customer’s car-making sure there would be no kind of any scratches whatsoever–just leaving it in its perfect condition. Imagine how each of these cars cost.
He told me how he has to perform the required inspection on every car before it would be handled for shipping. One has really got to be keen on details because any kind of damage, scratch and scrape is covered by the auto shipping’s insurance.
He would always ask the customer to remove any materials, things and personal items inside his auto. This is to prevent the car from being damaged inside since any of these might leave any form of mark in the car. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Christine Harrell
Shopping for the right auto transport company is intimidating for most people. It’s not a service that people use very often so it is difficult to know what features to look for. Although there are a number of decisions to make, let’s focus on the types of trucks and trailers that could be used.
Truck Types
Auto transport is carried out by one of two types of trucks: tractor trailers or hotshots. A hotshot is a small truck similar to a pickup.
Because hotshots are small they transport only one vehicle at a time. This means they are available faster because the shipper doesn’t have to find other customers to fill the empty slots. On the other hand, that means all costs of operation are shouldered by the one vehicle being transported so they are more expensive. Their small size means residential street navigation is easy and they deliver your car right to your door.
Tractor trailers transport anywhere from three to twelve vehicles at a time depending on the size of the attached trailer. The more cars, the cheaper the transport fee because costs of operation are spread among several customers. To be economical, the trucks need to run as near to capacity as possible. That means the auto transport company needs a significant lead time between a customer’s call and the shipping date so that they can find several vehicles headed in the same direction. Read the rest of this entry »