Make Sure You Do Your Homework Before You Ship
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Shipping a car overseas can be a long and tedious process, especially if you have no idea how to do it. Some people tend to get overwhelmed with all the steps that they need to go through to take their automobile to a foreign destination. But knowing all the essential information about shipping cars will make it easier for anyone to send their automobiles abroad. Whenever you need to ship your vehicle, you must know how much it costs to ship a car across the globe. You also need to learn how to prepare your vehicle before bringing it to the auto transport company.
If you have no idea how the process takes place, here is the step-by-step guide to shipping your car to a different country.
Step 1: Do Thorough Research
The first thing to do before you entrust your vehicle to any auto shipping company is to do extensive research about your options. Come up with a list of all the shipping companies and international auto transporters in your neighborhood to narrow down your choices. Then go online to read customer feedback for review sites and forums to learn how these businesses handle their clients. If possible, ask your friends or acquaintances if they’ve already experienced getting the services of these companies for their own shipping needs.
Step 2: Ask For a Quote
To help you trim down your options, call the companies that capture your attention and ask them how much it costs to ship a car to another country. The company will compute the cost depending on the type of service that you want to experience (port-to-port, door-to-port, or door-to-door) and the method used (roll-on, roll-off or ocean container). One tool you can use is a car shipping rates calculator.
They will also include the domestic transport cost in their quotation as well as the total amount of fees that you must pay once the vehicle reaches your chosen destination. Also, the auto shipping company will ask you if you want to include insurance in the total vehicle transportation fees. Tally the entire amount that you will get so you will have an idea about the expenses that you need to prepare for this service.
Step 3: Pick Your Shipper and Prepare The Paperwork
After finding a company that can cater to your requirements and suits your budget, you need to start gathering all the paperwork required by the company to begin the shipping process. Generally, the documents that you need to submit to the auto shipping company include a clear copy of the car’s original title, a copy of the bill of sale and a copy of your passport. You may also research the possible documents that your destination might require once the vehicle reaches its port. Also, look for your state’s guidelines regarding their requirements before approving the shipping transaction, like the ones enforced by the state of California.
Step 4: Inspect Your Vehicle’s Condition Before Shipping
Before you entrust your beloved car to the auto transport company, you need to make a thorough inspection first to see if there are any existing flaws present. If there are any problems with the vehicle, take it to the mechanic first for repair. Take a photo of the entire car, if possible, to have evidence of your car’s condition before shipping.
After learning all the steps of shipping a vehicle abroad, you should be comfortable to decide how you want to have it shipped to your destination. But always remember to have a detailed conversation with your auto transport agent so he or she can provide you with more explanation regarding the process that they will carry out to bring your car to the country of your choice.
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