- Have proper documentation
- Get the certificate of title
- Hire shipping company
- Be aware of import and tax duty charges
- Obtain customs clearance declaration
The European automotive industry is one of the largest in the world. It employs millions of people and brings in lots of revenue from exports. The United States is the largest importer of vehicles from Europe with only a few units being exported. Even so, shipping cars to Europe is possible whether for personal or commercial use. The shipment process can be overwhelming but with proper guidance you will succeed. Below are some steps to help you understand the process better.
Have proper documentation
“Can you ship a car to Europe?” is probably the first thing that came to mind after completing the purchase of your vehicle. Before taking the next step, ensure that all its documents are handed over to you. These documents should include a bill of sale, purchase invoice, Declaration of Dangerous Goods form and Shipper Export Declaration. The invoice should clearly show names of the vehicle manufacturer, type, identification number, and year of manufacture. Other details include names of buyer, price of vehicle, dates, and valid signatures. The Declaration of Dangerous Goods form is important for vehicles that are carrying potentially dangerous items. Shipper Export Declaration is required by the U.S Census Bureau for items whose value is above $2500.
Get the certificate of title
The Certificate of title is an important document that must accompany every car bought into America. It is important to have it in your possession before handing over the final payment. The title has crucial information that is needed for the export process to Europe to go as planned. Information contained in the title includes identification details of the car such as VIN and manufacture dates. It also has license plate number, tax class information, contact information of buyer and name of legal owner if bought after financing. In case the car is brand new, you will receive a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin instead to allow for export.
Hire shipping company
When you have all the necessary documents at hand, you can hire an auto shipping company. Fortunately, there are quite a number of them online making it easier to find one that meets your needs. These companies are experienced in shipping vehicles to Europe professionally and ensuring that they arrive in one piece. Transportation of the vehicle to the port can be done by the company but usually attracts and extra charge. If they are picking the car up, ensure that you give them copies of all the relevant documents. Also, remember to remove your license plates before handing over the car. Most times the pickup by the shipping company takes place a few days earlier to allow for proper clearance at the closest port in the US.
After getting a go-ahead from U.S Customs Service to load your car to the ship you no longer have to ask, can you ship a car to Europe?
Be aware of import and tax duty charges
On arrival, the car will be unloaded from the ship or driven off if transported using Ro-Ro method. Clearance procedures at the port are complicated, thereby requiring the assistance of a representative from the shipping company. Depending on their experience, they will fill out the forms quickly and proceed to payment of import tax and duty. Import duty is set by the European Union making it standard across member states. For passenger cars, you pay 10% of the value of the vehicle as well as transportation costs to obtain clearance. Also, you need to provide all the proper documentation for the process to be completed legally. In some cases, shipping companies can handle the procedure when they have a Direct Representation form.
Obtain customs clearance declaration
The final step is the receipt of the Customs Declaration which should have accurate information. For it to be valid, it must have description of goods, actual value and declaration whether it is for personal or commercial use. Ensure that all the information provided to the custom officers is valid to make the issuance of the certificate much faster. When working with a shipping company, insist that all the details on the form be accurate to avoid legal issues afterwards. Once you have the customs clearance in hand, you can proceed to registration and licensing of your vehicle.
If you have been asking the question, can you ship a car to Europe? You are at the right place. We offer overseas shipping for different cars from the US on a regular basis. To get these services, call us today!