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- When you're ready for your car shipping answers, call us at 1-888-230-9116
- Factors influencing delivery times
- Customer roles
- Location
- Delivery method
- Ocean freight
- Air freight
- Season
- Customs clearance
- If you need more help with understanding the import customs destination fees and duties, along with the regulations for any particular European countries, get in touch with an A1 Auto Transport agent today!
- How does shipping cars to Europe work through international car shipping companies?
- With A1 Auto Transport, car shipping to Europe has never been easier. Make the right choice and place your vehicle in the hands of people who care Don't delay, schedule your car for shipping today!
- Are there any special documents I need to export car to Europe?
- International car shipping insurance
- Import duties and destination charges Europe
- How to prepare your car for your international car shipping company
- Poor preparation may result in delays in getting your car shipped, so be as thorough as possible. If you need help preparing, reach out to one of our agents for guidance
- Which type of international car shipping method to choose?
- Container shipping
- Shared container shipping
- Exclusive container shipping
- Roro shipping
- Getting your car inland
- Call us today to discuss your options for getting your car inland in a European country!
- Helpful Links
When planning a move to a new country, especially somewhere as culturally opposite as Europe, having your personal vehicle with you just makes things easier. Forget figuring out new bus routes, dealing with a language barrier, and overexposure to cultural differences much too soon. These, plus everything else involved with moving overseas can become overwhelming to anyone.
If shipping a car makes sense over getting a car there, you must make the necessary arrangements to make that happen. The simplest way to do that is by using an international car shipping company.
Surely you have a lot of questions about how this works and even how long shipping a car to Europe will take. A1 Auto Transport has the answer to these questions, and some you may not have even considered yet.
When you're ready for your car shipping answers, call us at 1-888-230-9116.
Factors influencing delivery times
At A1 Auto Transport company, one of our top priorities is shipping vehicles or motorcycles overseas in the shortest possible time frame. We know how important it is to our customers to have their vehicles delivered ASAP, and with every shipment, we try our hardest to keep within schedule.
Shipping cars to Europe and other places in the world come with a set of special conditions that influence our ability to have vehicles delivered on time. Some factors that have a major influence over the shipping process, and affects delivery times include:
Customer roles
You play an important role in how quickly you can ship your car to Europe. The first part of this entire process begins with you deciding when and how your car will be shipped to Europe.
The sooner you gather the necessary documentation, pay the necessary fees and prepare your car for transport is the sooner your car will arrive in Europe. This may feel like a lot of pressure, but you will always have the assistance of an A1 Auto Transport agent to oversee the process and ensure you do your part without error or unnecessary delay.
Location
Shipping a car to Europe from the East Coast of the United States is faster than shipping from the West Coast. The reasoning behind this is simple, the East Coast of the U.S is closer to Europe than the West.
When you ship a car from the West Coast, it has to cross a greater distance to get to Europe. This means that the car shipping rates for this service will also be higher.
Delivery method
Ocean freight
Shipping a car to Europe by ocean freight is by far the most popular method of delivery. Ocean carriers are able to carry more vehicles at any one time, becoming a cheaper option for every international auto transport company.
However, this delivery method is the slowest option when shipping vehicles overseas and is more susceptible to longer-lasting delays.
Air freight
The fastest way to ship a car to Europe is via air freight, however, it is way more expensive than ocean freight. Most people reserve air freight for light shipments that are cheaper in value and have greater urgency.
Shipping your car overseas via air freight also means less anxiety for a car owner. Luxury and classic cars are not easy to come by, nor are they cheap, and many people are not willing to risk their vehicles being tossed around for days, even if they get a shipping container.
Season
During peak season, expect delays to happen because the global logistics system is overwhelmed. In the summer months, international car shipping companies often are at or exceed capacity and have to do a lot of shuffling to facilitate all their customers.
During the holidays, and even past the New Year to the end of January, orders are still backed up and eager customers will sometimes face disappointment when shipping during these times.
The vehicle shipping process is less hectic when things begin to level out during the off-season. During these months, customers can expect their shipment to arrive at the destination port ahead of schedule given conditions at sea are good and there are no unexpected circumstances.
Customs clearance
Getting your car to Europe is only one leg of the journey. The shipment must clear customs and abide by the regulations of the destination country.
A competent shipping company will ensure all regulations are met to avoid any delays with the customs officials. This will result in you getting your vehicle in the least possible time unless there is a random inspection.
Even if all conditions are met and the requisite import duties are paid, the season will also play a huge role in how quickly you can receive your vehicle. In busier months, customs offices are backed up and processing times become longer.
Processing times also vary depending on the European country and their set of requirements.
If you need more help with understanding the import customs destination fees and duties, along with the regulations for any particular European countries, get in touch with an A1 Auto Transport agent today!
How does shipping cars to Europe work through international car shipping companies?
If you want to send your car to Europe with the least possible stress and confusion involved, it helps to hire a good international vehicle shipping company.
A1 Auto Transport is one of the largest vehicle shipping companies in the United States and on this side of the pond. With years of experience in the car shipping industry under our belt, we stand ready to undertake most customer requests including shipping to Europe and other parts of the world.
As part of our 100% satisfaction guarantee to our respected customers, we've adopted a model of full transparency. You will be completely in the loop throughout the entire process and have unrestricted access to your shipment location as it makes its journey to Europe.
Should you have any questions or concerns while shipping to Europe, our staff makes itself available to answer all queries and will provide all necessary details from start to finish.
With A1 Auto Transport, car shipping to Europe has never been easier. Make the right choice and place your vehicle in the hands of people who care. Don't delay, schedule your car for shipping today!
Are there any special documents I need to export car to Europe?
International car shipping to Europe requires more documentation than when shipping cars to another state or even across the country. Your agent should prompt you to provide these documents, so you don't have to worry about figuring out what you'll need to add to the other stresses in your life.
These documents sometimes vary based on the destination country, so, if you need anything else, you will be advised as soon as you get in contact with us.
- Title/Certificate of Origin
- Bill of Sale
- Registration of own vehicle
- Declaration of Dangerous Goods (e.g gasoline, airbags, car battery, etc) and Shipper Export Declaration
- Licenses plates
- Copy of passport
- International car shipping insurance
You may also need to provide Lien Release documentation if you are not the full owner of the vehicle to grant authorization for car shipping to Europe.
International car shipping insurance
When you ship a car to Europe, you will need insurance for two purposes.
Fof all, you will need additional insurance to absorb the risk of vehicle shipping. Every legitimate car shipping agency must have a basic insurance program that provides adequate vehicle insurance for the services being offered. This covers roughly 1.5%-2.5% of the estimated value of the vehicle.
You will also need temporary holiday insurance to allow you to drive your car in Europe legally. The duration of this insurance is up to you, but should ideally last as long as your stay.
Import duties and destination charges: Europe
When shipping to Europe or any overseas territory, import tax and destination charges are things you must consider when making your budget to ship car.
The import duty on vehicles are as follows:
- New vehicles: 19%
- Dutiable rate: 10%
- Vehicles over 30 years old (no modifications): 5% VAT, 0% import duties
How to prepare your car for your international car shipping company
Preparing your car to hand off to your preferred international car shipping company typically involves clearing it of all personal items and other belongings (unless an ocean container is used). Just make sure you leave all the standard car equipment inside like the emergency kit, car tools, and spare tire that can come in handy to the operators. Turn off or remove your alarm system and navigation device so they aren't a nuisance. Don't remove your license plates.
Preparations for car shipping to Europe may also typically involves preparing a separate pair of keys to allow the vehicle to be driven when necessary as part of the loading/unloading process.
It's always a good idea to have your car serviced before shipping to Europe. This ensures it's in perfect shape for the journey and that there will be no surprises when it needs to be moved on/off the ship.
Your car should have enough gas, about 1/4 tank, so it can be moved when necessary. All the other liquids should be at optimal levels and the battery should be full. Tire pressure should be correct and the brakes should have no faults.
When you're ready to hand over the vehicle, whether compact car or luxury vehicle, take pictures of your car inside and out. These should be compared with the condition of your car after it arrives in Europe.
Poor preparation may result in delays in getting your car shipped, so be as thorough as possible. If you need help preparing, reach out to one of our agents for guidance.
Which type of international car shipping method to choose?
Another factor to consider when using ocean freight for shipping cars to Europe is the shipping method. The two most popular ways methods of shipping a car include Container shipping and Roro shipping.
Container shipping
Shipping a car in a container is the more expensive option for ocean freight. Container shipping is preferred for more expensive and rare vehicles which need the added protection and privacy.
Container shipping can either be shared (consolidated container shipping) or exclusive.
Shared container shipping
This is the cheapest way to ship a car to Europe in a shipping container since you share the cost of shipping with the other owners. The contents of the consolidated container are recorded before it is sealed at the shipping dock. It will not be opened until it arrives at the destination European country unless there is a customs inspection.
The drawback to shared container shipping is the fact that you may have to wait some time before the rest of the container is filled for it to be shipped. However, you can store household goods and other items inside the shared container.
Exclusive container shipping
If you are shipping multiple vehicles at the same time, or even luxury or classic cars, this is the more ideal container shipping method. Having your own container means you get to pack it at your own pace and you won't have to depend on other vehicles to fill it up. You can also ship more personal items when you ship a car to Europe this way.
Roro shipping
With the Roro shipping method, your car is driven onto the ship with its own power and driven off just the same. It's the cheapest way to ship cars anywhere in the world and will lower the overall shipping costs in getting your vehicle to Europe.
Since the car is driven and secured in place, it will be exposed to the elements during the journey. You also will not be permitted to store personal belongings in the vehicle as you would with a personal or shared container.
When selecting this shipping method, ensure your car is operable otherwise there will be additional fees involved for loading the vehicle.
Getting your car inland
Most of the world's population live pretty close to the coast, but then, there are many people who prefer or have to live in the inland areas. If your final destination isn't near the port, then perhaps you should consider additional services to get your car inland.
We work with local agents from reputable car shipping agencies who can facilitate the journey on the home stretch. If you are unable to or don't want to drive your own car to your new home, have us arrange for our various partners in different European countries to assist.
Your car will be loaded on their pickup truck and brought to a corresponding terminal or to your door.
Call us today to discuss your options for getting your car inland in a European country!
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