Luang Prabang is a beautiful city in Laos that has been given the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located at the confluence of the two rivers Mekong and Nam Khan and is about 190 miles from Vientiane.
If you are relocating to Laos and intend staying in Luang Prabang, you might want to import your car along with the other personal items. That is because traversing the city and other areas in your own vehicle might be easier than taking pubic transport regularly. However, you need to know that it is a daunting task to coordinate the freight delivery at the Port of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and then land shipping the vehicle to Laos. But when you hire the expert services of an international shipping company such as A1 Auto Transport service, it becomes easier. Imported cars and other vehicles are charged high taxes but imports for diplomats are tax exempted.
Cost & Time Examples For Shipping a Car to Luang Prabang
| To/From | Ground | Ocean | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luang Prabang to (New York port) to New York, NY | $275 | $3700 | 5+39 days |
| Luang Prabang to (California port) to Los Angeles | $350 | $3200 | 5+30 days |
| Luang Prabang to (New York port) to Boston, MA | $400 | $3700 | 5+39 days |
| Las Vegas, NV to (California port) to Luang Prabang | $450 | $3200 | 5+30 days |
| Luang Prabang to (California port) to Seattle, WA | $550 | $3200 | 6+30 days |
| Luang Prabang to (New York port) to Detroit, MI | $575 | $3700 | 6+39 days |
| Chicago, IL to (New York port) to Luang Prabang | $675 | $3700 | 6+39 days |
| Denver, CO to (California port) to Luang Prabang | $775 | $3200 | 7+30 days |
| Memphis, TN to (New York port) to Luang Prabang | $800 | $3700 | 6+39 days |
| Dallas, TX to (California port) to Luang Prabang | $1,025 | $3200 | 7+30 days |
*Prices and times are estimated. They can vary depending on the season and the type of vehicle.
*Save the ground transport cost by delivering the vehicle to the nearest port.
*Allow an additional 10 days to process the documents.
*Prices are for 1 car in a dedicated 20ft container. This is the safest and most reliable way to transport a vehicle internationally. Other items may be included in the container to help save you money when moving.
*Using the RoRo (roll on, roll off) method is less expensive and shipments can be completed in fewer days. Contact us now for a free RoRo quote.
Cost and documentation.
You need to know that you are expected to pay about 40% import tax as standard duty, but if you are importing a luxury vehicle, there are more taxes and duties. However, as per the government regulations, you are not allowed to import any vehicle that is right hand driven.
For standard cars/vehicles, you are required to pay turnover tax and import duty while on the luxury vehicles; there is an additional excise tax, apart from the turnover tax and import cess. Additionally, there is a provision to temporarily import vehicle for a short period but it is imperative to re-export it within the time duration. The cost is calculated by Laos Customs on the variables such as:
- Price of the vehicle.
- Value of insurance.
- Freight charges.
- Type of vehicle.
- Engine size and age of vehicle.
- Purchas invoice with details- VIN, model, make, engine and chassis number.
Most of the paperwork will be taken care of and submitted by A1 Auto Transport so you don’t have to worry about the Customs departments at U.S and at Laos. When calculating the total cost, the option of shipping method needs to be decided. That is why it is best to select whether you want to ship by RORO or through container shipping.
If you are looking for cheapest way to ship, Roll-on/Roll-Off works well. This is because you are only allowed to ship an empty vehicle and you only pay for the parking space on the deck. However, if you have personal items to ship, and the vehicle, it is good to hire a large 20 feet or 40 feet container and pack it all. This ensures that there is an extra layer of protection for the vehicle.
To know more about the shipping options, talk with one of the shipping agents and we’ll be able to assist you with the procedures. For additional information or to clarify your queries, you can call Embassy of Laos in USA.
Written By:Joe Webster
Joe Webster began his journey in the auto transport field by attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Marketing.
After college, he started his career in the auto transport industry from the bottom up and has done virtually every job there is to do at A-1 Auto Transport, including but not limited to: Truck Driver, Dispatch, Sales, PR, Bookkeeping, Transport Planner, Transport Manager, International Transport Manager, Brokering, Customer Service, and Marketing. Working with his mentor Tony Taylor, Joe Webster has learned the ins and outs of this industry which is largely misunderstood.
With over 30 years experience in the industry, we've been helping people ship their vehicles, motorcycles, RV's, heavy equipment, household goods and more across the country or overseas without a hitch. Ask us anything.
