Shipping a Car by Plane

How to Ship a Car by Plane?

Hauling a vehicle by aircraft, sometimes called “air freight,” is the fastest way to ship a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle. As you might expect, it’s also the most expensive. That being the case, it’s generally a service sought after only by owners of extremely high-priced or rare vehicles, and even then, it’s not used nearly as often as other services such as RORO auto transport.

When customers prefer dispatching a car by plane, it’s almost always done in another country. This makes sense because there are other, equally (if not more) safe and secure methods for hauling to other countries and locations outside the continental United States. As mentioned above, it’s generally reserved for high-value vehicles and usually only when time is a factor. RORO transport, done by boat, is a tried and true method of international auto transport, but it can take several weeks for a shipment to arrive, whereas a plane can deliver in a much shorter timeframe.

• Air freight car shipping costs $2,000–$15,000+ depending on vehicle size, route, destination country, fuel surcharges, and customs fees.
• Transit by air takes 1–7 days, compared to 3–8 weeks for ocean freight — making it viable only when delivery speed outweighs cost.
• International air shipments require vehicle title, export paperwork, and destination customs forms; financed vehicles also need written lender authorization before export.

Tips For Preparing For Auto Transport By Aircraft

• Prepare for the Expense - Hauling a vehicle by plane is considerably more expensive than any other method. Even a relatively short flight can quickly run into the thousands of dollars. You should explore the total costs involved (including import duties) before deciding to ship a car by plane.
• Do Your Research—Not every car shipper is willing or capable of shipping by air freight, so you will likely have only a handful of options to choose from. That doesn’t mean you should go with the first company that offers the service, though. It’s still a best practice to do some basic research about any vehicle hauler to make sure they have the expertise they claim and ample experience in the part of the world you’re hauling to.
• Ask Lots of Questions—You’re bound to have some questions for any shipping company you contact, and that’s a good thing. It’s highly recommended that all of your questions and concerns be addressed since air freight is a complicated and expensive process. Air freight is not a service that’s often requested or performed, and making sure any company you deal with has the commensurate experience is essential.