Archive for the ‘International Car Shipping’ Category

What Affects Car Shipping and Car Delivery Times

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

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Car transport times are all approximate time frames. This means that you will be given a time period in which your car or motorcycle will be delivered, but not a specific date. In most cases, it sounds something like “10 to 15 days.” This is because many factors can affect car shipping times, most of which cannot be controlled by the carrier driver. When you book car delivery pick up, remember the following factors that can affect when you’ll get it.

Road Conditions: blocked roads, highway accidents or detours will all affect how fast the truck can make it to its destination. Even heavy traffic can slow down delivery.

Distance is of course the major reason delays occur during car transport. Trucks going through long distances have more of a chance to running into complications than those delivering to the next state over.

Finally, trucks that carry a large number of cars will have to deal with a number of deliveries. If your car is number 10 in the delivery order, you have more chances of running into delays, as the truck will have to deal with maneuvering through streets, dealing with car owners who are not home and other problems.

International Car Shipping Insurance and Fees

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

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International deliveries are riskier than in-country shipments, as cars have to be moved through customs, rolled on and off closed containers and transported across the ocean, increasing the chances of running into problems. When booking international car shipping, you need to make sure the insurance provided will be enough to cover potential damages.

All car shipping done by a company, both locally and overseas, include insurance against damage. This will cover everything from scratches to dents to incidental damages. Cars shipped by water, however, should also have insurance against total loss. This will protect you in case the vehicle is stolen or the boat sinks. Total loss is not part of your general agreement and you will have to pay for it. It generally costs 1.5 percent of the blue book value of your car. Full-coverage insurance will protect against all possible damages, even the ones not included in your basic policy. If you want to make sure every little thing is protected, you will have to pay for this type of insurance out of pocket. It will cost you about 2.5 percent of the total cost of your vehicle.

When To Leave It Behind and not get Car Shipping

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

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Sometimes, it just doesn’t pay to pay for car shipping. While taking your car along may seem like the best option, you should consider your situation and all costs involved before you decide whether to pay for vehicle shipping or to sell your car.

Car shipping is a bad idea if you’re tight on money. Aside from the obvious car transport fee, you may also incur in additional expenses, such as storage fees or penalties if you miss the delivery truck and your vehicle needs to be taken to storage.

Car shipping estimates vary and you won’t have a guaranteed delivery date. If you’re moving tomorrow and you don’t have access to public transportation in your new town, how do you plan on moving around? Will you rent a car? Consider whether it makes more sense to simply sell the car you have and buy another one at your new location.

Old cars are usually not worth the expense of vehicle shipping.

If your car won’t fit into the environment of your new location, why move it at all? If you own a convertible and moving to Maine, it probably makes more sense to sell it and buy a 4×4 once you get there.

If your car will end up being more a problem than a solution, just leave it behind. Cars are an inconvenience in places like NYC, where parking is difficult and expensive and where public transportation takes you anywhere you need to go. Instead of paying a car shipping company, just rent a car when you need it and sell your old one.

Shipping Your Car Across the Ocean

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

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International car shipping is a lot more complicated than cross-country vehicle shipping for several reasons. For starters, the amount of paperwork required is a lot bigger. Aside from the cost of the shipping itself (which is done on boats, inside sealed containers), you will need to keep in mind additional expenses. Most countries charge custom import duties and VAT, although you may be exempted of VAT if your car is more than 20 years old. Collectible, vintage or customized cars will probably incurred in additional expenses. Newer cars and certain luxury models may be charged up to 35 percent of the total price of the vehicle in import taxes.

Rules and regulations vary from one country to the next, so there are no hard and fast rules regarding prices and restrictions. The vehicle shipping company may give you a general idea of what to expect during international shipping, but the amount you pay them will not include whatever charges there are at your point of destination. To prevent major problems, contact the Embassy of the country you’re shipping the car to and get the exact details of the process. You will also need to inquiry whether door-to-door delivery is possible and if not, how much are you charged for every day your car has to be stored at the port. You may also need to present special papers (such as an international driver’s license) in order to be allowed to drive the car out of customs.

Preparing Your Car for Long-Term Storage

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

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Both before and after shipping, chances are your car will be stored for a period of time before you have access to it again. This is especially true if you’re shipping your car overseas, where it will have to wait for you in customs. If you foresee your car being stored for more than two weeks, do the following:

  • Wax the car so the finish is better protected against debris.
  • Disengage the parking brake. This will prevent corrosion and ensure the brakes will work properly when you start your car again.
  • Find out if the shipping company requires the gas tank to be empty or full. For storage, empty tanks are better (they prevent condensation). However, the shipping company may require you to leave enough gas for the car to be driven up and into the truck, as well as out.

Understanding Car Shipping Insurance

Friday, July 17th, 2009

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Not all car shipping insurances are the same, and just because your contract includes mention of insurance coverage does not mean all types of damages are covered.

The first step is to know what the basic coverage includes. In most cases, this covers protection against theft and damage during vehicle transport. Coverage, however, may not include damage caused during storage (if you’re not available to receive your car on the stop) or once the car is accepted into international customs. Also, insurance from your car shipping company may not cover accessories, such as radios, alarm systems or DVD players, especially if they are not factory standard.

Another thing to ask your car shipping company is whether their insurance is primary or secondary to your own. If it’s secondary, your own insurance company will pay for damages first, and the vehicle shipping company will pick up the tab for anything not covered by your own insurance. While this protects you against out-of-pocket expenses, it may result in insurance rate increases in the long run, so you might want to find out the pros and cons of each option.

5 Things You May Not Know About Shipping a Car Overseas

Friday, July 17th, 2009

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  1. Some destinations may not allow you to drive your car from the pickup point and you may be required to hire a car transport company to deliver the car to your door or to a pre-established point.
  2. In order for your car to be released by customs, you will need to show the paperwork given to you by the shipping company, as well as the original title for the car and a letter or contract regarding the lien (if your leasing your car) and your right to move the vehicle. If you own the vehicle outright, you will to present the bill of sale.
  3. Don’t assume that RO/RO (roll on, roll off) service is available from every car shipping company. If not available at your destination, you will need to arrange for transportation after your car has been released from customs.
  4. Not all vehicle shipping companies offer complete insurance. While your car will always be covered for damages that occur during transportation and loading/unloading, some companies may not cover you once your car has been unloaded and stored in a foreign custom warehouse. Make sure you read the fine print and understand how well protected you are.
  5. In most cases, shipping companies allow you to use the empty space in the ocean container to store other items you wish to ship overseas along with your car. This can mean boxes, luggage or other personal belongings.

Get Real Regarding Car Shipping Times

Monday, June 1st, 2009

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One thing first time customers need to understand is that when it comes to car shipping companies, there is no next day delivery. It does not work like a courier service or DHL, Fed Ex, the United States Post Office or UPS. The norm is that all dates listed for delivery and even pick-up are generally estimates only. Guarantees of vehicle transport delivery and pick-up dates are exceedingly rare.

Delays are frequent and can be attributed to any number of things, including a big snow storm, brutal traffic and the odd mechanical breakdown. Oddly, the biggest offender in causing vehicle shipping companies to arrive later than expected for a pick-up is not company employees, but other customers. Oftentimes, another customer will show up late for a scheduled pick-up or will attempt to contact the car transport company to alter the pick-up or delivery dates an hour before they are scheduled.

Knowing this will keep you patient going in and will make the process easier for all. Most auto shipping companies are quite busy with any large number of deliveries to make and so it is in their best interest to be within the agreed arrival and or departure time.

Prepare for the Car Shipping Tricksters

Monday, June 1st, 2009

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Like any business, there are scams in the car shipping industry. Before booking with a company, it is wise to understand the common scams that are used on unsuspecting customers.

For example, beware of those car transport companies that try to lure customers with the cheapest rate quote around. When comparing car shipping rates from one vehicle shipping company to the next, be wary of those with deflated prices. In all likelihood, this usually means that the customer will lose some form of service that might be gained for a little more elsewhere.

Another common warning alarm should sound with those car shipping companies who promise unusually short vehicle transport times and on a specific date. Shipping arrival times generally fall within a certain window of days. A verbal agreement will not suffice – Make sure you have it in writing.

Another warning sign is unrestricted cancellation fees. For example, if you pull out of the agreement to ship your car, ask if there are additional cancellation fees.

Insurance is yet another area with a lot of room for misinterpretation. What may be listed as full coverage on your contract may vary considerably from what the company states is full coverage.

Finally, research the car shipping company you’re doing business with. Research their Federal License Number to determine if they have recently gone bankrupt, changed the company name and then began doing business again. Search for a transportation company that has been around for awhile and has proven itself.

Don’t Forget to Read the Fine Print of Car Shipping Contract

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

 

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When dealing with any sort of problem with the shipping of your vehicle, always study your contract. The tendency for most people is to head to the car shipping company office and ask for clarification face to face with an employee. But the problem with this is that sometimes wrong information can be given, either by mistake or on purpose.

The way around this is to verify any questions you may have by consulting the contract and then speaking with your car shipping company rep. Rest assured, when a problem arises on the side of the auto shipper, they will always check the contract first.

Look for a few specific things in the contract. Make certain that the cost of auto shipping, as well as cost for cancellation, is listed. Once the cancellation fee is confirmed, consult with the vehicle shipping company that this fee will be waived if for any reason the company fails to pick-up the car within the time frame listed. Also, double check your dates for both pick-up and delivery.

Another consideration for customers concerns rental cars. In the instance where a car transport company cannot deliver your vehicle within a certain number of days of the stated delivery date, negotiate their picking up the tab on a rental car while you wait for your own car to arrive.