A beginner's guide to international transport
International transport is a method of transport to deliver vehicles between the United States and a foreign country.
There are two main methods of international auto transport, which include by ship or by plane.
By ship:
If you are using a transport broker, the company will usually set everything up for you for international shipping. Roll-on or roll-off shipping is a method of transport where the car is securely latched onto a ship without a container.
This is a cheaper method of transport, and people use this service if the car will be stopping at multiple ports.
Container shipping is used as a safer method of shipping, because there is an enclosure/covering that the car will get extra protection from.
Costs for shipping a car through a vessel is about $1000-2000, but there are other fees associated with the shipping such as customs taxes, destination fees, additional taxes, and marine insurance if need be. These additional fees can ramp up the price to around $5000 for boat shipping.
Customs taxes are usually taxes on an item that is shipped internationally, including cars. Every country has different customs taxes, so make sure to check the tax percentage before.
How long does car shipping take by sea?
Usually, sea shipping will take around one week, but a country further away may take up to two weeks. If you need your car in the other country faster than a week, the fastest method will be via sole shipping container.
A sole shipping container is a container that will be transported with only your car. Because it will only be your car that will be shipped, you do not need to have to wait for other cars to fill up the space or wait for the other cars to get dropped off first.
Airplane shipping:
Airplane transport is often the fastest method of transport and also the most luxurious. This type of transport is the most expensive, and is often used for luxury cars.
Airplane transport can be completed in as little as one day, with overnight expedited shipping. However, this type of transport is not recommended because the cost is very high. Airplane shipping can cost as much as a car, up to $20,000 or more. Unless absolutely necessary, shipping by sea or by truck is the most viable method.