Auto Transport - Buyers Guide

Auto Transport Introduction

Auto transport is a highly specialized branch of the transportation industry. Whereas regular transportation can be carried out quite simply, shipping a vehicle overseas requires far more involved legalities, tariffs and paperwork. While it is possible for you to act as your own freight forwarder when it comes to arranging an overseas home removal, the same cannot be said when it comes to auto transport. In fact, acquiring the services of a good freight forwarder is essential when you plan on shipping your vehicle to another country. Domestic auto transport is less involved that an overseas removal, but does require a certain level of planning and organization before it can be undertaken successfully.

When you need to ship a vehicle from one place to another the first thing to do is determine the distance involved in the shipment and the legalities. If you are planning a domestic auto transport, then in many instances you can always drive your vehicle to the new destination. If that is not possible for reasons of time or because the vehicle in question is new, then you can always avail yourself of the domestic auto transport service offered by many fine and reputable firms. The international transport of your vehicle is more complicate because certain countries impose tariffs and/or duties on vehicles. You will have to inform yourself of the legalities involved with transporting your car to the country in question. Whether you are shipping one car or a fleet of cars, it is best to be informed of the parameters you must deal with or possibly face having your shipment impounded once at its final destination.

Many countries will waive import tariffs and duties on vehicles imported for personal use – such as an expat shipping their personal car to the new country instead of going out and buying a new one. Some countries will impose tariffs no matter what kind of vehicle you are shipping – whether personal or for resale. In some instances it is not worth shipping your car over because of the tariffs and duties you will have to pay – in those cases, it is better to sell your car and buy a new one in your new country. Some countries will allow you to send cars over as consignment goods – for which you do not have to pay any tariffs until the vehicles are actually sold. Finding out the exact laws governing auto transport is crucial to a successful removal.

When searching for an auto transport company it is best to go with someone specialized in the transportation of vehicles as they will have the more competitive rates and the specialized trucks for such services. While general shipping companies would be able to do the job, it would probably be at greater expense on your part and with more little hiccoughs along the way. Hiring an auto transport company specialized in dealing with the removal of cars and other vehicles in the only way to ensure the kind of expertise you want.

We invite you to continue reading our guide to find out more about the auto transport business, how to choose a provider to suit your needs and to consult our checklist of things to do when preparing to ship your vehicle. We also have a handy glossary guide as well as a couple of articles dealing with the auto transport industry that might help to shed more light on this business.

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The form was easy to fill out and took only a few minutes. It was easy for me to find the service I needed, and I quickly heard from a couple of helpful companies.

Angelica, Buyer
Milan, Italy