How Long Does It Take To Ship A Car From USA To Europe?

When planning a move to a new country, especially somewhere as culturally opposite as Europe, having your ride with you just makes things easier. Forget figuring out new bus routes, dealing with a language barrier, and overexposure to cultural differences much too soon. These, plus everything else involved with moving overseas can become overwhelming to anyone.

If shipping a car makes sense over getting a vehicle there, you must make the necessary arrangements to make that happen. The simplest way to do that is by using an international hauling company.

Surely you have a lot of questions about how this works and even how long delivery to the area will take. A1 Auto Transport has the answer to these questions, and some you may not have even considered yet.

When you're ready for your dispatching answers, call us at 1-888-230-9116.

Factors Influencing Delivery Times

At A1 Auto Transport company, one of our top priorities is hauling or motorcycles overseas in the shortest possible time frame. We know how important it is to our customers to have their loads delivered ASAP, and with every cargo, we try our hardest to keep within schedule.

Shipping cars to the area and other places in the world comes with a set of special conditions that influence our ability to have four-wheeler delivered on time. Some factors that have a major influence on the shifting process, and affect delivery times include:

Customer Roles

You play an important role in how quickly you can move your ride to the area. The first part of this entire process begins with you deciding when and how your ride will be hauled to the area.

The sooner you gather the necessary documentation, pay the necessary fees, and prepare your four-wheeler for transit the sooner your car will arrive in Europe. This may feel like a lot of pressure, but you will always have the assistance of an A1 Auto Transport agent to oversee the process and ensure you do your part without error or unnecessary delay.

Location

Shipping a car to Europe from the East Coast of the United States is faster than delivery from the West Coast. The reasoning behind this is simple, the East Coast of the U.S is closer to the area than the West.

When you move a vehicle from the West Coast, it has to cross a greater distance to get to the area. This means that the dispatching rates for this service will also be higher.

Delivery method

Ocean Freight

Moving a vehicle to the area by ocean freight is by far the most popular method of delivery. Ocean carriers are able to carry more four-wheelers at any one time, becoming a cheaper option for every international auto transport company.

However, this delivery method is the slowest option when shipping overseas and is more susceptible to longer-lasting delays.

Air Freight

The fastest way to haul a car to the area is via air freight, however, it is way more expensive than ocean freight. Most people reserve air freight for light loads that are cheaper in value and have greater urgency.

Moving your ride overseas via air freight also means less anxiety for a four-wheeler owner. Luxury and classic cars are not easy to come by, nor are they cheap, and many people are not willing to risk their vehicles being tossed around for days, even if they get a shipping container.

Season

During peak season, expect delays to happen because the global logistics system is overwhelmed. In the summer months, international car shipping companies often are at or exceed capacity and have to do a lot of shuffling to facilitate all their customers.

During the holidays, and even past the New Year to the end of January, orders are still backed up and eager customers will sometimes face disappointment when hauling during these times.

The vehicle relocating process is less hectic when things begin to level out during the off-season. During these months, customers can expect their cargo to arrive at the destination port ahead of schedule given conditions at sea are good and there are no unexpected circumstances.

Customs clearance

Getting your car to the area is only one leg of the journey. The cargo must clear customs and abide by the regulations of the destination country.

A competent delivery company will ensure all regulations are met to avoid any delays with the customs officials. This will result in you getting your vehicle in the least possible time unless there is a random inspection.

Even if all conditions are met and the requisite import duties are paid, the season will also play a huge role in how quickly you can receive your ride. In busier months, customs offices are backed up and processing times become longer.

Processing times also vary depending on the European country and its set of requirements.

If you need more help with understanding the import customs destination fees and duties, along with the regulations for any particular country, get in touch with an A1 Auto Transport agent today!

How Does Hauling Vehicles To The Area Work Through International Delivery Firms?

If you want to send your ride to the area with the least possible stress and confusion involved, it helps to hire a good international shipping company.

A1 Auto Transport is one of the largest dispatching companies in the United States and on this side of the pond. With years of experience in the shifting industry under our belt, we stand ready to undertake most customer requests including hauling to the area and other parts of the world.

As part of our 100% satisfaction guarantee to our respected customers, we've adopted a model of full transparency. You will be completely in the loop throughout the entire process and have unrestricted access to your cargo location as it makes its journey to the area.

Should you have any questions or concerns while delivery to the region, our staff makes itself available to answer all queries and will provide all necessary details from start to finish.

With A1 Auto Transport, hauling to Europe has never been easier. Make the right choice and place your vehicle in the hands of people who care. Don't delay, schedule your ride for shipping today!

Are There Any Special Documents I Need To Export The Vehicle To The Region?

International car shipping to Europe requires more documentation than when hauling four-wheelers to another state or even across the country. Your agent should prompt you to provide these documents, so you don't have to worry about figuring out what you'll need to add to the other stresses in your life.

These documents sometimes vary based on the destination country, so, if you need anything else, you will be advised as soon as you get in contact with us.

• Title/Certificate of Origin
• Bill of Sale
• Registration of own vehicle
• Declaration of Dangerous Goods (e.g gasoline, airbags, car battery, etc) and Removalist Export Declaration
• Licenses plates
• Copy of passport
• International moving insurance

You may also need to provide Lien Release documentation if you are not the full owner of the motor to grant authorization for carrying to Europe.

International Delivery Insurance

When you move a four-wheeler to the area, you will need insurance for two purposes.

Of all, you will need additional insurance to absorb the risk of hauling. Every legitimate dispatching agency must have a basic insurance program that provides adequate four-wheeler insurance for the services being offered. This covers roughly 1.5%-2.5% of the estimated value of the vehicle.

You will also need temporary holiday insurance to allow you to drive your ride in the area legally. The duration of this insurance is up to you, but should ideally last as long as your stay.

Import Duties And Destination Charges

When shipping to Europe or any overseas territory, import tax and destination charges are things you must consider when making your budget to haul a car.

The import duty on four-wheelers is as follows:

• New four-wheelers: 19%
• Dutiable rate: 10%
• Vehicles over 30 years old (no modifications): 5% VAT, 0% import duties

How To Prepare Your Four-Wheeler For Your International Relocating Firm

Preparing your ride to hand off to your preferred international delivery company typically involves clearing it of all personal items and other belongings (unless an ocean container is used). Just make sure you leave all the standard equipment inside like the emergency kit, car tools, and spare tire that can come in handy to the operators. Turn off or remove your alarm system and navigation device so they aren't a nuisance. Don't remove your license plates.

Preparations for shipping to the area may also typically involve preparing a separate pair of keys to allow the vehicle to be driven when necessary as part of the loading/unloading process.

It's always a good idea to have your ride serviced before relocating to Europe. This ensures it's in perfect shape for the journey and that there will be no surprises when it needs to be moved on/off the transfer.

Your car should have enough gas, about 1/4 tank, so it can be moved when necessary. All the other liquids should be at optimal levels and the battery should be full. Tire pressure should be correct and the brakes should have no faults.

When you're ready to hand over the vehicle, whether compact four-wheeler or luxury four-wheeler, take pictures of your four-wheeler inside and out. These should be compared with the condition of your ride after it arrives in the area.

Poor preparation may result in delays in getting your ride hauled, so be as thorough as possible. If you need help preparing, reach out to one of our agents for guidance.

Which Type Of International Shifting Method To Choose?

Another factor to consider when using ocean freight for hauling cars to the area is the shipping method. The two most popular ways methods of shifting a four-wheeler include Container dispatching and Roro delivery.

Container Relocating

Shipping a vehicle in a container is the more expensive option for ocean freight. Container dispatchng is preferred for more expensive and rare four-wheelers which need the added protection and privacy.

Container delivery can either be shared (consolidated container hauling) or exclusive.

Shared Container Repositioning

This is the cheapest way to move a four-wheeler to the area in a transfering container since you share the cost of dispatching with the other owners. The contents of the consolidated container are recorded before it is sealed at the moving dock. It will not be opened until it arrives at the destination European country unless there is a customs inspection.

The drawback to shared container hauling is the fact that you may have to wait sometime before the rest of the container is filled for it to be moved. However, you can store household goods and other items inside the shared container.

Exclusive Container Delivery

If you are delivery multiple vehicles at the same time, or even luxury or classic motors, this is the ideal container delivery method. Having your own container means you get to pack it at your own pace and you won't have to depend on other four-wheelers to fill it up. You can also transfer more personal items when you shift a car to the region this way.

Roro Hauling

With the Roro dispatching method, your ride is driven onto the move with its power and driven off just the same. It's the cheapest way to ship four-wheelers anywhere in the world and will lower the overall hauling costs of getting your ride to the area.

Since the car is driven and secured in place, it will be exposed to the elements during the journey. You also will not be permitted to store personal belongings in the motor as you would with a personal or shared container.

When selecting this dispatching method, ensure your ride is operable otherwise there will be additional fees involved for loading the motor.

Getting Your Vehicle Inland

Most of the world's population lives pretty close to the coast, but then, there are many people who prefer or have to live in the inland areas. If your final destination isn't near the port, then perhaps you should consider additional services to get your ride inland.

We work with local agents from reputable relocating agencies who can facilitate the journey on the home stretch. If you are unable to or don't want to drive your own four-wheeler to your new home, have us arrange for our various partners in different countries to assist.

Your vehicle will be loaded on their pickup truck and brought to a corresponding terminal or to your door.

Call us today to discuss your options for getting your ride inland in a country!

Helpful Links

• Ship car
• Can I drive my ride?
• Cheapest way to move a car
• Container shifting to Europe
• How much does it cost to haul a motorcycle?
• Moving to the area from the USA