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How to prepare your car for international shipping in 2023

ROBERT083

Planning an international or overseas move can be difficult for most people. Such long moves are anything but simple. When going through them people like to make things simple and easy. This is why most people travel with only their most important belongings. Others are usually sold or given away, or put in storage for safekeeping. However, sometimes you might decide to move and move your vehicle with you. This can make perfect sense if the car is of particular value or if replacing it is expensive. In these cases, you must know how to prepare your car for international shipping in 2023.

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a green classic car

Although cars are a big item to move many companies provide this service. It may seem too difficult to do especially if moving overseas but the process is simple and easy. Once you know it and prepare for it adequately you will not have any issues. With proper knowledge, you will be able to avoid many moving mistakes people make. However, understanding this straightforward process is important. If you know how to properly prepare your car for international shipping you can easily concentrate on other moving issues. However, let’s be clear. For overseas shipping, you have two options. You can easily ship your car by plane or choose to do it by boat. As using a boat is much more affordable the majority choose this option. So, it is only reasonable that we should cover the shipping process via sea.

International shipping – what to know

The key fact you should know is that there are plenty of companies that provide this service. However, as this is a difficult task to perform you must find the right company that is trustworthy and reliable. You can always start your search or use Four Winds KSA as a good reference to asses all of the other companies. The internet will provide you with a lot of search results and plenty of options to choose from. However, you must know that there are three key points and requirements that a good overseas moving company must meet. These are:

  • They provide the service from your location to your destination, for example from KSA to the US
  • The company is licensed, insured, and bonded for these activities and
  • They use only carriers that are also properly insured,  bonded, and licensed to do their job.

If the company doesn’t meet any of these requirements do not consider it further. This is especially important when it comes to insurance and licensing. You should also be strict and request their licensing numbers so you can confirm their registration.

a storage facility after you prepare your car for international shipping in 2023

Once you narrow down the companies that meet your requirements you can easily do some deeper research into their activities. You should read their reviews and find out as much as possible about customer satisfaction. Also compare the service they provide and their experience, staff, and equipment they use. Finally, ask for car moving quotes before making a decision. This is important so you can get a good deal out of this process.

Next step – shipping

Basically, when shipping your car internationally you have two things to do. First, you must gather all the paperwork necessary for shipping a car. Secondly, you must prepare your car physically for transport. Both of these activities are crucial for the smooth relocation of your vehicle. good international movers will be experienced enough to provide you with some help and guidance during these activities.

Documentation

Gathering and handling the paperwork is a tedious but necessary task. You first have to prepare all of the necessary documentation that will follow you and your family during the move. As with all other goods even your car has to be accompanied by certain documents. These are very similar from state to state. However, you must get informed about the necessary documentation before you start your move. An inquiry with your point of entry, whether in the US or KSA, will provide you with a detailed list of documents you must provide. In short, some standard documents include:

  • Customs filled export cover sheet
  • Certificate of title for the vehicle
  • Photo ID
  • Vehicle registration
  • Bill of lading
  • Bill of sale
  • EPA and Completed DOT forms for the car

In addition, you should contact your local DMW as you may be required to return the license plates or to make sure your insurance will still cover the car.

A car wash

Prepare your car for international shipping in 2023

Besides gathering the documentation you must also prepare your car for shipping. The procedure is pretty straightforward and easy to follow just make sure you have valid instructions from your movies.

Make sure that your car goes through service and is in good condition. Check the tire pressure and make sure that your car is washed and vacuumed. Your chosen shipping company will inspect the car to check for damage and make note of the state of the car. This will be crucial for checking the existing damage and will help you notice any damage that happens during transport. Take pictures of the car before transport as evidence of its state.

Know that moving any personal items and boxes in your car is not a practice that is common. So, make sure to empty the car of any items that don’t belong to it. Items like this will not be insured and can’t be protected from theft. So, make sure to leave only the items like spare tires, tools, and jumper cables with the car securely packed in the trunk. This will also go for any outside accessories like bikes and ski racks, etc.

You can also empty the gas tank, but make sure that the battery is full and the air pressure is ok. Also, make sure that car is in working condition and has no leaks. It is a good idea to make an extra key for your car as your shipping company must have one copy of the vehicle keys.

Other options

When preparing your car for international shipping in 2023 overseas know that there are many options to consider. For example, you can choose to ship your car in a container or to do it as roll-on / roll-off transport. In the first case, your car is placed in a container that is fixed within a ship. This is a slower and more expensive option. However, it provides adequate protection for your car. The roll-on/off option is riskier but cheaper. It is cost-effective but also does not additionally protect your car. This option means that the car is rolled onto a ship and fixed to its parking position with other cars. It will be transported and rolled off at the point of entry. This option does not provide adequate protection but is more rational if you are moving on a budget.

A boat for car shipping

The transport by ship can usually last anywhere from 3-12 weeks. But there is also an air freight transport option. You can transport your car via plane in the shortest possible timeframe. This transport usually only takes days to complete but it comes at a price. However, it is a good option if you can afford it. Just keep in mind that for air freight the procedures for transporting cars are the same or even more rigid. So, whichever way you decide to go with this transport know that you must follow the procedures. The best advice is to research and get to know and follow the procedures for shipping from KSA to make the process as simple as possible. Good preparation for this will allow for the shipping process to flow smoothly and compete without any issues.

The cost

In addition, you should try to calculate your moving cost beforehand. To that end, you should know the factors that influence this total cost. Here are a few factors to know.

  • The size of the car – the bigger the car the higher the transport cost
  • The shipping distance
  • Type of travel
  • Time of year
  • Economy or expended shipping

All of these factors you should research well before you start planning to ship your car. It will help you make an educated decision once you start searching for international movers.

Final step

Once you prepare your car for international shipping you can ship it on a moving day. Here you have two options. If you choose a door-to-door pickup the driver will call you to make sure that the car is ready for pickup at your home. However, you can also choose to drive and drop over the car at the port. In both cases, you must sign the Bill of Lading that will cover the condition of the car, any issues with the car as well as the information about the route to and from shipping points. Once you load up your car and sign the bill of lading your car will officially be on its way. All you have to do then is to find the best ways to start your travel and start packing for your own relocation.

To conclude

If you know what you are doing then moving your car overseas is not hard. Learn how to prepare your car for international shipping in 2023 and the process will be a breeze and relatively stress-free.