International Vehicle Shipping Rates

Vehicle shipping rates vary depending on the following factors. Distance. How far away is the point of destination to the point of origination? The farther the transit, the longer the time your car is in the care of your car shipping company, which means more service hours and use of their facilities. Needlessly to say, you have to pay more when shipping a vehicle, for instance, to London or Tokyo, than when you are shipping anywhere in the United States.

Shipping locally makes use of an automobile carrier truck. You car is loaded onto this truck along with up to ten other vehicles at a time. Vehicle shipping rates using this method cover cost such as gasoline, the driver, facilities and overhead costs. When shipping overseas, there will be more costs to cover. International shipping rates involve shipping facilities, terminals, and taxes. There will be additional expenses – expected or unexpected – on Customs fees, levies and taxes, importation/exportation costs, storage and so on.

Also, your local car shipping company will connect with a car shipping company in the country of destination, and therefore, could incur additional costs. As a car owner, it will be very helpful for you to do a little research on the laws or regulations in the country of destination so that you get a good idea on any possible factors that can add to your expenses. 

Another factor other than distance is the weight of your vehicle. The larger or heavier a vehicle, the more expensive shipping is. More facilities are necessary when transporting, for instance, a family van than a regular sedan. Also, a wide vehicle could take up space originally for two cars. To lighten your car a bit, it is advised that you drain your gasoline tank. Leave only a quarter of a tank, enough to drive it on and off the carrier truck or vessel. Remove any attachments such as a bicycle rack or ski rack.

The third factor that contributes to car shipping rate is car condition. Before the actual transport, inform the shipping company if you need a crane or any special services to lift your car onto the carrier. This will add to the shipping costs but can avoid any hassles along the way. In some cases, car dealers will hire auto transport shipping companies to ship brand new cars for display. The shipping company would need to prepare a crane or lift, and other necessary safety measures.

The type of car shipping service also determines car shipping rate. If you live away from the terminal or port, you might need to pay for door-to-door service. This involves both pickup and drop-off. The cheaper option is to drive your car to the terminal on your own. There is also a huge difference when shipping either through the open or enclosed shipping method. Enclosed car shipping is about 75% more expensive than the more common open shipping. This is because enclosed vehicle shipping guarantees 100% protection and security to your car, and as a result, 100% peace of mind to you. Other factors that can affect the vehicle shipping rates are also temporary storage and insurance.