With the advent of modern technology, shipping things has never been easier. There are packages and parcels traveling the world daily. They go through many counties and over many miles. In order for the packages to arrive safely and fast, people had to put in research about new modes of transportation. Then, there is also research done in reducing the cost of these shipments. Usually, the cheapest way to send a package is by using reputable sea freight forwarders. However, there are many advantages and disadvantages to each method, and it all depends on what you are shipping. If you are looking into shipping cars overseas, then this article is for you. Find out all you need to know about international vehicle transportation.

Do thorough research

The first thing you want to do when shipping a car overseas is to do a thorough research. You need to know about all the international vehicle transportation opportunities. Otherwise, you will be going into the process blind, and you can end up losing a lot of money. There are a couple of things that you need to research:

• the international vehicle transportation company,
• the costs of shipping cars overseas,
• ways in which you can transport vehicles internationally.

International vehicle transportation companies

When it comes to researching companies for international transport, the smart idea is to create a list of all possible ones nearby. Write down everyone that looks good and you consider using. As we go through the screening process, we will cut the list until only the best company remains. In order to do this, use websites like the Better Business Bureau – they are a valuable source of information tied to moving and freight forwarding companies. You can also use your friends, family, and colleges to get good recommendations.

When looking into companies, take note of their credentials and certifications. All companies need to have a license, as well as offer some sort of cargo shipping insurance. If a company has these, they will show it clearly on their website (or on the BBB website).  However, keep in mind that depending on what kind of company it is, the licenses might vary. For example, there are some special licenses based on the cargo a company is forwarding.

Finally, you can contact the companies and ask for references. These should be people who have shipped vehicles in the last three months. Call them and ask them direct questions about the company you are looking into. This might be the best way to get a clear insight into a freight forwarder and the services they offer.

Research the costs of chipping vehicles overseas

The second thing that will help you when deciding how to ship your vehicle overseas is the cost of the shipping, of course. If some transportation method exceeds your budget – you will not go with it. If you want to bypass asking for a quote, you can check the transporters websites. Some will disclose their rates there, although not everyone will have it like that. Also, the rates on websites are usually for the smallest size vehicles, popular destinations and other “easy” shipments. These are also prone to change easily, depending on the fuel market in the world, as well as other, similar charges.

Once you have done all your research, it’s time to ask for a quote. You will want to get quotes from a couple of international vehicle transportation companies. Take these and compare each other. Of course, the first thing you look at is the dollar amount. However, that’s not the only thing of interest in quotes. Make sure you read through everything and see what the company’s services are. For example, check how far they will transport your car – port to port or door to door? Then, look into who cover the destination fees. Check their insurance policies and ways in which you can track your cargo.

Decide what’s important to you

Depending on how fast you want your car shipped, you will need to decide on your priorities. Do you want to save money, or to have the vehicle as fast as you can? Depending on this, you will decide what priorities you have – and thus, what company to go for. It’s always a great idea to consult a Japan logistics company when figuring out whether go to for speed or cost. They have experience in international vehicle transportation and can be of great help to you.

So, if you want your car as soon as possible, then you only need to book your own 20ft container. Get all the paperwork and pay for the service and you are ready to go. Of course, you will need a good shipping company in order to clear the US customs and for loading onto a vessel. However, you will need to pay a lot of money for this method, so if you don’t want that, there are other solutions.

The other end of the spectrum is called consolidated vehicle shipping. Using this, your car will be in a container with other vehicles, and they will all be heading for the same port. This will take some time because the company needs to fill up the container with vehicles before they can ship them. But, here, you get the protection of a container unit – your car won’t be exposed while traveling by sea. You can also save hundreds of dollars using this shipping method.

Get an inspection

The final step in doing international vehicle transportation is to get the car inspection. You should always get a report and take a lot of pictures of the car. This way, if something goes wrong during travels, you will have proof of what your car looked like before travel. It’s a smart idea to service your vehicle before the shipment starts, and washing it is always a plus as well. This way, it will be much easier to spot anything on the vehicle – even scratches are easier to see on a clean car.