Some companies also inform their clients about documents needed in the country where the customer’s vehicle is going to be moved. When you wish to ship a car from the USA you definitely need a passport and an original of US vehicle registration and the vehicle insurance in the US. Another essential document is a statement of current address of residence in the US.

You are advised to contact an appropriate consulate of a foreign country in the USA or a chosen customs office in the country where you are going to move your vehicle to. For example, in case of car shipping to Poland, contact a customs office in one of the Polish harbors, for example in Gdynia.

There are also a number of forms required by a company responsible for international auto shipping that you should hand in by the delivery of your car. Always make sure that you have prepared all documents necessary for both leaving the vehicle with the agent and those that will be needed to collect it. The person who is going to collect the car in a port of discharge is called a consignee. Of course the shipper and consignee may be the same person. The agent needs all the details of the consignee such as a name, mailing (physical, not posting) address and phone number.

The shipping agency also needs from you the car’s year, make, model, license plate number, VIN number and its current value – all the details must be forwarded in a special form provided by the agent. All the forms must be filled out completely. If the vehicle is new, you will also need a bill of sale. Other useful documents include: the original title of the vehicle, liens against the vehicle (if applicable) and a power of attorney to a person that represents the car’s owner before customs.

If we are interested in car shipping to Germany or to other European country, it is essential to find a good and reliable agent so as not to risk the breakage of our vehicle. The distance is great so there is a probability of the delay due to some unexpected problems. A good shipping agent will try to predict and, if possible, to prevent them.

Be careful if you want to lower a car shipping cost. The cheaper does not mean the better and usually companies responsible for international auto transport that offer a very low car shipping price are not reliable. It is obvious that the price must affordable for the owner, but a delay is often also costly so you should pay attention to quality in the first place.

The first thing to be taken into account is if the company has a good reputation with its previous clients. You can check it browsing the Internet and asking questions on proper chatrooms. Once you get an opinion of a few people whose vehicles have been moved safely overseas, you can trust the company and charge it with international auto moving. It is also a good idea to check a shipper with the local BBB (Better Business Bureau). Each good car shipping agent does not have a bad reputation with the BBB.

We should not trust the company if any members of international community have complained about its services. So, although a nice website with useful information and car shipping quote calculator is definitely an advantage, it is worth devoting time for checking the company’s trustworthiness. If you got to know that one of the shippers does not deliver the vehicle when and where they promise, do not use its services.

Auto transport industry is definitely growing and there are more and more auto shippers who advertise on the Internet. With the use of their websites you can send a car shipping quote in order to receive an estimated car shipping cost and any further information.

The same companies that offer car shipping to Germany will transport your vehicle to Holland. As the Netherlands is a member of the EU, one must take into account the fact that there may be specific fees and charges to be paid when importing goods from outside the EU. That is why you should check such regulations before you decide to contact a shipping company.

No matter if you relocate your car from the East or the West Coast, it will take a great deal of time, approximately two to five weeks. The tax to be paid is 10% plus 10% VAT.

If you wish to be allowed to get a free-of-tax registration of your vehicle in Holland, you need a special permit. Not everyone can obtain it and it is given to people who meet the following criteria: the person has been a resident of the EU for at least twelve months and has owned the vehicle for six months or more and the car must have been used in the EU before.

After you manage to move your car to the Netherlands for the next twelve months it cannot be sold, leased or pledged. Otherwise you should inform a customs office which will inform you what taxes you are going to pay.

As in case of car shipping to Poland or Germany you can have the agent send your car either in a special container (on a container ship) or on a deck of RORO vessel.

Before you decide to ship your car to the Netherlands check all the up-to-date regulations with the Netherlands consulate as well as to make sure that an agent you have chosen is trustworthy and reputable.

While in case of car shipping to Germany or Netherlands vehicles are sent on board of a RORO vessel or in special containers, motorcycles are crated. It means that they are put in special boxes and secured in order to avoid damage during shipment. You can hire a professional crating company or just have an agent specializing in international auto shipping send a crate to you. In the latter case you can prepare motorbike for transportation by yourself. Motorcycle shipping price is not as high as car shipping price but many motorbike owners prefer not to spend too much and they crate their vehicles themselves. If you are one of them, do not forget to secure your freight and make sure there is no fuel or other liquid in the vehicle. Any leakage may lead to a serious accident. Also, fold the mirrors so as they do not break and remove any personal belongings from saddle bags.

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The cost of overseas motorcycle shipping, similarly to car shipping cost, depend mostly on the country of destination as well as on the size of the vehicle. The bigger the motorcycle, the more you pay. The sum you must pay to a shipping agent include insurance for damage to the motorcycle during the transit.

Before you decide to trust one of car shipping agents, send them a car shipping quote in order to obtain information about the price, timing and other important details. It is essential to find a reliable agent that will deliver the vehicle on time, however bear in mind that due to weather conditions the transit might sometimes take longer than it has been planned.

Car shipping to Germany is quite common, as people do not only move for personal reasons but they are often sent to Europe by the company they are working for. Besides, there are no restrictions regarding importing cars to Germany. That is why international auto transport to major German cities such as Berlin, Bonn, Hamburg and many more is rather easy.

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Car shipping price differs from one company to the other so before you decide on one of them, compare their offers sending a car shipping quote. Normally you can do it using a simple form available on websites devoted to international auto shipping.

Those of you who are thinking of car shipping to Germany should know a few basic facts. Firstly, each driver who have stayed in Germany for more than twelve months needs a German license. Besides, each car registered in this country is a subject to motor vehicle tax called Kfz-Steuer. Do not forget to pay the first payment after you register the car. As for taxes, the owner of the car must also pay car import taxes that include both VAT and import duty.

Companies specializing in international auto shipping can also transport other vehicles than classic cars. If you have a motorcycle, a vintage car, a truck, a SUV or even a boat, you will be able to move them from the US to Germany without any greater difficulties.
When your vehicle finally reaches its destination and you are going to get it, make sure you take with you such things as spare auto keys (you have to leave one set with the shipping company), vehicle registration and title and an ID.

         Whatever your motivation to buy a car was, now you want to find fast and secure way of what we call “international car shipping”. The main purpose of this article is to help you understand the shipping process. We have also come up with some car transport tips to facilitate this task for you.

         Good news, if you’ve bought your car recently is that most difficult part is behind you – shipping your vehicle and registration is far easier than find right car for you and a good offer. After few formalities and few weeks on-board you will be able to drive your car in Europe.

This site is designed to help you deal these things that have to be done before that.

After reading this text you will know how to organize shipment of your vehicle to Poland. We present you: list of four things you have to keep in mind during this process; information on all documents needed; list of cost you and information to whom should you turn to get more details, in case your situation is somehow different then standard

For average person however, here is all stuff you should know.

Below you will find four points that may serve as guide to this process. They enclose links to documents you will most probably have to use, information you might also use to deepen your knowledge of formalities you will have to deal with and auto transport tips that will help you manage them.

It is not that hard a task and you can arrange the whole process on your own. Still, there is a bit of “homework”, materials you will have to go through. You should start with the points below.

         These main points are:

Time

How long does it take to ship a car?

Car needs to be registered in US for over 6 months. It takes 2 (from East Coast) to 5 weeks (West Coast) to ship car from US to Poland

Costs

How much does it cost to ship a car?

In the total cost you should sum not only costs of shipment but also: duty fees, Value Added Tax, administrative fees you pay in the US to receive proper documentation, costs of preparing your car to drive in EU. Duty for cars is 10% no matter new or old; payment of excise duty is 3.1% when engine capacity is below 2 liters and 18.6% if it’s above 2 liters. In addition you will have to pay 23% of VAT.

The percentage is calculated based on car value and cost of transportation. They are calculated cumulatively, so e. g. if car was worth 5000$ and transportation cost is 400$, you count 10% out of 5400$ and add to base value which makes 5940$ etc.

Other cost – 500 zloty – is recycling fee, no matter new or old car.

As your car probably has American – symmetrical – headlight setting, you’ve got to get it adjusted to European road requirement. You will have to contact the vehicle adaptation station, adjustment will cost some 300 zloty.

Documents

• Polish passport
• Polish tax id (NIP) or an application for one
• US vehicle registration – original
• Vehicle insurance in the US
• Statement of current residence address and all other evidence of residence in the USA for more than 12 months: tax return, income for rent, telephone bills, other utility bills etc.
• Bill for transportation/Freight invoice

For any specific information we encourage that you contact our office in Gdynia or any Customs office of your choice.

Transport conditions

When it comes to international vehicle shipping, there are basically two ways to do it. One is called ‘Roll on / Rolls off’ (sometimes shortened to ‘Ro-Ro’ or ‘RORO’). The main advantage is lower cost as your car will be transported ferry-like way on ship prepared specifically for international auto shipping. It’s relatively cheap car shipping method and it is used by most auto shipping companies. Cost is ca. 800$

The main disadvantage seems to be the fact, that you are not allowed to place any personal items in car.

Other way is to have your vehicles secured and loaded into seaworthy steamship line containers. Once loaded, each container is custom sealed and can only be opened by the US or Polish customs officer. Depending on vehicle sized a 40 ft High Cube container can fit from two up to 4 vehicles. When choosing this form of shipment in most circumstances you will be allowed to leave your personal belongings in the vehicle. Cost is ca. 1000$.

There are no quantitative limits on cars, motorcycles, boats etc. but all the vehicles must fulfill the 6 month registration requirement prior to filing for a personal relocation duties and taxes exemption.

Conclusion

Though is relatively easy task, if you don’t have time to deal with this formalities you can leave it up to car moving company. As there are many car transportation companies you will be able to find good offer and leave it all up to professionals.

Auto carriers pick up and deliver 8 to 10 vehicles at all times for auto transport within the United Sates, and 20 to 30 days for overseas shipping. Due to weather & road conditions and other unforeseen factors make it impossible to guarantee the delivery date. Allow 7 to 14 days for the carriers to complete the trip on W-E runs, but can be quicker on other routes.

Plan enough time for us to pick up your vehicle. Two weeks in advance is recommended. We will also deal with urgent situations on an individual basis, and will be given priority status

Most trucks are 75 feet long and very wide which makes it impossible to reach most residential areas due to narrow roads, trees, power lines, city ordinances, and other road factors. Drivers  attempt to get as close as possible to the delivery location,  if this is impossible, most likely you would need to look for a convenient location like shopping center or major street crossing to pick up or deliver your vehicle.

Hope some of the tips are helpful. Please share your experiences with car shipping.

• Name of the exporter (shipper) and it’s contact details (tel, fax, cell, e-mail), including physical (not postal) address in United States
• Name of the importer (consignee, meaning the person or firm to whom the goods are to be sent) and their contact details (tel, fax, cell, e-mail), including physical (not postal) address
• Gross (total weight), tare (iweight of the packaging without any contents) and net (i.e. the weight of the product only) weights of the cargo
• Nature, quality and specifications of the product being shipped
• Type of package (such as pallet, box, crate, drum, carton, etc.)
• Dimensions of each package (provide it with both metric and imperial types)
• Number of pallets/boxes/crates/drums, etc.
• Contents of each pallet or box (or other container)
• Package markings, if any, as well as shipper’s and buyer’s reference numbers
• Reference to the associated commercial invoice such as the invoice number and date
• A purchase order number or similar reference to correspondence between the supplier and importer
• Carrier information
• Reference to the Bill of Lading or Air Waybill number

• booking number
• reference number
• shipper data (name, company, US address (!), phone, e-mail) – sender
• consignee data (name, company, address (!), phone, e-mail) – receiver
• type of move
• shipping instructions
• description of goods (detailed)
• port of loading
• port of discharge
• and many additional, detailed fields