When you move to another country, you may be faced with a challenging decision: Keep your car in the U.S. or move it with you?
International car shipping is an intriguing question. The mere fact that you’re wondering whether it’s worth it means that the scenario does make sense in your specific relocation case. Before you make a decision, weigh the pros and cons of shipping vehicles overseas to get the best possible solution for your case.
While it is true that your car may cost you money to ship, the investment may still be worth it. When undertaking the task, you should approach it just as you would any other big decision during your move. This means reviewing the pros and cons of transporting your vehicle.
Advantages of international car shipping
Special connection
Ask yourself this: how sentimental are you about your car? If it’s a significant part of your family history, you won’t want to give it up just because you’re moving to another country. Your car may not be available in the destination country – like classic cars.
Sometimes, you will not know how emotionally attached to your car is until the time comes to break up with it. Break up with your car without letting go by moving it with you.
No matter what, it can be hard to let go of a vehicle that you have grown so fond of. However, by taking the steps to transport it with you, you won’t have to let go of that connection with your beloved automobile.
Sacrifice convenience
If you look ahead and arrange with your rental car company to have your car waiting for you at your destination, then you’ll be able to use it right away. This will save you the hassle of renting a car and then figuring out how to use public transportation.
Your car is the ultimate in comfort and convenience. You know your car inside and out and it always knows just what to expect from you. It’s the perfect way to travel in complete comfort and safety.
What to do with your car
It’ll be much easier to drive around in a new country if you don’t have to worry about what to do with your car while you’re away.
If you plan on moving abroad permanently, then it may be worth it to bring your car with you. However, if you’re only moving for a short period of time, you’ll need to figure out what to do with your vehicle in your absence.
Is your car secure when you store it at a friend’s house? For those of you abroad and taking a short stay, you may want to consider leaving your car with a family member or friend. Parking spaces and storage for your vehicle can be expensive and you may find it better to find someone who is willing to keep your car safe.
And if you are selling your car before the international move, you may have to sell it for less than what you would normally charge in order to get it off your hands in time.
Sometimes, the solution to your problem is quite simple. This is to say, when you have too many choices, just move your car with you to the new country. Problem solved.
Disadvantages of international car shipping
When moving overseas, you may be tempted to ship your car to your new home. However, it’s important to consider the disadvantages before making a final decision.
Car shipping costs
The biggest drawback of moving a car from one country to another is the price. It can be expensive no matter how you do it! For example, shipping a car internationally is also very expensive.
The average cost of shipping a car overseas is from around $900 to $4,000. These costs will vary depending on the size and weight of the vehicle, the distance it will be shipped, and any other incidental costs incurred in the journey.
You can determine the cost of your international car shipping by considering factors such as the destination country, the distance from your home to a major U.S. seaport, and the method of transportation: RoRo shipping(Roll On, Roll Off or shipping container – either shared or exclusive or an individual car consideration. The size, weight, and condition of your vehicle also factor into the cost of international car shipping.
Import taxes are an important thing to understand when shipping cars overseas. On average, these overseas charges are around $550 per vehicle. This cost is not included in the price that your international car shipping company quotes for you.
Car maintenance costs
Unfortunately, some disadvantages of transporting your car overseas might not be immediately apparent until after you’ve arrived in the new country.
You might not be able to move your car with you when you move! One drawback is the difficulty in obtaining repair and replacement parts in some countries. For example, in some countries, it can be difficult to find replacement parts for US-manufactured cars.
So, research beforehand what you should expect for car maintenance in the country you’ll be moving to.
Local emissions and safety standards
Another serious disadvantage of shipping a car abroad is that your car may not meet new emissions and safety standards. But if it doesn’t, then there will be trouble. You’ll have to deal with endless paperwork and expenses that may not solve the problem 100%.
Moving a car to a different country can be a tricky business. As with any country, there are many local laws and regulations in the destination country that you’ll need to be aware of. If your car is not legal when you ship it internationally, you may have to pay fines when you get there.