Auto News Shipment

How To Ship A Car Overseas – Everything You Need To Know

Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Do you want to ship your car to another country? Whether you are doing it because you are retiring or for educational, family or work-related purposes, you might have thought to take your car along. Many people make this decision years or months before they even move.

Whatever future you decide for your car, the international car shipping company you choose will handle everything from scratch for you. However, you just cannot give the keys and get going, expecting to meet your car at the other end. In fact, the vehicle shipping process is a bit complicated which requires you to play a role in its planning and execution. This article explains everything you need to know about shipping your car overseas.

Buy top trending Car accessories in Lagos and Original Korea Battery now Check @carfanzy Lagos on Instagram

Should You Ship Your Car Or Just Buy A New One?

This is an important question everyone asks themselves – if they are to ship their car overseas or just get a new one there. You would need to decide on this after considering several important factors such as:

  1. The Sentimental value: Many people want to ship their car when they move because of sentimental attachments. The question here is, do you have many memories, or a family history attached to your car? Along with considering the emotional aspect, you also have to take into account the logical side of the decision.
  2. Time: The second factor to consider is time. What do you have more time for? Do you have enough time to smoothly get your car shipped? Being too urgent here may require you to sacrifice the sales value. On the other hand, would you have enough time to adjust in a new country, know abouts its processes and purchase a new car there in time?
  3. Cost of shipping: Take the costs into consideration too. What would be better for your pocket – to purchase a new car in the new country or to get your current one shipped? Your old car is worth shipping overseas if it is still in good condition. You need to calculate the costs and see what works best. After, you have to consider storage costs, if there is any. While you relocate, where will your old car stay? Can a loved one park your car at his place? Or would you have to invest in a storage facility? If you do not have any way to store your car while you are gone, then you simply cannot leave it behind without having to make an investment for where you would keep it.
  4. Car maintenance costs: Maintenance costs also count. If they are too high it is best to purchase a new car rather than get tangled in repair processes at a new place.
  5. How long you will stay overseas: Lastly, the duration of your stay is also a deciding factor. If you are going to stay there for long, maybe years, it may be a good idea to ship your car. Particularly, if you are very fond of its model and it would be unlikely to find the same one there. If you are only moving for a few months, then its best to leave your vehicle behind.

If you end up deciding that shipping your car overseas would be the best choice, you will need to find a reliable company for the international shipping of your car.

Cost Of Shipping A Car Overseas

This is a very important question. Without even knowing how much the process would cost you, you can not come to a conclusion as to whether or not you should get your car shipped internationally. The best way to know how much it will cost you is by requesting the price list from different companies that provide the service. Sometimes, it can be economical to purchase a new car in your destination country or not have a car there at all and rely on public transport instead. Either way, the cost of shipping your car overseas depends on certain factors such as:

  • Distance from your home to the shipping company: When you plan on shipping your car overseas, but your home is located at a distance from the terminal you have two options. You can either hire a local auto shipper for the transportation of your car to the nearest shipping dock or the overseas shipper can also cover this part of transportation which will make the shipping process easier for you. Rates start from N41,000 and can even amount up to N410,000 or more. The cost will be higher for larger vehicles for being transported from a country to its terminal.
  • Distance to the destination country: The distance between your current country and your destination country will also decide the cost. Generally, legal shipping costs start at approximately N280,000 and can go up to N1.6 million or more. As expected, the greater the distance the higher the cost of transportation would be.
  • Overseas destination taxes and charges: Import duties and taxes are also imposed on the international shipping of your vehicle. Furthermore, unloading and delivery fees in the destination country also apply. Your auto shipper will inform you about the total of these charges. This would, of course, vary from one country to another and is not included in the total shipping costs.
  • Size, weight and condition of your car: The size and weight of your car will also have an impact on the total international car shipping costs. If your car is not in running condition for whatever reason, then you will have to be charged an extra sum for the loading and unloading difficulties that would come with it. This is because a car that is not in running condition will need to be towed.

Documents You Will Need Overseas

You will need quite a few important documents for processing the internal shipping of your car. Typically, the auto shipper company you work with will handle all this for you. You will only have to submit the documents in a timely manner, and your international car shipper will gather and go through customs offices’ procedures. These are the documents that you will be required to submit:

  • Your car’s original Certificate of Title and two copies of its notarised title.
  • The Bill of Sale or a notarised Bill of Sale (depending on the port of origin).
  • The original Certificate of Origin if your vehicle is a brand-new purchase.
  • A Shipper Export Declaration.
  • A Declaration of Dangerous Goods.
  • A copy of your Nigerian passport.

Depending on your destination country or a particular maritime port, some additional documents and forms may also be required.

Important: To ensure there are no delays get in touch with your auto shipper and ask about which forms and documents the process would require. Submit these at your earliest to the company.

Types Of International Car Shipping Methods

There are three major types of international car shipping methods. These are Roll on, Roll Off (RORO), Shipping Containers, and Air Freight. The former two methods involve the shipping of your car by being shipped across the seas on a freight ship. The last of the three methods involve the international flight of your car in a cargo aircraft.

  • Roll On, Roll Off (RORO): This is the most cost-effective method of getting your car shipped internationally. In this method, your car is driven onto the ship where it is secured. Your vehicle is also immobilised with devices like a ratchet, straps, and clamps. Essentially, it is like your car is waiting in a large parking lot.

For safety reasons, there should be nothing in your car. Apart from safety, the absence of additional items is necessary to prevent charges and inspections from piling up. Your car needs to be in a good condition if you choose this method. If your vehicle is not in the running condition it will need to be towed which will incur extra charges.

While this is a very cheap method of getting your car shipped internationally, it is definitely not the best method to choose because your vehicle will be out in the open and would be exposed to the elements of nature such as the wind and rain. This will get you worried constantly as you cannot ever be sure that your vehicle will be shipped to the destination safely.

  • Car Shipping Containers: This is the second and most popular method of shipping your car overseas. The shipping of your car in a shipping container is more expensive than the first option, but it is also safer. This is because your car is stored in protected metal container. To reduce the transatlantic or transpacific costs of this shipping method, you can go for a shared storage container such as container houses many vehicles. You can contact your auto shipper to know whether there is the option of going for the 40ft shared container over a 20ft sole container.
  • Air Freight: The third and final option to get your car shipped internationally is onboard a freight aircraft. However, shipping your car through this method is often very costly, in most instances even more so than the cost of the vehicle itself.

One advantage of this method of car transportation is that it is the safest of all. It does not involve much handling of your car apart from the standard loading and unloading. Furthermore, this method is also the speediest of the three. Your car will reach the destination in a couple of days rather than a few weeks which is the time typically taken when you go for the shipping options.

How To Prepare Your Car For Overseas Shipping?

You will need to prepare your car for pickup by your auto shipper or by the transportation company which will drop it at the maritime terminal. Here are some steps that you can follow for preparing your car for overseas shipping:

  • Step 1: Get your car checked and serviced at an authorised garage. This is to make sure that it is in good technical condition for the trip.
  • Step 2: Remove all personal items from inside the car. Apart from a child seat and any standard car equipment, your vehicle must be empty. Remember, you cannot remove the number plate.
  • Step 3: Get your vehicle cleaned on the inside.
  • Step 4: Remove any exterior car accessories such as antennas, roof racks, etc.
  • Step 5: Inspect your car thoroughly and clear pictures of its current condition to be able to notice any signs of damage once it reaches you. Take close up photos of pre-existing damage such as scratches, dents, paint chips, etc.
  • Step 6: Get the exterior of your car washed.
  • Step 7: Ensure the battery of the car is charged and secured properly.
  • Step 8: Inspect the pressure of the tires.
  • Step 9: Make certain the emergency brake is functioning as it should.
  • Step 10: Make sure there is not more than 1/4 fuel left in the tank of the vehicle.
  • Step 11: If possible, either remove or disable the alarm system of your car.
  • Step 12: Make sure you have an extra set of car keys because your auto shipper will need one.

Have 1 million naira and above to Buy or Sell Cars In Nigeria? Check Carmart.ng RIght Now



All rights reserved. Reproduction, publication, broadcasting, rewriting, or redistribution of this material and other digital content on carmart.ng is strictly prohibited without prior express written permission from Carmart Nigeria - Contact: [email protected]



Stay informed and ahead of the New Car info! Follow The Carmart Blog on WhatsApp for real-time updates, Cheap Cars, and Latest new car content. Don't miss Any –

Join The Carmart Blog Channel