You might have to move overseas for a number of reasons. If you live in Greece, Ireland, or Portugal, you may be tempted to leave your country’s economic woes behind and start afresh somewhere else. If you are only traveling as far as a neighboring European country, taking your car with you might not be such as bad idea.
Import Tax
Invariably, when you take your vehicle from one country to another for good or even for just a specific time, you will be asked to pay import tax at the border. However, if your car originated from a country within the EU and you are planning to move within the EU for a period of 6 months or less (say on a work contract of limited time), you may be able to get either a rebate of the tax you paid or pay no tax at all. This will depend on the nature of your stay and the length of time, as well as the countries involved. You should contact the embassy of the country you wish to move to. It is easy to do, nearly all are online and their services are very quick.
Route Planner
If you are taking the car yourself, you will do some meticulous planning, especially if you are traversing through several countries. You will need all the relevant paperwork stating all the belongings you are taking with you, you will also spend some time sorting out insurance issues. Most importantly, you must ensure that your car is roadworthy for the journey and that it will comply with all the regulations in the countries you are traveling through as well as the country you are planning to settle in.
Apart from the above, you will need accommodation, a good guide that will tell you where you can make stops for a rest, food and drink, and excellent road maps, in case your GPS lets you down, as well as basic dictionaries for the countries you are traveling through. Anything could happen, so you must be prepared for burst tires, running out of petrol, stretches of road without toilets, fast food outlets, or even places where you can have a brief rest.
Letting Somebody Else take the Strain
If you don’t fancy doing all of the above or if time constraints make it impossible for you to take your car overseas by yourself, you might want to hire a car transport company doing the hard work for you.
You can either hire a shipping agent to deal with all the paperwork and finding the cheapest deal for moving your car overseas. Things to know here are that the agent will have a network of shippers he knows very well, who have the most economical routes and he will know from experience, and how long it will take to move your car overseas.
International Shipping Agents – Moving your Car
When shipping your car overseas, it is recommended you hire a shipping agent. The shipping agent will be able to act as middleman, if things go wrong, although you should establish that they offer this service before you sign the contract. You don’t want to be passed from one party to another to find out what has happened to your vehicle on route.
Car transport companies will send a specially adapted truck or vehicle with an auto-rack. Your car must be road worthy; you must hand over one set of keys and keep one for yourself before you hand over your car. There is also a rigorous inspection involved to determine any defects prior to departure and both parties will sign a document stating any damages, no matter how minor they might appear.
The auto-rack vehicle or truck will hold other vehicles as well. If you own a luxury car or a classic car, it is advisable to move your car overseas in a closed container to minimize the risk of damage during transit. However, due to cost most cars are moved in open auto-racks and will either be picked up at a spot designated by you or you have to drop off your car at the shipper’s depot or terminal, which is usually close to the airport or port they will use to transport your car.
Typically you will be asked to pay at least a ten percent deposit, sometimes even prepay the whole amount. If you pay a deposit upon pick up then the balance is due upon delivery. You should check with the shipping agent or Transport Company moving your car overseas, and what type of payment they accept. There is usually a small surcharge for paying by debit or credit card and most prefer a banker’s draft or cash.
Accepting Delivery
Upon drop off you will be asked to check your vehicle for any damages and you go through the whole inspection process again. If there is any damage, no matter how small, you must note this on the inspection report and tell the driver before parting with any money. Before you sign the overall contract, make sure you understand their policy in case of disputes and make sure you penalise them, if the shipper delivers your vehicle after their stipulated “window of delivery” has expired. Delays do occur from time to time due to unforeseen reasons – the shipper’s truck might break down or the actual container ship might be delayed thanks to adverse weather conditions. In the event that the shipper does deliver late you want to know that you’ll be getting some compensation, as you may have to hire a car for the duration and that cost needs to be reimbursed to you.
The advantages of using a professional shipper for moving your car overseas are great, if you are pressed for time and don’t feel comfortable, going on a long journey with your car. While the shipper is transporting your car, you can settle into your new home and familiarise yourself with the local traffic regulations. When your car arrives, you will be prepared and know your way around your new place.