You’ll want to follow these overseas auto shipping tips to protect a ride like this

Our Vancouver industrial packing and crating company has many years of experience in working with customers in need of overseas shipping protection for their automobiles. Cratex Group is renowned for its work in blocking and bracing of especially sensitive items that are being shipped overseas from Lower Mainland ports, and vehicles fall into that category.

Our client and prospect base for such a task is numerous. Some are car restoration specialists that need to deliver a classic custom to a collector overseas in time for a show ‘n’ shine. Some are military personnel that desire to have their privately owned vehicle (their “baby”) with them during their tenure on a foreign base. Others include automobile retailers, contractors, or simply overseas relocating households that want to ensure their car arrives in the exact same condition that it left the carport in. No matter the reason, our Vancouver packing and crating company has been providing professional blocking and bracing for valuable vehicles for quite some time. Individuals, businesses, and shippers have been using our services from the beginning. While Cratex Group alleviates the weight off of your mind for much of the overseas car shipping process we thought we’d offer a few easy to follow tips on what you too can do to prepare for your vehicle’s overseas adventure.

5 Tips to Shipping an Automobile Overseas

1. Compare Shipping Companies Early in the Process

This is no normal “within town” relocation scenario and thus must not be taken lightly. Perform due diligence months in advance as soon as you know that you will need to ship a vehicle overseas. You will likely have to pay by the mile/kilometer so that will be your initial benchmark, but don’t only use price as consideration. Company reputation is everything when it comes to selecting an overseas vehicle shipping company. Look at how long they’ve been in business, any industry accreditation they may have, and even the quality to their website will speak to their professionalism.

2. Have Your Paperwork Well in Order

Find out what paperwork (from your shipper) you will need in advance and complete for submission early as well to leave room for corrections. Duplicate copies will likely be needed for documents such as notarized ownership title, a letter from the lien holder (if applicable), an export declaration form, a declaration of dangerous goods form, and/or other documents that will be contingent upon departure locations and arrival destinations.

3. Insurance

First find out if your existing vehicle insurance provider policy covers overseas shipping of your vehicle/s. If you will indeed require insurance, your automobile shipper will be able to provide one for you at a price that often reaches up to two and a half percent of the vehicle book value.

4. Clean & Tune

Be sure to have your vehicle professionally tuned-up before shipping. Check everything from the battery and air pressure to transmission and brakes and every fluid that your vehicle depends on for health. In addition, be sure to clean your vehicle thoroughly and remove anything that can move around within during transit so as to not damage the interior of the vehicle. Also remove exterior additions such as roof racks and other appendages to keep the vehicle more compact during transport. While the more empty the better, you will still want to ensure your standard emergency items are kept secured within the trunk – jumper cables, spare tire, jack, and flashlight. Of course you’ll also want enough gas to have the vehicle driven from the arrival port to a nearby destination or gas station.

5. Perform a Documented Inspection Before Departure

Finally, perform a documented (complete with pictures and video) walk-thru inspection of your vehicle as it sits prepared for shipping. That way there can be no question nor haggling should the automobile not be in the exact same condition as it was when it left its port of departure.