How Much to Ship a Car Overseas

Whether you’re planning your next move or you need to import a car from another country, you need to know how much the whole process might cost you in time and money. So, how much to ship a car overseas? Well, the short answer is around $500 to $5,000 for standard transportation but with a wide price range, there are a lot of factors to consider.

The good news is that we’re here to help you figure out how much shipping your car overseas might cost. In this article, we cover the average costs associated with shipping a car overseas, how to save money when shipping a car, and everything else you need to know. Read on to learn more below.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Car Overseas?

The average cost to ship a car overseas is between $500 and $2,000 per vehicle. The cheapest method, which is RoRo tends to cost around $900 to $2,500 depending on the distance, whereas containers will run you anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 on average.

You also need to choose your shipping port wisely as importing a vehicle can cost thousands in taxes depending on where it lands. What’s more, you may also have to pay local fees like customs, local handling fees, clearance fees, and duty fees. You’ll also need to research international movers in order to find one that fits your budget and is able to ship a vehicle.

Factors that Influence How Much it Costs To Ship a Car Overseas

To get an idea of how much it’ll cost you to ship a car overseas it’s important to understand the factors that contribute to that cost. We cover factors like shipping method, distance, time of year, and much more below.

1. Shipping Method

First and foremost, we have to start with the shipping method. The two common methods are roll-on/roll-off shipping (RoRo) and traditional container shipping. RoRo shipping is more affordable because vehicles are loaded directly onto the ship.

Containers, on the other hand, must be loaded before shipping, and that increases the cost. While the cost for containers tends to be higher, it’s usually a safe method that’s great for luxury vehicles. It’s also important to note that opting for additional services such as expedited shipping may result in extra costs.

2. Time of Year

Did you know that the time of year can impact how much it costs to ship a car overseas? Something as simple as a change in season can increase the cost of shipping by a lot due to how it impacts the flow of global trades via tides, winds, and currents.

What’s more, there tends to be a higher demand for vehicles and other goods between August and January due to the holiday season. Therefore, shipping a vehicle overseas may cost less in the spring and early summer months.

3. Distance

Distance is another factor that impacts how much it costs to ship a car overseas. At the end of the day, the more miles you ship a car the more it will cost. For example, shipping a car to Hawaii from California will cost less on average than shipping a car from California to Japan.

4. Vehicle Type

The type of vehicle you’re shipping overseas also plays a role in the cost. Essentially, the larger the vehicle the larger the cost to ship it. This is because many shipping companies use weight as a factor in pricing. Plus, you may have to pay for a larger shipping container for a vehicle if it’s larger than average. Unique vehicles or long vehicles that don’t qualify for things like RoRo shipping may also add to the cost. Overall, vans, trucks, and SUVs tend to cost more to ship than sedans, coupes, and motorcycles.

Know How Much to Ship a Car Overseas Before You Go

The best way to keep costs low when shipping a car overseas is to know what you’re getting into ahead of time.

Plus, you can play around with shipping methods, distances, and even the time of year. Overall, being prepared is always the best way to save money when it comes to shipping anything overseas.