When planning to ship your classic car across the pond, there are a few things to keep in mind. Your preparation tasklist should always include these five tips for ensuring safe and timely transit of your beloved vehicle.
How to prepare your car to be shipped overseas
- Keep the vehicle’s title and registration with you, not in the car. (Also keep copies of the overseas insurance policy.)
- Make sure to drain your fuel tank if possible. If not, keep it under a quarter tank. Most shippers will not accept fuel over this amount. You should also take photos of your vehicle before it is loaded, during loading and once secure. Ensure that photos are taken from event angle, including the underneath of the vehicle if possible. Retain these photos for your records as they will be required in the event of a claim.
- Leave your keys with the shipper and keep a spare set with you.
- Prior to leaving your vehicle with a shipping company, be sure you receive a “pre-shipment vehicle condition report.” This report provides pickup and delivery information, current mileage and, most importantly, it shows the condition of your car at the time of pickup. You should also take photos of your vehicle for your own records in the event of a dispute.
- At the time of delivery, inspect your vehicle and compare the condition and mileage against the pre-shipment report provided by the freight forwarder or shipper at origination (depending which you use). If there are inconsistencies, note them as exceptions and be sure a qualified representative of the company signs the report.
Of course, the most critical component of preparing to ship your car overseas is to ensure the value is maintained and that any issues can be dealt with appropriately. We recommend you consider adding Hagerty’s Transit Insurance to your prep list. Safe travels!
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