Can I Ship my Car Overseas with Stuff in it?

Can I Ship my Car Overseas with Stuff in it?

At Shipoverseas, we handle car shipments to various parts of the globe. One of the most common questions that we get is; can I ship my car with stuff in it? That’s not really surprising. Most people ship vehicles to various destinations as part of the process of relocating. Perhaps you work in government and you have been posted to South Africa, Australia or elsewhere. In that case, you will be looking to take most of your priced belongings with you. So, should you ship them separately or should you stuff them into your car?

Can you leave things in a car when you ship it?

The answer to that is, yes, you can leave things in your car when you ship it. But that answer is not as simple as that. Yes, you can ship items in your car, but SHOULD you do it? Most reputed international auto shipping companies out there will advise you not to leave stuff in your car when shipping it.

It’s not really surprising that people are asking these questions. You probably want to save on shipping costs by leaving things in the car. After all, one shipment is better than 2, right? However, based on our experience, that’s not really the case. The following are the reasons why it’s not advisable to ship a car with stuff in it;

There is always a risk of theft

Shipoverseas may be one of the best international auto shipping companies that are out there, but that does not mean we can guarantee that goods left in your car will arrive at your chosen destination safe. Car shipping is a long process, particularly where international destinations are concerned.

So, there is always the risk that if you leave goods in your car, they will be stolen along the way. That’s why we strongly recommend that you remove important items from your car before shipment. It’s not really worth taking the risk.

There is risk that your goods will be damaged

That’s another reason why we don’t recommend that you leave important items in a vehicle that you are shipping to an overseas destination. There is a very high risk that your goods will be damaged along the way.

This can happen during the handling process, or during the process of shipping your car on the high seas. So, you should never put fragile goods into the boot of your car. Its way better to ship these items separately so they receive appropriate care.

You could end up paying more

Charges for vehicle shipment are based on the weight of vehicles in a particular class. So, if you put a lot of heavy things into your car, you could end up exceeding the limits for that particular car’s class. If you do that, you will have to pay more. Or you will have your shipment refused due to the extra weight.

You may encounter delays at your destination due to customs issues

The idea for some people is that they are going to avoid paying duties at their destination ports by hiding stuff inside the cars that they are shipping. However, that is not a wise decision. When your car gets inspected, chances are high that everything that’s inside your car will have to be accounted for.

In any case, you may encounter delays because you will have to go through the process of declaring all the goods that are accompanying your vehicle. In some instances, you may end up having these goods seized by customs officials at your destination port. So, it’s not really worth the risk.

What can you do to minimize the risks?

We need to repeat that yes, you can ship your car with stuff in it. But should you do it? Well, the answer is no. However, if you must do it, the following are tips to help minimize the risks;

  • Don’t ship valuable items inside your car. If you do that, you will only be attracting thieves along the way. The result could be that your car will end up being damaged as they try to get to your valuables.
  • Put the items that you are putting into your care below the window level. Again, the idea is to make sure that these items do not attract undue attention. If thieves cannot see what’s in your car, they probably won’t try to break in. At least that’s the thinking here. But really, why take the risk at all?
  • Never ship fragile items inside your car. This is something to which we have already alluded. Shipping a car overseas involves transit through the high seas. There is a very real danger that anything fragile will break along the way.
  • Talk to us before putting anything into your car. We will tell you whether it’s okay to do so or whether it is not okay. There are some very simple items that you can probably safely ship inside your car. However, in most cases, we advise our customers to opt for separate shipment.

The best international shipping company

Do you wish to ship your vehicle from anywhere within the United States to an international destination? If yes, then don’t hesitate to get a free quote today. We have been in business for over 35 years, so international auto transportation is in our DNA.

We fully understand the hassles of moving and transporting your vehicle. That’s why we have assembled a team that’s fully dedicated to lightening the burden. Get a quote today to learn how much it is going to cost you to ship your vehicle abroad.

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