These days people regularly move their home and family to other parts of the world, either for a new job or to be nearer far-flung family or because they have always dreamed of retiring to a particular country.
It can be a daunting task to arrange for everything and get the right paperwork, particularly so if you're planning to take your car or a work vehicle with you.
It is important to understand that customs formalities for shipping cars overseas can vary wildly from country to country.
Also there are special regulations for anchoring it safely in transit and for how much fuel it can contain.
It is possible to ship personal effects in the rear passenger or luggage compartments of the care but they must be packed in cartons, suitcases or bags. Remember, however, that personal items left in the vehicle are your resonsibolity and you may need to insure them. You may also find yourself having to pay import duty separately on these items.
To give you an idea of how complicated it can be here are illustrations from the regulations from just a couple of countries:
To gain Customs clearance for an imported road vehicle to Australia you must hold a valid VIA for that vehicle.
It is also an offence under the MVSA to import, sell or present new or used imported road vehicles to the Australian market for the first time unless those road vehicles meet the National Standards.
The paperwork and the costs can mount alarmingly.
Costs can include: freight and insurance (for the transport of the goods to Australia), customs duties, GST (Goods and Services Tax ) and LCT (luxury car tax), if applicable, storage and delivery charges, logistic services providers' charges, customs brokers' charges, entry processing charges, steam cleaning for quarantine purposes, other wharf and transport charges and any costs involved in having your road vehicle meet State or Territory registration and insurance requirements.
In addition to the VIA (Vehicle Import Approval) for Australia you also have to comply with its quarantine regulations which include quarantine clearance from the Australian Quarantine and
Inspection Service (AQIS) after the road vehicle has arrived at the port of entry.
Canada too, has specific regulations which depend on the country of origin of the vehicle.
The vehicle must meet the requirements of the CBSA, Transport Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before it can be imported.
Unless the vehicle is 15 years old or older (excluding buses), a bus manufactured before January 1, 1971 or entering Canada temporarily, you cannot import a vehicle that was manufactured to meet the safety standards of a country other than the United States or Canada.
If the vehicle you are planning to import into Canada is less than 15 years old or is a bus manufactured on or after January 1, 1971, you must prove that your vehicle qualifies for one of the above exemptions.
You will have to pay import assessments, which may include duty, excise tax and the GST. Provincial or territorial sales tax may apply when you license your vehicle.
Every country in the world has different regulations, costs, documents and charges and the last thing you want when you arrive in your new "home" complete with a houseful of possessions to install before you can feel settled is to find that you are missing an essential piece of paper that ties up your vehicle and adds to your costs.
It can be difficult for households to obtain competitive rates from shipping companies, which do not usually like to deal with one-off loads.
Using a consultant to ensure that you comply with all the regulations at the right time and with the right paperwork can save time, money and stress even if you intent to use the self-pack shipping option to keep down costs.
Author Resource:
Shipping cars overseas can become a very complicated business because each country has its own regulations. Ali Withers takes a look at the rules in just two countries and concludes it would be better to have the help of a shipping consultant.
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