6 Steps for Shipping
Expedition Vehicles Overseas
.
Part 4:
Providing the Necessary Documents

Back for more?

Good! Because today is Part 4 of the “6 Steps for Shipping Expedition Vehicles Overseas” guide and you’re more than halfway done!

The Fourth Step for Shipping Overseas – Providing the Necessary Documents

For shipping overseas you will need to provide the port customs the original title and registration of your off-road expedition vehicle. If you do not own the expedition vehicle you need to provide a notarized copy of the title with the lien holder’s information along with the letter of authorization from the lien holder.  We would recommend you to make color copy of the original title and try to get them to accept it, that way you get to keep your original title safe.

Take with you a list of the equipment carried in the vehicle, have it translated into the local language and duplicated. The list should be sufficiently detailed to indicate that you have nothing to hide and can locate any item the customs inspector may want to inspect, but should not be too detail oriented to make it look that you are importing a large amount of equipment. Based on our experience you should take it out all the high technological equipment that you can unplug from the expedition camper and carry with you in your personal luggage. However if the equipment cannot be taken with you we would recommend you to keep it out of sight and hide in a place that is very difficult to be found in your expedition truck and list it as something innocuous to avoid customs bureaucracy, curiosity and confiscation.

Another very important document is Carnet. Carnet is a “merchandise passport”.  It is an international custom document that simplifies custom procedures for the temporary importation of various types of goods. Carnet assures the foreign country that you are not going to sell the vehicle and try to override the customs duty. Carnet has a page for each country, each page consisting of three parts. One part is retained by the owner, and the other two are used at entry and exit points of the country of your expedition.

For more information and to learn how to apply for a Carnet go to http://www.uscib.org/index.asp?documentID=1843

You do not need to have any special license to drive an expedition vehicle. However to drive abroad you need an international driver’s license and your passport. Based on our experience, we would recommend you to bring along with the originals, the colored and laminated copies of your passport, driver’s licenses and licenses plates as well.

In order to obtain an international driver licenses we would recommend you to go to your local AAA Auto Club. The only documents that you need to provide to apply for and international driver’s licenses are your state driver’s licenses and 2 passport pictures or AAA can take photos while you are there.Your international driver’s license is done in just 10 minutes.

Passport and tourist visas are essential documents for your expedition trip; without them you are not allowed to enter in your expedition country of destination. Make sure to have all the visas of the countries that belong to your expedition route before leaving for your expedition. If your expedition trip includes different countries, give yourself plenty of time to apply for the visas, since you will have to apply each at a time, which may take a little longer. For farther information on how to apply for a passport and visas go to:

http://www.visahq.com/

Therefore in order to avoid customs bureaucracy, curiosity, and confiscation make sure to have the following documents:  original and colored copies of the title and registration of your expedition vehicle, a list of equipment carried in the expedition vehicle, the Carnet, the originals, and colored and laminated copies of international driver’s licenses, passport, and licenses plates.

I think that it is possible that you’ve just saved yourself days of wasted time and effort to try to find all this valuable shipping information. Now you know the necessary documents that will allow you to explore every single corner of the world.

Now you learned what you need to have your expedition vehicle shipped to a foreign country but how can you make sure that it is going to get there safely?

The solution is International Marine Insurance.

But you will have to wait until Part 5 to see. Don’t Worry! It is coming very soon!

Until next time

The GXV Team

6 Steps for Shipping
Expedition Vehicles Overseas
.
Part 3:  Paying the Shipping
Rates and Fees

Welcome Back!

Today I want to jump right in and continue where we left off with part 2 of our guide, which covered how to choose the best carrier company for shipping expedition vehicles overseas.

Today’s step is entitled:

3^rd Step for Shipping Overseas- Paying the Shipping Rates and Fees

The carrier companies generate shipping rate quotes based on several parameters. The shipping rate quote parameters depend on the size and/ or type of the vehicle, whether the vehicle is a runner or a non-runner, the origin and destination of the vehicle shipped, any modification made to the vehicle, and any special handling requirements.

The shipping rate quote usually includes all fees at the origin in USA: documentation, handling, customs clearance, receiving/loading, fuel surcharge and ocean freight. However the quote does not include the marine insurance and any overseas destination port fees, unloading, delivery or clearance charges at the country of arrival.

Destination charges are paid in local currency to the unloading port or to the handling agents and they are usually in average of $150-$450 range depending on the country, cargo and type of service. By our experience we would recommend you to be prepared to pay even more than that since “mysterious extra fees” can appear out of nowhere and the only thing that you will be able to do to get your expedition vehicle out of the port is to negotiate the fee amount. So it would be wise to talk to your carrier agent and find out the reputation of the port before shipping your off-road expedition vehicle.

Before making the shipment, check the consulate of the foreign government where you are shipping the expedition vehicle to determine any specific levies or restrictions. Please go to www.travel.state.gov to find information about major embassies and consulates that can provide further information on duties and polices that can affect your international expedition vehicle shipping.

Let’s take a step back and see where we’ve gotten so far.  You should already know the best method for shipping your expedition vehicle abroad.

You should be able to pick the carrier that provides the most reliable and professional shipping services

And now we are helping you to be prepared for paying the shipping fees and unexpected extra destination port fees.

So where do we go now?

Now the only thing that you have to do is to provide your driver’s licenses and title and you are all set to ship your expedition vehicles overseas! Right?

Wrong.

Next time we will tell you all the documents that you will need to provide and how you can avoid spending hours at the destination port by providing documents that are easier understood and accepted by the foreign customs officials.

Keep an eye out for part 4!

Until next time!

The GXV Team