Moving countries is becoming more and more commonplace. More people who are emigrating are choosing to select special items and pieces of furniture to ship to their new home. But what about your car?
It can cost a lot of money to relocate. Is it cost-effective to ship your car, or does it make more sense to buy a new or used car when you reach your destination?
The economics of it
We chatted to the experts at AutoShippers to find out the cost of transporting a common sedan from the UK to New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the USA. We’ve compared the price of shipping a regular family car with buying one. Here’s what we found:
| Shipping | Buying secondhand |
| New Zealand: £643 – £1175 | New Zealand: approximately £10 500 |
| Australia: £743 | Australia: approximately £7500 |
| South Africa: £704 – £809 | South Africa: approximately £10 500 |
| USA: £578 – £1299 | USA: approximately £11 500 |
The ins and outs
We know that cars are more than just objects to get you from A to B. Many people have an emotional connection with their vehicles. That’s why there are services, such as the Roll on Roll off service (RoRo) that use the cargo ship’s own integral loading ramps. Your vehicle is driven on at the departure port and off at the destination, which is faster, more efficient, and safer than standard container car shipping.
There are other ways to transport your vehicles including:
R-Rak car shipping. This new method of shipping cars has become very popular recently, and is used by most car manufacturers to ship cars.
Air freight. This is the fastest method of shipping and is typically preferred by those shipping higher value vehicles due to the extra protection it offers.
Container shipping – If you are shipping multiple vehicles or if you have personal effects or spare parts that must also be transported then container shipping may be a better solution for your requirements.
Get started
The cost of shipping a car may be an expense you had not initially budgeted for. If you decide to take your vehicle to your new destination is an option, bear in mind that shipping should be done by professionals. Ensure that the company you select to transport your car offers marine insurance cover. Quality insurance is vital when shipping your car internationally, so make sure you choose a company that offers the best insurance deal.
For all your queries and concerns about customs, insurance and costs, contact AutoShippers. Their experts will be able to answer any questions you may have and will be able to guide you along the way.
