Prepare for shipping

Make sure to understand the customs requirements and local regulations at the destination country. Vehicles and other groups of certain commodities can be heavily regulated at some destinations (i.e., age restrictions, Freon & asbestos brake pads regulations, subject to import permit, etc), so be sure to investigate the subject online, or consult with the local customs broker at the country of importation prior to shipping.
Some countries may require additional documents, such as Certificate of Origin, Apostille, translated and notarized title copies, import approvals, etc. Please, understand the paperwork requirements in your country of importation before you make a shipping decision.

Duties and port fees at the destination country

Please, understand that the destination charges are not part of shipping charges, and are not included in the shipping quote (unless specifically mentioned).
They are specific to each port and steamship line, and depend on method of shipping, unloading costs, local terminal handling charges, etc. These charges are payable at destination in local currency.
The customs duties may also be applicable to your shipment; the duty rate depends on the specific commodity and country.

Preparing your car / RV / boat for shipping

If you are shipping a vehicle, RV or boat overseas, it is a good idea to go over a few things prior:

1. Generally, the recommended fuel level in the gas tank is between 1/8 and 1/4 of the gas tank
2. If you are expecting the temperature to drop below freezing, check the antifreeze level
3. Consider placing moisture absorbent inside the vehicle, to prevent mildew / mold growth (such as DampRid, bags of salt, etc) if shipping during summertime.
4. Disable the car alarm
5. Check the condition of the car and make sure it is roadworthy (unless it is being shipping as a non-runner / non-operational unit).
6. Consider wiring the key to the steering column, to prevent the key loss during transit. Make sure to have a spare key available.
7. At the time of the vehicle pickup, inspect the vehicle with the trucker, noting all preexisting conditions on the condition report. Have trucker sign it, and retain a copy of the condition report for you records. It is also a good idea to take plenty of pictures
8. Generally, personal items, spare parts, etc are not allowed inside vehicles being shipped overseas. Please, check on the requirements at the time of placing a booking.
9. Make sure to create a detailed packing list with values if you are shipping personal items or household goods. This document will be required at both country of origin and country of destination
10. If shipping an RV, be sure to remove the propane tanks (otherwise a purge certificate from an authorized dealer will be required). No personal items / parts inside allowed when shipping RVs overseas.
11. When shipping a boat overseas, it is a good idea to drain all fluids prior, check if winterization

Important points

1. Remember to pay the shipping invoice timely – your cargo will not be released until the payment is received and fully cleared; sometimes cargo release can take up to a week, so it is a good idea to take care of the freight charges at least 2 weeks prior to the vessel’s arrival
2. Mind the demurrage / storage /detention fees – these may occur due to various reasons, one of the most common being a late payment, and consequent late cargo release, and can add up to a significant amount in the end.
3. Take care of the customs clearance timely – follow up with the customs broker on the import side and make sure they have all required documents necessary to submit the customs entry and clear your cargo. Look for the arrival notice in your email – these are usually sent 1 week prior to arrival, and contain important information on arrival date, unloading terminal, terminal handling fees, etc.