Types

• The most common form of international car shipping is RORO (or roll-on,-roll-off), In this form of chipping, cars are rolled or driven directly onto a ship cargo or deck area. RORO is the cheapest form of international shipping, as cars are exposed to the elements and to the environment around them, being at a higher risk for scratches or damage.
  
  

Options

• For those who want additional protection, cars can also be shipped internationally inside special containers. Shared containers, sometimes referred to as consolidation shipping, are a good option if you're shipping your car to a large city or a popular destination, as you can only use this system if there are enough cars to fill a container (which fits 4 or 5 cars). Individual containers are the third and most expensive method, usually recommended for those with expensive or collectible cars.
  
  

Prevention

• Before you turn over your car to the shipping company, you should make sure you have enough insurance to protect the vehicle during transportation and delivery. Most companies offer a basic insurance policy that covers general cosmetic damage to a determined amount (which varies but averages $500). You will need to buy Marine Shipping Insurance if you want full coverage. That will cover the full cost of the car according to its Blue Book value.
  
  

Considerations

• Each country has its own levies or restrictions regarding the importing of vehicles, so you will have to fill out a stack of paperwork prior to shipping. The cargo company should provide you with everything you need, or you can obtain additional copies from the The Department of Transportation or the Embassy of the country you are shipping your car to. At this point, you should also inquiry about taxes, custom fees and other tariffs that may apply at the time you pick up the vehicle. Since custom fees can be up to 30 percent of the car's Blue Book price in certain countries (like France and Australia), you may need to evaluate at this point whether it is worth it to ship the car at all.
  
  

Warning

• Vehicles must be picked up at the destination either by you or by an authorized representative, a person you must authorize in writing at the time you fill out your bill of landing at the shipping destination. Most shipping companies have other restrictions, such as no allowing personal belongings inside the car you are shipping, emptying the gas task and taking photos for insurance purposes.