3 Things to Consider Before Shipping Your Car Internationally
Shipping your vehicle from one US city to another is tricky enough. However, when it comes to shipping internationally things get even more complex. Whether you are relocating for business, family or leisure purposes, there is a lot to consider before a big international moving. Before making any serious decisions about shipping your belongings, especially vehicle overseas, there are a few key things that you should consider.
1) What side of the road do they drive on?
If you are moving to a country such as Ireland, Australia, or the UK, you will note that they drive on the left-hand side of the road. As such, their steering wheels are on the opposite side of the car compared to vehicles in the United States. It means that if you would have shipped your vehicle to one of those countries, you would have to get it reconfigured to comply with local laws and regulations. Since this transition can be excessively costly, the majority of who is relocating opt to simply sell their vehicle in the US and buy a new one in the destination country.
2) How much would a new vehicle cost in another country?
Though car prices are relatively similar across the United States, this will not necessarily be true in other countries. If vehicles are relatively cheap to buy in a destination country, you may want to consider selling your car in the US and buying a new one there. For example, if you own 3-year-old 4-door car that is priced at $15,000 in the US and the comparable vehicle in the country you planning to move is priced at $10,000, then you should consider selling here and buying there.
3) Will you need a car in the destination city?
Although having a vehicle is part of everyday life in the majority of US cities, this may not be the case in another country. If the majority of the population in the city you are moving to, mainly commute using means of public transportation or by walking, it may not be worth the time and money to ship your vehicle there.
The international relocation will be the nerve-wracking endeavor. However, by taking the time to sit and consider your options and plan the next steps, you can make the process as pain-free as possible. If you are in doubt or having difficulty evaluating pros and cons, you can always reach out to your local shipping company for more information.
