car shipment

[rob walker]

At long last it seems that I may be acquiring the car of my dreams. I will need to ship this from the Mid West to Felixstowe, does anyone in the group have any recommendations for car shipping?
Thanks Rob

Rob Walker

[n/a]

don't use intercity.

2 years ago, our lease was running out on a bmw z-3, we had found a slightly used saab convertible that we wanted, and contracted with intercity to move it, we had more than a month (6 weeks) before we needed the car, and I was told it would be no problem meeting my deadline.  The car was only going from SC to NJ.  I called at least every week, and after 2 weeks, was told, each time, that the car was going to be picked up "next week", after 4 weeks, I was told "later this week" until I was down to 5 days before the z3 had to go back.  By now, I was talking to the president at intercity.  I verified the car was still with the seller, and booked a flight the next day....flew down, and drove the car home.

Between airfare and gas, I probably spent the same amount as shipping the car, but the aggrevation was excessive.

Every shipper has some stories of good and bad things, but I would NEVER let anyone I know use intercity again.

For a high-end shipper that stresses their quality of service and attention to detail, they really dropped the ball.

-Lewis

'66 230 sl 113042-10-016238
'67 Saab Sonett II #43 of 258
'69 Porsche 911S
'00 Saab 9-3 viggen conv
'02 Saab 9-5 aero

[mdsalemi]

Call Reliable:

Reliable Carriers Inc
Address:   41555 Koppernick Rd, Canton, MI 48187  
Phone: (734) 453-6677

They do a lot of high-end domestic car shipping; if they can't help you they'd make a recommendation.

For overseas shipping, I recommend calling SeaJet Express:

http://www.seajet.com/boston.htm
Tel: 617.884.0991 or in New York on 908-236-2259
Speak with Gabrielle

If they can't do it they'll tell you who can.


Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[terry shores]

When I negotiated a deal with a classic car dealer.  As part of the deal, they handled the transportation and expense of my pagoda.  They used HORSELESS CARRIAGE CARRIERS INC. 800-631-7796 I wanted my car shipped enclosed carrier and I wanted it right away. I ENDED UP BEING EXTREMELY PLEASED!!!!

[Cees Klumper]

At Michael Salemi's recommendation I used SeaJet to ship a few engines from Ohio to Rotterdam and could not have been more pleased, both with the service + price.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Malc]

I shipped the old girl from NJ to Southampton last year
I don't think I can recommend anybody in particular but my experience included.......

Car was slightly damaged, I tried to claim for that and basically was told to...well two words and they wern't Merry Christmas. the local shipper blames the shipping line and the shipping line blames the local shipper and the insurance was for total loss only

Stuff was stolen out of the car. When I reported this to the British Transport police all I got was...
"Happens all the time sir, not much you can do about it...."

So what ever route you take do make sure your vehicle is insured properly and read the fine print!

Inventory the contents of the car BEFORE shipping and get the consignee to sign for it, right down to the tools jack and spare wheel! If possible take pictures of the car's exterior and interior before it is shipped.

DO NOT include a bunch of spares, house hold items or anything else!

DO enquire re wether you will have to pay VAT and or IMPORT DUTY. To avoid some of this the vehicle must run and be "historically significant". You will have to argue that with HM Customs BEFORE the car leaves the USA. Get any decision of HM Customs in writing!

If you are picking up the car you will need proof of who you are to get into the docks (passport etc) and if possible pick it up with a trailer, don't drive it unless insured and has a valid licence plate/roadworthy certificate. In Southampton our dear boys in blue just love hanging about the docks to nobble anybody driving a car just off the boat!

Malc

[rob walker]

Malc, thanks for the advice.
If I may test your knowledge a little more.
The car was originally registered in Germany and used there prior to going to the USA, it is German spec.
Would UK duty and VAT then still be applicable?

Also re insurance, if we can get UK insurance linked to the chassis number can the car then not be driven on the road..it is a car in regular use and therefore would have whatever US test certificates are issued.

Sory for the additional questions, but I am having to do this long distance with me being in Asia, the car in the USA and final destination UK where my family will handle the import.
Regards Rob

Rob Walker

[Malc]

Rob,

It is irrelevant that the car was originally from Germany. It is being imported from a country outside the EU. You would only get around this if the car was still running on valid German plates AND was registered to a valid address in Germany.

The only way you can avoid the VAT and import duty is if you have owned the car for more than 6 months and you have been resident in the USA IE its registered to you at a valid US address.

However I most strongly recommend that you get in touch with HM Customs and discuss your situation, believe it or not they were quite helpfull eventually. You might still be able to get the car in without having to pay a fortune!
HM Customs have website you should be able to get on from Asia and or your family can ring them up.

Yes you can get insurance related to the VIN / chassis number. However you will still need a valid US number plate and applicable test certificates. I brought another car back to the UK after living in the US and was able to obtain insurance on the VIN number and the US registration number. I actually ran the car on Connecticut plates until they "ran out" which was 10 months.
Then I got an age related UK plate.

If your folks are getting the insurance for you DO NOT use one of the well TV advertised companies such as esure/AA/elephant etc that's just folk sat in front of computers who haven't a clue. Check companies that specialise in classic cars (Get the family to buy a copy of practical classics, there are a zillion listed in there)
I actually use a company called Footman James who were really good to me when sorting out insurance for the cars I have.

What Else?
When you export the car, and depending on which state it is coming from you may have to surrender the plates otherwise you may be liable for local and state taxes. I was in Connecticut! I finally rang up the my old local town hall and sorted it out and they took me off the debtors/defaulters list!!

If you need any further info let me know. Somewhere on the board here are my rants about the "fun and games" I had last year.
Good luck
Malc

[rob walker]

Malc, thanks for the great info. Rob

Rob Walker

[Ion]

Rob,

I shipped my car from Los Angeles to Southamption in January.  It arrived with no damage and is now registered/insured but there were a few things I learned along the way.

You can get a 'Binding Tariff' classification for the car from HM Customs and Excise before you ship it (+44-1702 366077) or (classification.tso@hmce.gsi.gov.uk).  This is the document that values the car for import duty and VAT.  Until recently, any car over 30 years old was deemed 'historic' and exempted from tax.  BUT, now HMCE are using a new definition of 'historic' and they argued that my 280SL was one of 23885 made and therefore not eligible for exemption.

Even though I owned the car since 1982 I was still liable for 27.5% tax (duty 10% plus VAT 17.5%).  I minimized the damage to the pocketbook by submitting a Bill of Sale for $6,500 USD (rather than market value of £25K+).  They accepted it  

The car was driven on a lorry to my house by the shipping company for a nominal extra fee (approx £100) which was good value since they also handled all the necessary documents to release the car and saved me the hassle of driving/insurance/police/etc.

Insuring the car requires a registration numer plate (although the insurance company can issue a policy temporarily without one) but registering it requires a valid MOT.  This is not straightforward since the US spec will not pass without mods to the lights/wiring(headlights, running lights, brake lights).  Find a garage who does this a lot and it shouldn't cost too much (approx £200-250).

Registering the car at the DVLA office is easier if you bring the US title deed with the previous owner's signature.  Do not let the previous owner send the title deed to his/her state's licensing office (which they would normally do).  Make a copy of the title deed for your records because the DVLA will not give it back to you.

Find a specialty insurance broker to get a good deal.  I pay £165 per year for comprehensive coverage (3000 miles per year).

You will then have an EU registered car and can move more easily to other EU countrie i.e., no duty.  But to register the car in, say, Spain, you will have another set of registration/insurance processes to navigate.  Unfortunately, I haven't cracked that one yet.

Contact me if you want the names of the shippers/garages I used.
Good Luck

Ion

1971 280SL automatic