Submit paperwork early to avoid delays in exporting a car.
If you are moving overseas or have sold you car to an overseas buyer, you may be responsible for preparing the necessary paperwork to ship the car from the United States. Although the physical process of dropping the vehicle off at the port is a simple one, you may be required to file a large amount of paperwork in order to legally export the vehicle. Many shipping companies will help you with this paperwork in an effort to earn your business.
Instructions
1. Confirm vehicle eligibility. The laws surrounding exporting and shipping cars from the United States to another country are outlined in Title 19 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations state that for a vehicle to be exported, you must have a title, manufacturer's statement of origin or junk certificate that proves ownership. If there is an outstanding lien on the vehicle, the lienholder must provide written permission for the vehicle to be exported.
2. Arrange shipping. There are many international shipping specialists who provide no-obligation quotes via their websites. If you are shipping a vehicle to another continent via boat, it is vital to get multiple price quotes, as this type of shipping is very expensive.
3. Submit documentation. In some cases, your shipping company will take care of submitting necessary documentation on your behalf. In other cases, you will need to fax or send documents to U.S. Customs and Border Protection prior to exporting the vehicle. If the vehicle is being exported at a land crossing with Canada or Mexico, proof of ownership as mentioned in Step 1 must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to exportation.
Whether the vehicle is driven under its own power or shipped on a truck or train, it must be presented to customs at the border. If a vehicle is being exported by air or boat, all documentation and the vehicle must be presented to customs no less than 72 hours before the exportation.
4. Pick up the vehicle at port. Once the car is shipped and it arrives at the destination, it must be picked up at the port. If the vehicle is being picked up by a driver other than the registered owner, written authorization should be provided to prevent complications when picking the vehicle up.
5. Transfer title. Once the vehicle is legally in a new location, the title may be transferred to the standard required by the importing country. Additional inspections and sealing of the speedometer are necessary in some jurisdictions.
