01/11/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Israel from the USA
Once you’ve decided that you are going to ship your car to Israel rather than purchase one in the country, the next step is to find a dependable auto shipping service.
Pro Imports Motors has been shipping cars to Israel from the U.S. for over 20 years and our experience is what sets up apart from our competitors.
Shipping a Car from the U.S.
Depending on the exact service you are looking to use, we’ll be able to move your car or other vehicle from its location here in the U.S. to numerous destinations in Israel.
As a note however, there are some types of vehicles and cars that are not allowed to be shipped. Make sure that you are aware of this by referencing the nearest consulate for updated listings.
Major Destinations
- Ashdod
- Haifa
- Jerusalem
- Tel Aviv
Israel Car Shipping Procedure
The overall process for shipping a car to Israel begins with the initial quotation. After you’ve received a rate and made a booking the next step is delivering your auto to one of our U.S. departure locations.
For this, you can either deliver the car yourself or we can arrange to have it picked up and transported domestically to one of our warehouses.
Because of the shorter sail time, and the frequency of the cargo, the majority of our clients who book to Israel will move their vehicles to our east coast warehouses in either New York or Miami.
Our Shipping Services for Vehicles Include:
- Domestic pick up and transport
- Full dock receipt
- Photographs and inspection report upon arrival at our warehouse
- Online tracking
- U.S. port and customs clearance
Although we cover the entire export procedure. There will be destination fees upon importing the vehicle after it has arrived in Haifa, Israel.
Car Shipping to Israel using Ro-Ro, Container or Airfreight
These are the three ways of shipping a car to Israel. Each of them has their pros and cons and not all services are available at every port. We’ll give you a brief overview of each one.
We recommend using our container service. There are two options, sole vs. shared. As we are consolidators, our rates to Israel are highly competitive when moving vehicles inside a shared container.
Transportation costs are lower than when using a sole container service as well as destination and unloading fees because you’re essentially sharing the costs with other clients’ shipments.
Ro-Ro stands for roll-on roll-off. Using this method, your car is driven into the hull of the vessel.
Should you elect to ship your car to Israel using Ro-Ro, we have rates to both Haifa and Ashdod from New York and Baltimore.
If you’re bringing a single vehicle by itself, this would be an option however it must in running order and it cannot have any other items in the car.
Transporting a vehicle to Israel via air freight is the least common method due to the costs involved, but it’s also the fastest.
Importing Autos into Israel
Haifa is our port of entry for anyone shipping a car to Israel via container. This is where customers’ vehicles will pass through customs.
Should you need your car transported from Haifa to another city in Israel, our destination agents will be able to work with you.
Tax and Duty Information
If you are going to ship a car to Israel you can expect to pay heavily in customs duties.
Car Tax in Israel: 50% of the value
VAT: 17% based on the value of the vehicle plus the amount it’s taxed
Documentation Required
- Valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, plates and insurance
- Entrance visa
- Passport
- Teudat Oleh
- Clear title
- Bill of lading
Under no circumstances are right hand drive vehicles permitted, which generally isn’t a problem for those shipping a car to Israel from the U.S.
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car to Israel?
The time frame for shipping to Israel depends on the method used, type of goods/vehicles, departure port, etc.
When using the consolidated container shipping services to Israel, the container will not leave until it’s been filled.
So it may take slightly longer before your goods leave than if you were to purchase an individual container and ship this way.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Israel, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
01/11/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Belgium from the USA
If you are relocating to Belgium and considering bringing your car, then you have come to the right place.
Additionally, clients can get rates for their vehicle from anywhere in the U.S. which takes into consideration domestic transport with ocean freight costs using our services.
As there are many other questions you may have, the following information should help give you a better idea of the different options available to you, how much it will cost to ship your car, how long it will take, and what to expect from Belgian customs upon import.
Car Shipping to Belgium from the USA
We have over 20 years of experience handling all types of vehicles (not just passenger cars) and certain services will be better suited depending on the shipment.
Major Destinations
- Antwerp
- Bruges
- Brussels
- Charlerol
- Ghent
For most personal autos, there are two common methods for international transport. They are as containerized cargo or roll-on roll-off.
In the U.S., you can find both of these types of services at most major ports depending on the car shipper.
The same goes for the receiving ports. Antwerp is one of the largest ports in Europe for containerized vehicle shipments and is also frequented by ro-ro vessels.
Ro-Ro vs. Container:
In most cases, for those wishing to ship a car to Belgium we recommend using a container. With this option, your car can either be shipped by itself in a 20ft or consolidated in a 40ft.
We’re fully capable shipping a car using either of the two methods but the overall costs using a consolidated service like ours will be much cheaper versus a sole container.
Although Belgium is a busy market and we have multiple departures each month, the benefit of using your own container when possible will be be a quicker departure.
If you want to move a single vehicle or one that may not fit in a container, then ro-ro is also an option.
With ro-ro, cars are driven into a parking lot within the body of the vessel. It’s not as protected and is more susceptible to the elements. However, for single autos rates can be lower.
US Departures
- Miami, FL
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles/Long Beach
- New York/New Jersey
- Savannah, GA
Departures for Roll On Roll Off
*Antwerp is the main arrival port for both services
Transport Costs and Time Frames
The exact cost to ship a car from the U.S. to Belgium varies. The size of the vehicle, which ocean freight method is used, domestic transport, destination fees in Antwerp, insurance and whether or not modifications need to be made all come into effect.
If you’re looking at just shipping costs, the difference can be a upwards of $300 between compact vehicles and larger ones or east coast departure vs. west coast departure.
For this reason, the only way to truly give an accurate estimate is after we’ve gathered such information either after a phone consultation or using our quote form.
Also, time frames depend a lot on weather, U.S. departure ports and method of transport. For sail times, meaning time on the water, containers generally take between 3-5 weeks leaving from New York and 4-6 weeks from Los Angeles to Antwerp. These dates are always subject to change though.
Importing and Customs Information
Import duties for Belgium are similar in that they have an import duty on the value of the vehicle as well as a VAT.
The most common rate is 21%, however there are other applicable Belgian rates for imported motorcycles and larger vehicles.
There is also a 30% refundable tax for any tourists, both EU members and US, which is required to be paid after clearing customs.
Situations where this tax could be enforced might be if you moved to France, Germany, the Netherlands etc. via Belgium or want to visit for a pre-determined period less than the cut off length.
Refunds are made after one of two scenarios: The car has been registered within the EU or it has been shipped back to its origin country.
Documents that you’ll need to present Belgian customs if you’re handling clearance yourself include a valid ID or passport, original clear title, notarized bill of sale (not always) and dock receipt.
Shipping a Car to Belgium and Declaring Exemption
First you will need to fill out the application for exemption. You must submit documents to customs with the declaration and for that you will need:
- Proof that VAT or sales tax has been paid on the vehicle
- Proof of residence in foreign country with intent to reside in Belgium
- Documents of possession of the car for more than 6 months
- Title certificate, insurance policy
Registering Your Car
There are four main steps to obtaining registration and before you can drive on the roads, you’ll have to get legal registration.
First, you will need to obtain a certificate stating all required modifications have been made on vehicle followed by a recurring mechanical inspection usually every six months.
After that you have to acquire insurance for the automobile. There are of course more intricate steps, but this is a general guide for the process.
Items Cars Must Always Have Inside
- Sealed fire extinguisher.
- No older than 5 years
- Capacity must correspond to size of vehicle
- Triangular danger signal
- A first aid kit
- Grey card (registration) and insurance certificate
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Belgium, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
01/11/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Kwait from the USA
If you’re wondering how to ship a car from the U.S. to Kuwait, there are many steps involved and missing just one could cost you both time and money.
Fortunately, we’ve been shipping cars to Kuwait for more than 20 years so we’re well equipped to handle the entire process from start to finish.
If you are interested in getting the cost to ship your particular vehicle, the number will depend on a few factors. We’ll first need to get the information regarding your car, like the model, location, etc..
Information to Know Before Shipping a Car to Kuwait
The first step for anyone deciding whether or not to ship a car to Kuwait is to determine whether it’s even possible. Kuwait has strict import guidelines for cars and other vehicles.
Guidelines:
- The only way that non-nationals can bring a car and legally import it, is through their employer and it must be in under the employer’s name
- Only Kuwaiti nationals can import a car into Kuwait without a sponsor
- The car can’t be more than 5 years old from the present year. The max for trucks is 10 years
If any of these aren’t met, then there’s no need to ship your car because it will not be cleared by customs. Should the vehicle be eligible then the next step for is us to receive it at one of our U.S. locations.
Tax Information:
Customs duty for vehicles in Kuwait is 5% CIF, meaning the 5% fee is assessed on the total value of car/truck, marine insurance cost(if applicable) and the freight charge.
There may be additional duties and taxes depending on the nature of the import and the status of the consignee (the person shipping or receiving the vehicle in Kuwait). It’s always best to discuss this with your salesperson before booking.
Auto Transport Services
We know that not everyone will live close enough to one of our warehouses to be able to drop the automobile off, but this is an option for every client of ours.
Whether you are shipping a car to Kuwait from New York or from a smaller more rural city, we can transport the vehicle to any one of our departure ports.
For automobile shipments to Kuwait, we recommend having it transported to New York or one of our locations on the east coast for departure.
It’s a shorter sail time but it will always depend on what you prefer and which method fits your specific scenario.
In addition to domestic transport, our services also include full vehicle inspection with photos, doc receipt and we handle the entire customs process for exporting your car from the U.S. to Kuwait.
Shipping and Import Documents for Kuwait
There are certain documents that you will need both for shipping and importing a car once it arrives. Before a vehicle is shipped, your auto shipper will need the following:
- Valid title for the car
- Proof of registration
- Bill of lading
- Purchase invoice
- Power of attorney
Once it arrives in Kuwait City, customs there will need the previous documents along with:
- A temporary import permit (must apply for in advance)
- Letter from your employer (for non-Kuwaiti nationals)
Car Shipping to Kuwait: Three Methods
There are essentially three methods used for moving a car overseas. Two of them use ocean transport while the other uses air freight. Fortunately, our port of entry in Kuwait City offers services for both of the ocean transport methods.
The first method involves containers and it’s the ideal method because it suits single vehicle shipments and those looking to ship multiple cars. It’s cost effective as well when you use a consolidation service like ours.
Sole container services are more expensive in terms of transportation and destination fees but can have a quicker arrival date.
Shipping a car to Kuwait using the roll on roll off method is an option for anyone shipping a single vehicle without any additional goods from home or personal effects.
If you do choose this option, the service will leave from either Baltimore or New York. It’s about the same time frame as with using our container service (6-8 weeks on the water), but you’re more limited because not every port offers Ro-Ro.Â
Air freight is by far the quickest way to ship a car. The entire process takes between 7-10 days; however, it can be more expensive so it will all depend on your needs, if you choose it over the other methods.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Kuwait, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
01/10/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Ireland from the USA
Shipping a car to Ireland is very straightforward, much like the rest of the European Union. There are no special import requirements or documents that are needed other than the usual bill of sale, original title and passport.
The main difference is that vehicles shipping from the US to Ireland will need to conform to Euro specifications to be driven legally on the roads. Additionally, cars in Ireland are right hand drive.
Below in our Ireland car shipping resource, you’ll find out which options are available to you, estimated time to it takes to ship a car to Ireland from the US, port information and more.
How to Ship a Car to Ireland from the USA
The two most common ways of shipping cars overseas are using a container service or roll on roll off services. However, the only method available to Ireland is with a container, as there is no RoRo port in the country.
You’ll have two options: either use your own container or you can take advantage of our shared container service. We specialize in the latter and it offers much lower costs.
Major Destinations
- Dublin (port of entry)
- Cork
- Belfast
- Galway
- Kerry
From one of our 5 US warehouses, your car will be received by our team where it will be inspected, photographed and loaded.
How Long Does it Take?
This questions depends on which port your vehicle leaves from as well as how quickly it’s delivered. Once it’s on the water, to ship a car from New Jersey to Ireland it takes roughly 2-3 weeks.
It will take longer if the vehicles leaves from our Los Angeles warehouse: around 4-6 weeks.
Port Information
Our US Departure Ports
- Miami, FL
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles/Long Beach
- New York/New Jersey
- Savannah, GA
We ship to other destinations in Ireland but these cities more so than the others. Rates and shipping durations for vehicles vary depending on the final point of drop off, but we will work with you to find the best option.
For those relocating to northern Ireland, make sure you are aware of the guidelines for shipping vehicles to the UK, as they are different.
Importation, Duties and Taxes
If you are bringing a car into Ireland from outside the EU, it is possible to be exempt from customs duties and the standard value added tax if you declare the vehicle as part of your personal goods and household effects.
In order to do this, the owner must have lived outside the EU for at least the previous twelve months, have bought the car outside the EU, driven it for at least six months prior to moving to Ireland, and already paid the ‘sales tax’ or equivalent in another country.
You also have to keep the vehicle for personal use for at least 12 months after you import it. These are the documents you must have for Irish customs:
- Request for exemption letter
- The invoice for the car
- Proof of ownership or title
- Receipt to prove payment of sales tax (VAT equivalent)
- Certificate of insurance for at least six months prior to import
- Proof of residency outside the EU for at least 12 months prior to arrival in Ireland
- Shipping document for personal effects
It goes without saying that anyone not meeting the above requirements when shipping a car to Ireland is responsible for paying the customs duty and tax.
Where and When to Register a Vehicle
Assuming you already have clearance from customs, new arrivals must register all vehicles accompanied by them within 6 months of registering with their community.
Should you be staying for more than a year, you’ll have to register the vehicle regardless of temporary status. Registration is done at one of the national car testing service centers.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Ireland, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
01/10/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Hong Kong from the USA
Our goal is to make the complicated situation of relocating overseas with a vehicle as convenient for you as possible. Our ability to store vehicles at our warehouses and use our loading crews combined with our vast network of ocean freight contracts all work in our customer’s favor.
We offer:
- Pick up services with an open or enclosed carrier
- Sole use container services go to Hong Kong & other ports in China
- Direct service as well as transshipment service options
- Dedicated and experienced members at our warehouse location in Hong Kong
- Marine insurance coverage with multiple deduction options
Major cites in Hong Kong:
- Kowloon
- Sok Kwu Wan
- Yung Shue Wan
* Services are also available to other cites in Hong Kong.
Importing and Registering Vehicles in Hong Kong
When importing and registering a vehicle in Hong Kong, there are essentially three government departments you will be dealing with. They are the Customs and Excise Department, Environmental Protection Department and the Transport Department.
The next steps briefly outline the required procedural process.
Step 1: Must meet the exhaust and noise emissions standard
- Anyone considering shipping their automobile to Hong Kong will need proof and documentation that your vehicle is up to standards with its emissions either from a testing laboratory, similar to performing a smog test, or from the auto manufacturer.
Step 2 : Importation
- Cars imported into Hong Kong do not require a customs tax but it is mandatory to declare a full and accurate list of the vehicle and its contents within 14 days. Next you must submit an import return form within 30 days to avoid fines or jail time.
Step 3 : Taking a Vehicle Examination
- To get your vehicle inspected, you need to visit the To Kwa Wan Vehicle Examination Center. Show up with the original certificate of exemption regarding the emissions. After passing, there will be an exam fee and then you will be issued a certificate of roadworthiness
Step 4 : Vehicle Registration and Licensing
- First, submit a finished application form with the requested documents to the Hong Kong Licensing Office of Transport Department. After your documents are verified, you then will need to pay for the initial registration tax and fee.
- This amount is based upon the value of the vehicle times the applicable tax rate. There is also a license fee and levy for Traffic Accident Victim Assistance Fund for.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Hong Kong, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
01/10/2017 | How Import Your Car
Shipping Cars to Finland from the USA
Deciding whether or not to ship a car to Finland rather than purchasing one after you get there can be a lot of work.
The main issues being cost differences, reasons for use, and the hassle of dealing with customs and paperwork. Some of the information in this guide will address the following topics:
- What ways can the vehicles be transported?
- How long does it take to ship a car to Finland?
- How much does it cost?
Luckily, we’ve got more than 20 years experience and our goal is to make this process easy on you. You can get a quick rate for the transport costs from us in minutes.
Ways to Ship a Car to Finland
There are three methods that one can use and each one of them has pros and cons. The three main methods of shipping a car to Finland are inside a container, using roll-on roll-off, and air freight.
Transport via air freight has become very expensive over the years and although it’s an option for those with time constraints, the costs are excessive in comparison with ocean transport.
Using the Ro-Ro service is a good option for single vehicles, however the downside is that nothing else can be stored inside the car and it must be in working condition.
The automobiles are driven into the hull of a vessel and shipped this way. The last method for car shipping to Finland is via container.
Consolidation is our expertise and because of this, it’s always the method we recommend. It cuts down costs and when room permits, you can even move some household items inside at no extra cost.
How Long Does it Take and How Much Does it Cost?
In order to be honest to visitors, there are no exact dates and costs because each and every shipment has different variables. However, we will try and give you a general idea.
Durations can vary greatly depending which port your vehicle leaves from. We have five locations across the country and for obvious reasons, we advise shipping from the east coast.
In this scenario ocean times generally take around 30 days from New York to Kotka, our port of entry in Finland. This time frame will be different from our other locations.
The cost to ship a car to Finland also depends on the departure port, type of vehicle, location and a few others.
All things aside, the difference in costs can vary up to $600 when electing to move the car from opposite sides of the U.S. The easiest way to get price estimate is by filling out our quote form.
Customs Duties and Taxes
Depending on the reason for transporting a car to Finland, you may or may not be liable to pay taxes and customs for your automobile.
The instances where individuals qualify to be exempt are such:
- Your car or other vehicle qualifies as removal goods if you have owned the car for more than 6 months and lived outside Finland permanently for more than a year.
- Instances where a vehicle is imported for temporary use, less than 6 months of use in the period of a year. This is often the case for contracted work or educational studies and is referred to as a tourist car.
Prior to arriving, you’ll have to submit proof that you meet all the requirements in the form of a customs declaration.
Otherwise, you can be looking at a very expensive process for importing your car. Lastly make sure that all documents are the originals and not copies.
For further information or to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle to Finland, Contact us or Ask a Car Quote
