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Freight from the USA
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U.S. Sea freight Price Calculator
Shipping Boxes, Crates and Pallets (LCL)
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Customs Rules | Carriers Rules | Reading Rates | Avoiding Mistakes
Our primary business is shipping freight LCL from the U.S. overseas.
If you can pack all your items in boxes or crate them, then our economy LCL freight service should meet your needs. By selecting the LCL service, calculate an LCL price quote using our online freight calculator. Watch this 3-minute video on YouTube about how the online freight calculator works. See how big a cubic meter is in this video.
However, motorized vehicles that require DMV (U.S. Department of Motor Vehicles) registration (autos, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, jet skis, ATVs, etc.) will NOT be permitted to move out the USA as LCL freight. U.S. Customs does not recognize any ocean carrier's warehouse (Container Freight Station - CFS) as an inspection site.
Currently, we do not support shipping services for motor-driven units that require registration with the U.S. Department of Motor Vehicles. This webpage is for general information only.
Regarding International Cargo Transportation from the USA by sea, any motor-driven units requiring DMV registration (autos, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, jet skis, ATVs) are considered motor vehicles by U.S. Customs. Exporting them from the USA overseas, while using sea freight, is subject to special procedures related to U.S. Customs. It makes the procedures different from exporting overseas general commodities.
Note: This web page does not cover all the specifics of transporting motor-driven units from the USA in all circumstances. A variety of special U.S. regulations govern such procedures. However, this article should give you a whole picture of the subject.
YOU MAY SHIP MOTOR VEHICLES FROM THE USA BY SEA IN TWO WAYS:
LCL freight service is permitted to ship auto parts from the USA.
If cargo contains any motor vehicle, even a part of it, U.S. Customs will require the original title and at least three copies (not notarized) of the title.
Titles and copies (front and back) must be submitted and validated by U.S. Customs before the entire shipment can sail from the USA.
Titles are considered essential and mandatory documents in such shipments. They must be provided to U.S. Customs at the port of origin (the ocean carrier's Container Yard - CY for containers or the pier for RORO). If there are any liens against the vehicle, a notarized letter from the lien holder authorizing its export must accompany the title. However, U.S. Customs will be less likely to approve something with liens for export from the USA.
Suppose the owner, as in the title, cannot accompany the vehicle to the port of departure. In that case, the owner has to issue a power of attorney to the person or company representing the owner before customs in the port of departure. If you ship cars consolidated in containers, the company is a quality loading warehouse specializing in loading, securing, and conveying motor-driven units.
Most countries require that original titles be presented to the destination customs when they recover motor vehicles. If they had been sold to the consignee (the recipient at the destination), the bill of sale should also be presented at the destination.
After validating titles, U.S. Customs stamps them, approves them for export, and returns them to the shippers or authorized persons. As soon as the shipment passes U.S. customs, we strongly suggest mailing all original documents to the consignee without delay to avoid possible extra charges at the destination due to a lack of proper documentation.
If motor vehicles are in containers, their doors must not be locked until U.S. Customs officers check VINs inside the containers. Remember that when you load any motor-driven unit into containers, you must provide U.S. customs officers easy access to VINs (typically on the left-hand side under windshields). Otherwise, U.S. Customs may reject containers, and it may be required to be returned to a loading dock for reloading.
Note: If you are loading and securing multimodal containers on your own at your site, unless you are a professional in loading such containers, we strongly recommend hiring quality loading personnel or an international moving company experienced in staffing containers with such a commodity.
SHIPPING MOTOR-DRIVEN UNITS RORO:
Unless a motor-driven unit is not on the trailer (boats on trailers with an empty gas tank, for example), it must run and be filled with gas, but no more than half of the tank (1/4 is recommended). Ignition keys must accompany everything shipped roll-on/roll-off.
Motor vehicles must be in running condition to be accepted by ocean carriers' roll-on/roll-off shipments. If they are delivered for the roll-on/roll-off shipment to an RORO ocean carrier's pier in non-running condition, then extra charges related to non-runners' towing on/off the RORO vessel apply.
Vehicles shipped roll-on/roll-off on trailers (boats, jets, motorcycles on trailers, etc.) are subject to international transportation safety requirements, similar to those for cars shipped in containers. See below.
IMPORTANT: If you ship RORO, you CANNOT send anything inside of it except factory-installed equipment. The carrier will not be liable for additional items shipped roll-on/roll-off.
SHIPPING CARS FROM THE USA INSIDE OF CONTAINERS:
Moving automobils in containers, unlike RORO, requires that:
If you ship CARS IN CONTAINERS CONSOLIDATED WITH OTHER OWNERS, you should not use their salons and trunks as additional room for your shipment. Extra items inside your auto, except for factory-installed equipment, may result in problems with U.S. and destination customs. However, if you still insist on putting something in the salons or trunks of your autos, accept the risk of the issues and are allowed to do that by an international shipping company, then ensure that the VIN is not blocked from view when a customs officer matches the VIN with the titles of your cars.
Note: We recommend considering our ECONOMY LCL service if you ship only auto parts from the USA, which is permitted.
Suppose your automobile is in a container belonging to a single shipper. In that case, you can use all spare rooms of the container, including salons and trunks, to ship additional cargo together with the automobile. However, in this case, in addition to original titles, you must provide customs with a complete valued packing/inventory list of all items that you send in the container, along with vehicles.
You may refer to services from quality loading warehouses (international shipping companies' loading docks) that specialize in loading and securing such containers. These docks may also complete all U.S. Customs formalities on behalf of shippers.
Suppose shippers pick up containers from the ocean carriers' container yards to load them. Upon approval, a U.S. Freight Forwarder may offer bookings from steamship lines for FCL to ship the containers with autos overseas. Then, shippers will be held responsible for completing all procedures related to pickups and returning containers, loading and securing exported automobiles in the containers, U.S. Customs formalities, etc. Any surcharges that, for any reason, may be added by steamship lines to prices confirmed in bookings will be charged to the shipper's account.
Suppose you are moving overseas from the USA. In that case, you may compare shipping costs offered by international moving companies vs. international shipping companies (freight forwarders, NVOCCs). You may likely find that the services of international moving companies appear more convenient than those of a global shipping company. However, suppose you understand how the industry works and compare shipping costs from an international moving company to shipping costs from international shipping companies. In that case, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
RATES USING RORO SERVICE
There are no standard roll-on/roll-off freight rates. Rates vary depending on the carrier's criteria and types of vessels.
Since RORO vessels' desks are designed for different types of wheeled cargo (you may compare of cars of small and mid-sizes to of giant excavators, for example), then, in general, roll-on/roll-off rates in price quotes offered, will be based on the overall volume of your shipment in cubic feet (CBF) or cubic meters (CBM). It calculates based on measurements provided by shippers. RORO rates also depend on the motorized unit type. Roll-on/roll-off ocean rates per CBF or CBM will generally vary depending on the size when shipped RORO.
The exemption would be for rates for small and mid-size cars. If you use roll-on/roll-off service, the rates may be a lump sum in US$ based on the makes, models, and years of units. However, it would help if you understood that, in reality, to get a rate in a lump sum, RORO carriers have created and used in their practice special ocean rate matrices, which refer to overall volumes of cars shipped from the US based on their make, model, and year information. RORO freight rates are based on their overall volume. For example, autos up to 600 cubic feet of total volume and up to 1.6 meters high - $1,300 lump sum + BAF & CAF, etc.
IMPORTANT: Your RORO shipment will be measured at an SSL pier (Steam Ship Line's pier). Suppose the unit's overall dimensions retrieved by SSL will differ from those given by the shipper when booking their shipment. In that case, additional shipping costs will apply to the total shipping cost initially quoted to the shipper by a global shipping company. Your total freight cost will be calculated as the total volume of your unit in CBF or CBM multiplied by the rate per CBF or CBM, depending on the unit type, plus surcharges on the freight rate.
In roll-on/roll-off, carriers use other types of cube tables besides shipping cars. As long as a shipper provides the vehicle's make, model, and year, the international shipping company may directly define the total volume in CBF or CBM. Sea freight per CBF or CBM is offered to calculate the total shipping cost.
SHIPPING CARS FROM THE USA IN CONTAINERS
Rates for vehicles in containers (and other types of smaller motorized units) can be as follows:
1. INTERNATIONAL OCEAN FREIGHT RATE FOR CARS PER ENTIRE CONTAINER: The price is only the ocean freight. I.e., per an FCL booking scheduled with a steamship line only. That means the shipper is responsible for stuffing and securing autos in containers. Shippers are held accountable for title validation with U.S. Customs. You should read and understand these rates for FCL – Full Container Load with the commodity: new or used, etc. Often, FCL rates (costs related to a booking offered to a shipper) on international shipments of containers with motorized units will include additional surcharges on top of the sea freight rate. Certain international shipping companies do not accept vehicles in containers.
2. INTERNATIONAL OCEAN FREIGHT RATE PER ONE CAR CONSOLIDATED IN A CONTAINER WITH OTHER CARS, or PER ENTIRE CONTAINER containing two, three, or more, which is loaded and secured by an international shipping company on behalf of one shipper/owner:
Generally, shipped autos will be consolidated in a 40' High Cube container. Sometimes, using international shipping companies' services can be the most convenient and economical way. However, this service is not always available. This rate will include loading and securing vehicles in a container by a professional-quality loading company. The international shipping cost will pass U.S. Customs formalities with the title(s).
The shipper (or freight forwarder on the shipper's behalf) should arrange delivery of the car(s) to a parking lot of a quality loading company (international shipping company's loading dock) and leave it there along with all required documents for the international shipment by sea. If they are ready to be loaded in containers, this quality loading company should handle everything, including passing U.S. customs formalities. As long as vehicles have crossed the U.S. customs, all documents will be returned to the shipper or (by shipper request) forwarded directly to the consignee or a destination receiving terminal.
Depending on the size of the autos, four to five of them may be consolidated in one multimodal 40' or 40HC container. However, only three or even two can be in a container to ensure a quality load. If you ship luxury or antique (valued) automotive, we recommend using an entire 20' or 40' container.
If you ship internationally, only one car is consolidated with others, so the freight rate should be offered as a lump sum per car, depending on make, model, and year, i.e., its dimensions (size). For example: Toyota Corolla, 2004 - $750 lump sum + BAF & CAF, etc. And finally, like this:
As a rule, rates for consolidated vehicles are all-in/"Free Out." That includes loading and securing in a container, U.S. Customs formalities, and the freight cost to ship it to the destination. Not included:
1. SED (Shipper's Export Declaration) in AES (optional) - $35
2. Insurance (optional) - 1.1 - 1.5% @ value declared
3. Destination charges
Suppose you ship numerous cars of different makes and models. In that case, the rate should be offered per entire container, including an offer for the most efficient way of staffing and securing them. An international shipping company (freight forwarder or NVOCC) will then discuss with the loading dock and specify how many may fit in a specific container for the global transportation from the USA. For example, the rate for 1 x 40HC containing two Dodge Neons, 2003, and one Chevrolet Cavalier, 2006, $2370 + BAF & CAF, etc., including stuffing in the container and customs formalities.
A. Original titles for cars shipped from the USA must be furnished at the destination
According to customs rules of most countries worldwide, the original titles must be presented to destination customs upon arrival of the imported automobiles. If a vehicle was sold to the consignee (recipient) before an international shipment, the bill of sale should also be furnished at the destination. For example, as soon as your car(s) have passed U.S. customs, always express mail all original documents to the consignee without delay to avoid extra charges at the destination due to a lack of proper documentation.
If all of this is new business for you, then to predict a cost related to the recovery of your vehicle in your destination country, we would also suggest you discuss procedures for recovering them at destinations, including your destination customs formalities on autos imported from the USA, with someone experienced in the business. It can be an individual you can trust, an international ocean freight forwarder (a global shipping company in your country), your destination country's customs broker, etc.
B. Do not confuse services from an international shipping company (Freight Forwarder, NVOCC) with assistance from an international moving company
Procedures and prices from an international shipping company differ from those of international moving companies (as a rule, related to international shipping of household goods overseas).
With an international moving company, you can get a container delivered to your door and have your car(s) loaded and secured by the international moving company along with the rest of your household goods.
Most of the time, international shipping companies do not offer such a service. The shipper is responsible for loading and securing cars in containers for the shipment unless you request a load in the international shipping company's quality loading warehouse. Always compare the prices and service packages offered by international shipping companies (freight forwarders, NVOCC) to those of international moving companies.
C. Always be aware of origin and destination charges, which are not included in rates offered by international shipping companies
Generally, a global shipping company's sea freight rates include port fees at the origin.
However, should your vehicle need to be stored at the port of origin or a parking lot of a quality loading warehouse for any reason (e.g., lack of proper documents, waiting time for other vehicles coming to be consolidated in the same container, etc.), storage fees, etc., will increase the international shipping cost of your shipment and are the shipper's responsibility. Please plan your international shipment from the US.
International freight prices in quotes do not include storage fees (if any), handling, or customs-related charges at the destinations.
D. Shipper's responsibilities on filing documents.
Regarding dealing with an international shipping company, the shipper should clearly understand that they are entirely held responsible for the description and legality of the commodity and the sufficiency of documents submitted for a shipment.
A carrier's bill of lading is the final document that acts as a title for the goods shipped from the US overseas. As a rule, states' SHIPPER'S LOAD AND COUNTS' and 'SAID BY SHIPPER TO CONTAIN.' That means a direct carrier (and a freight forwarder representing this carrier) is not responsible for the shipper's information when booking an international shipment.
A freight forwarder should guide shippers through the complexity of shipment procedures. However, the shipper is responsible for providing all documents that the origin and destination country officials require.
Below is the list of commonly used documents required to be submitted when you ship motor-driven units from the USA overseas using sea freight:
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