2022 Overland Expo Outline

Overland Expo May 2022

Presenter:  Rick Howe

Course:     Shipping your Vehicle

Covers:     Shipping Basics 

Introduction: 

  • Our experience in traveling in our own vehicles to 65 countries & 6 continents, and that we have shipped our vehicle 7 times.
  • Note that the following are all available on our website:
    •  the outline for this class
    • detailed information on shipping in general 
    • details of our seven shipping experiences with links to agents
    • AND reports from ten other travelers on their own experiences

Options for overseas vehicle travel:

  • Renting is expensive although it can make sense for shorter time frames.  Wherever you are going you must figure at least $100/day for rental of a small camper; that’s $9,000 for 90 days.  As we’ll see, shipping your own vehicle is less expensive even for that short a stay, but renting is certainly simpler.
  • For longer stays or repeated stays over several years, another option is to buy a vehicle and resell it when done.  This can make a lot of sense ‘though it can be either easy or difficult depending on where you are going. Easy in Australia or New Zealand for example, but more difficult in Europe or in South America. Buying and reselling always comes with uncertainties as to expense, including currency exchange rate changes and seasonal demand.
  • Another option is to ship your own vehicle over. We think in the long run this is likely to be the most cost effective, if you already own a suitable vehicle.  We think it is also the most interesting because part of the fun of the adventure is doing it in your own vehicle.

Types of vehicle shipping: (our focus here is on four wheeled vehicles, not motorcycles, which are usually crated and are often shipped by air)

1. Containerized Shipping: 

  • Vehicle is sealed in a metal container 
  • Possible Advantages: may be more secure because you MIGHT BE able to be on hand to both load and unload at the destination port.  This is much less certain now than it used to be due to increasing port security.
  • But, accidents do happen and it’s not hard to find photos online of containers that have been crushed or actually washed overboard in a storm.  Nothing is perfect. 
  • Available from and to more ports than Ro/Ro;   
  • Main disadvantage is that a vehicle must be small in order to fit, with height being the most difficult restriction to accommodate.
  • In reality, the type of shipping you are likely to use depends primarily on your choice of vehicle. While some folks may place a priority on their vehicle choice to ensure it is small enough to fit in a container, most of us are more likely to select the vehicle we want and then decide how best to ship it. 
  • Few hard topped overland vehicles will fit in a container, generally it needs to be a pop up top.
  • Containers are nominally either 20 or 40 feet long - if your vehicle will fit but is too long for a 20', the 40’ container may be able to be shared with another vehicle or other cargo.
  • Interior dimensions are actually about 6” less than stated with interior width about 7’8” and height about 7’10”.  High cube containers add a foot to the height, but that is still only 8’10”.  These numbers will vary some and as you will see in the next set of pictures there are things that intrude into the nominal space so you must be very careful to check all measurements before planning to ship in a container. 
  • Open top containers are also available if height is the only problem, but these compromise not only security but also protection from weather as they will be more likely to be placed on top of a stack. 
  • You can read up on containers and their measurements online.

2. Roll On Roll Off shipping, commonly know as Ro/Ro,

  • This is how we have shipped on six of our seven voyages; the vehicle is driven on and off the ship like on a ferry, although not by you.
  • The ships are car carriers that deliver new cars and other wheeled vehicles all over the world.  
  • Ro/Ro shipping is not quite as widely available as container shipping, but still has plenty of port options from which to choose. 
  • Advantages: while container ships are cargo ships and ship from cargo terminals, Ro/Ro ships come and go from vehicle terminals that are accustomed to seeing, and providing security for, new cars, trucks, farm equipment and other vehicles worth far more than our little RV. 
  • We have been very impressed with the level of security we have experienced in each of the Ro/Ro ports we have used.
  • While theft from the vehicle can and does occur, it is a rare occurrence and we have never experienced it. 

3. Traveling on the ship with your vehicle: 

  • Not usually an option other than regularly scheduled ferry service
  • Advantages: never truly separated from your vehicle, and the vehicle is classed as your luggage so customs entry can be much simpler than if you ship the vehicle separately. 
  • Grimaldi (www.grimaldishipping.com) is the only shipping company we know to offer this option as a scheduled service.  To our knowledge, this is available only between Europe and either South America or, more recently, North America.

4. Lift On Lift Off shipping is the method of last resort,

  • entails all the risk of theft occurring at a relatively insecure port along with the risk of damage during the time your vehicle is being lifted onto the vessel and again lifted off at the other end. 
  • vehicle generally rides on top of container stacks and is exposed to weather and rough seas.
  • our one experience with Lo/Lo worked out fine, but was still scary.

Other Considerations Regarding Shipping:

1. Shipping Agent: 

  • Usually required and becoming more necessary with tightening port security and regulations.
  • Also referred to as a freight forwarder.  You will basically have two of them; one for the shipping port and one for the receiving port. 
  • Links to several such agents on our website
  • Internet search will find many others
  • We always try to use someone who has been recommended by other travelers.
  • You will want to ask plenty of questions of your shipping agent in order to confirm costs and time frames: 
    • how many ports will the ship visit? 
    • will your vehicle change ships? 
    • why will the voyage take so long (if other shippers are quoting faster transits)?
    • who will be your contact during the voyage; the agent who receives your vehicle from you or the agent on the other end?  When does it change from one to the other?
  • Don’t make assumptions or think you already know the answers.  We’ve learned something new from each of our shipping experiences. 

2. Shipping Lines: 

  • Wallenius-Willemsen (www.2wglobal.com/) 
  • K-Line (www.kline.com) 
  • Hoegh (www.hoeghautoliners.com) 
  • These are some of the largest vehicle shippers.
  • You can get an idea of routes, ports and schedules by visiting their websites, and can also request referrals to agents who work with the shipping line for you port of departure.
  • The route and schedule information changes constantly, so you really cannot plan too far ahead.
  • Ports come and go on the schedule depending on demand. 
  • Shipping dates are only posted two or three months ahead of time and Rate Quotes are only valid for 30 days.

3. Rates & Costs: (Ro/Ro)

  • Basic shipping cost is typically based on the cubic volume of your vehicle; the weight usually doesn’t matter, just the amount of space it takes up.  
  • Fuel surcharges are common. Right now fuel is very high and will increase the cost of all shipping.
  • There will also be port charges on each end, but the bulk of the charge will be based on size of the vehicle.  
  • Typically the charges for the shipping port are included in the main quote, while port charges for the receiving port will be separate and are only determined once you are in contact with the receiving agent.
  • Freight forwarder and port charges vary considerably so be sure to ask questions and compare total costs.  
  • When requesting a quote, you need to know the exact length, width and height of your vehicle. Rates are quoted in Cubic Meters, so either you or the shipping agent needs to convert the measurements into the metric system; I do it myself so that I can be sure that different agents are using the same numbers.
  • Longer voyages will naturally be more expensive.
  • Each of our first four shipping experiences between 2008-2015 (US to/from SA and US to/from Europe) cost between $2,000 and $3,000 for our Tiger.  
  • A current quote (4-22) to ship our Tiger from the US to Europe was €3,250 (about $3,500) including a 20% fuel surcharge. this is less than 50% higher than when we shipped to Europe in 2010.
  • Our last three shippings in 2017-2019 (US to Australia to South Africa and back to US), were each between $6,500 and $7,500.
  • Our vehicle measures 6.2 meters long (243”, just over 20’), by 2.2 meters wide (87”), by 3 meters high (117”) for a volume of just less than 41 cubic meters
  • The shipper may want to confirm the measurements you provide, so in order to minimize your costs be sure to fold in or remove your mirrors, antennas and anything else attached to the exterior of the vehicle when dropping it off at the port.

4.      Rates & Costs: (Container)

  • During the pandemic, container rates have increased more than RO/RO.  
  • Amazon’s CEO says they have doubled since 2019.
  • An agent I contacted said container rates had "increased greatly", while RO/RO rates had “steadily gone up”. 

5. Choice of Port: 

  • This can make a big difference as there can be differences in cost, convenience and security between ports.
  • Do not just pick the ports that seem most convenient for your travel plans.  On both the US and the European end, to say nothing of other parts of the world, there are security differences between ports, with theft being common at some and unheard of at others; research to find where other travelers have been happy or have had a bad experience .
  • We have shipped either in or out of Jacksonville, Florida four times with excellent experiences each time. Other frequently used east coast ports are Charlotte, Baltimore, New York and Halifax. 
  • On the west coast, main ports are either Los Angeles area or Seattle area. 
  • Some countries, Germany being one, will require a bond, called a Carnet, to be posted before allowing a vehicle to enter the country; avoid this by shipping to a neighboring country when you can.  (Note: a Carnet is required for shipping your vehicle to Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.  This is different than what Germany requires).
  • Any one of these variables can ruin your day, so do as much research as you need to in order to feel comfortable with your choice of ports.

6. COVID related shipping issues.

  • Update 2021: As ongoing stories about global supply chains continue to appear in the news I asked one of the shipping agents we have used for his views on how this was affecting vehicle shipping around the world.  I've inserted his remarks here:
    • The shipping industry for both ro/ro and especially container movements has been greatly affected.
    • Rates have increased and space availability is very difficult to secure.
    • Sailings to Australia are especially affected as many shipping lines have reduced vessels so therefore space is very tight.
    • The industry is suggesting this will continue till at least 2024.
    • Container rates have greatly increased and ro/ro have steadily gone up. 

  • Not surprisingly, it seems that shipping your overland vehicle is likely to be more difficult and more costly in the near future and may continue to be so for some time to come.  
  • And then in the past few months, fuel prices have gone up dramatically world wide.
  • As you consider your own planning process, I would recommend beginning your research into cost and availability of either container or ro/ro shipping earlier than you might have been thinking.  
  • I would suggest that even if your vehicle does fit into a container, you look into both container and ro/ro shipping possibilities in order to increase your options.  
  • I would also suggest that in difficult shipping times the importance of having a really good shipping agent will become even more important than it already was.

7. Changing Times 

  • Shipping into the US has become more involved now than when we first did it in 2009. 
  • Much more paperwork/forms to fill out.  Some of them are really for commercial vehicles and ask questions that don’t apply but you will need to fill them in.
  • When re-entering the US you may need to arrange for a Customs Handler in the port of arrival who will handle these forms for you. 
  • Increased security at US ports will require you to hire an escort service to gain entry to port.
  • Much more likely now to have to empty LPG (propane) tank before dropping off your vehicle, so try to ask around as to where others have had this done.  Prior to 2015 we had not needed to do this, but since then we have in each case.

8. What to leave in the vehicle: (Ro/Ro)

  • This is impossible to state definitively!  Once again you must rely on the experiences of other travelers to be your guide.
  • Official information you receive from your shipping agent will almost always state that the vehicle can contain no personal items.
  • We’ve only heard of one couple who actually emptied their coach and shipped everything separately.  When they were reloading at the port on the other end all the port workers asked them why they did that.
  • No one has ever asked us about what was in the truck and to our knowledge customs has only inspected it one time — the last time we entered the US.
  • We don’t ship anything of great value in the coach, we carry our computers and cameras with us; but clothing, food, linens, pots and pans and everything else stays in the RV.  
  • Try to set up a sturdy partition to close off the living area of the coach from the driver’s compartment as you must leave the key with the vehicle so that it can be driven, but you don’t want to give them access to the entire coach if at all possible.  
  • We carry a piece of plywood under our mattress cut to fit for the purpose.  We can install this partition in just a few minutes when needed
  • Avoid leaving a key to the living area if at all possible.  We have a small lockbox we attach inside the driver’s compartment that holds keys to the living area and outside storage; only our shipping agent knows the code. We also do not leave a hidden key on the outside of the vehicle; the one couple we know who did this ended up having the vehicle broken into.

9.  Insurance: Limited availability

  • We have traveled uninsured each time we have shipped.  
  • Limited coverage has been offered at a cost that was typically about 1-1.5% of the value of the vehicle.  
  • While we would willingly pay this premium for a true full coverage policy, the policies offered to us excluded basically everything but the sinking of the ship.  Specifically not covered is any loss from vandalism or theft, which is naturally our greatest concern.

10. Keep a Positive Attitude

  • Things will NOT always go as planned.  Expect that and do your best each step of the way.
  • Remember, if we can do it, so can you.

        IT IS WORTH THE TIME, EFFORT AND EXPENSE!

11. Go to our Shipping Main Page for lots more information.

  • Complete details of our own shipping adventures with links to agents, etc.
  • Plus anecdotal reports from ten other travelers telling about their own shipping experiences. 

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Shipping Agents:                                                               


Helpful Information Sources:

© Rick & Kathy Howe 2001-2023