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Shipping Your Car Across the USA: Why is Insurance Important

This article goes into step-by-step detail on how to prep your ride for the ride. Shipping your car doesn’t have to be a headache. Understand the steps, book your carrier as well as insurance policy and you will be on your way to cruising in your car once again!

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The Importance of Insurance for Car Shipping

In this article:

Real Talk: Insurance for the Ride

Shipping your car across the globe involves a lot of steps and thought to ensure a smooth ride. Here’s another iMoving pro guide to getting you and your ride traveling like a baller across the USA. Step by step we break down the how-to and the why behind insurance for the international journey.

Insurance: Do I Really Need It?

Yes! This is the most important money you will spend on your international journey. If you are taking the time and effort to ship your family car across the US, do you really think saving a few hundred dollars on its insurance policy makes sense? If so, you don’t really get it. Trust us, save on other things but not your car’s insurance.

Step by Step Along Your Way

1. Choose a Shipping Method

  • Container Shipping: Your car is usually loaded into a shipping container together with other cars, or can be exclusive (full container).
  • Roll-on/Roll-off: However you roll, make sure to roll in style. When you choose this option, your car is driven onto a specialized cargo ship for vehicle transport. This is the cheaper option but offers less protection. When you go this route ensure that it is clear to your insurance provider so that their costs are reflective of reality. 

2. Get Your Car Ready

  • Clean your car: Thoroughly wash the exterior and clean the interior. Take photos of the condition and state of the car post-car wash so that all damage like small scratches will be documented properly.
  • Remove all personal items: Empty the car of all your things. The price goes by weight so the Backstreet Boys CD collection just has to go.
  • Check for car leaks and disable any alarms or codes: Make sure that there are no fluid leaks such as oil or water and deactivate any alarms and codes to prevent issues during the move. If your car does leak, make sure to empty the valve ahead of time and inform your shipper.

3. Paperwork

  • Title and registration: You'll need proof of ownership and current registration to prove that your car really is yours.
  • Customs paperwork: Depending on the destination, this may include import permits, customs declarations, and other documents specific to the country.
  • Local driver's license: Depending on your new state, you may need a local new driver's license upon arrival. Getting your international driver’s license usually solves the issue.

4. Insurance is Key to Success

  • Get insurance coverage: We can’t stress this enough! Insurance is your best friend. Before you purchase additional coverage, call up your existing car insurance and see if it already covers national shipping. 
    • If so, great, but add on all the extras. Your car will be going for the ride of its life across the sea, trust us things tend to get busted up on the boat. 
    • If your current car insurance doesn't cover national shipping, buy marine cargo insurance to protect from damage or total loss during transit.

5. Choose a Reputable Shipping Company

  • Research shipping companies: Look for highly recommended and reputable international shipping companies with years of actual experience in international car shipping. Get quotes and compare services offered. You can use iMoving to compare mover’s quotes and understand some of the extras included. You can even book the vendors on our site right away. When you book with iMoving you are booking our 30 years of experience with all kinds of special moves. 
  • Book in advance: Plan your shipping date well in advance to leave room for any delays or unforeseen circumstances. Sometimes high seas or storm surges can delay your journey so your shipping company should keep you updated at all times.
  • Choose Smart: Choose a company that offers a tracking service so you can see where your car is at all times. Enjoy the ride and see your car taking a cruise past some gorgeous islands. If you company doesn’t offer this service, consider hiding an Airtag in your car so that you can track it on your own. Many insurance companies require tracking for their packages.

7. Drop-off and Pick-up

  • Deliver the car: Bring your car to the shipping location on the scheduled date and say bye-bye to your car for the next few weeks.
  • Receive at destination: Arrange to receive the car back at the destination port.

8. Transportation from the Port of Arrival

Arrange transport: Plan how your car will reach its final destination from the port if you are unable to pick it up yourself. It is ideal that you go to the port to examine the car for any damages in person.

Pro Tips

  • Research regulations: Understand the specific import regulations and taxes of the destination state if applicable.
  • Inspect upon arrival: Conduct a thorough inspection of your car upon arrival to ensure it arrived in the expected condition.
  • Communicate with your shipping company: Stay in touch with your shipping company throughout the process for updates and assistance.

Wrapping Up Your Car’s Favorite Journey

We hope this article has convinced you about the importance of purchasing insurance for your car’s journey. Taking a boat across the Atlantic or crossing multiple state borders by land is no joke! By following the steps above and being prepared, you can navigate the process of your car going international with confidence. Say goodbye to your car for a little while while it takes its first road trip without crossing the sea or land!

Frequently Asked Questions

Every time you finish packing up another box or room, take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments. Acknowledging the small milestones helps you reach the bigger ones.

This will keep you motivated and boost family morale. Finishing up packing a room and cleaning it out is a bigger task than usual. Reward yourself.

Professional packers are not a must but will work at Lightspeed to get all your items packed up safely. While you might get stuck sorting through old junk, they will have your entire home packed up and bubble-wrapped in no time.

If you are in a time crunch, in the midst of important work projects, or just want to feel like a pro, consider using a packing full-service moving option. If you have many expensive and fragile items their service could be a must for you as well.

It can take anywhere from 5 hours to a few days. The real timing depends on multiple factors such as size, clutter, your focus level, clothing preferences, and other items.

It’s more of a question for yourself if you plan to declutter or if you plan to throw everything in a box and call it a day. Plan according to this. Don’t forget to label as you go!

Pets pick up on our energy and need a common schedule. If you are stressed, you are likely to stress out your furry friend. Try and make the experience fun for them with lots of walks and treats. Associate the move with positive things your pet loves to make the day less hard for them.

Ensure to set up their home base as soon as you get into the new home so that they can feel they have their own corner with food, water, and their bed. Try and send them to doggy daycare the day of the move to avoid stressing them out.

Yes. They are hard workers helping you get from A to B. Tipping between 15-20% is expected by movers and drivers alike. Think of it as if you’ve gone to a restaurant and left without tipping- not cool.

Plan ahead for these costs so you aren’t surprised. This extra tip will keep your items safeguarded, trust us.

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Rachel Kaplan

Rachel has spent the last few years writing for moving companies while actually moving across the globe. After many years of moving between many states in the US, she moved abroad to try the remote work life. She’s a pro at moving all her things with her dog and hundreds of plants. Thankfully she’s a minimalist so moves aren’t too much of an issue.

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