By
Copy URL to Clipboard
If you need to ship your car, you can probably guess that it isn’t going to be a simple process. Cars are heavy and expensive, and because of safety and emission standards, they are strictly regulated by the government. Because of those regulations, there are many car shipping documents that you will need to provide to the auto transport company before they will ship your car. However, the kind of documents you need could be different depending on where you want to ship your car.
Domestic car shipping documents are relatively simple to provide, such as valid ID, insurance, and registration. International shipments, however, require many more documents, like a bill of sale, proof of paid duties and taxes, and even a power of attorney statement if you are having a broker ship on your behalf.
The documents required for interstate car transporting are not as exhaustive as those required for international shipping, but they are still important. These documents are necessary for protecting the car, the shipper, and the company. If a company does not ask for these documents, you should probably reconsider working with them to transport your car.
The first thing you will need to provide is the original vehicle title and registration. This serves as proof that you are the legal owner of the vehicle, so you cannot ship someone else’s car without their permission. If the car has a Lien on it, then you could substitute the title and registration with a notarized letter of permission from the Lienholder. With that said, it is generally much easier to ship a car that is in your name, and some companies might not agree to ship a car that is leased.
Next, you need to provide a copy of your car insurance paperwork. However, the auto shipping company will check the dates on your paperwork, so make sure your policy hasn’t expired. If your insurance seems to be out-of-date, then the shipping company will refuse to move your car.
You should provide two different types of government-issued identification, to further verify that you are who you say you are and that you are the actual owner of the car. The most common forms of identification used are state-issued driver’s licenses and passports, though the company might accept different forms of identification. Whatever forms of ID you present, you should make sure that none of them are expired. Otherwise, the company will refuse to transport your car.
The Bill of Lading (BOL) is a shipping document that you and the carrier must sign before the car is loaded up for transport. This document contains a lot of information, including details such as the car’s VIN number, the estimated weight and value of the car, the origin and destination, and your personal information. It serves as proof of the contract between you and the transport company. It is a legally binding document, so make sure it is filled out correctly and fairly before you agree to sign it.
In addition to all the documents listed above, you will also need to prepare several other legal papers if you intend to ship your car to or outside the United States. International shipping is a much more complicated process, but that doesn’t mean it should be stressful. Working with the right shipping company can make the process relatively stress-free, and they should be available to answer your questions on the process. After all, most international shipping companies understand that shipping a car overseas can be a difficult process for beginners.
A Bill of Sale is required for shipping your car internationally, since it can be used to verify that the vehicle belongs to you. Shipping companies can only move a car internationally with the express permission of the owner of the car, so if you have recently purchased the car you will be shipping, you need to make sure that you acquire a Bill of Sale as evidence of the transaction.
Before a shipping company will agree to move your car, you need to be able to prove that you have paid all applicable sales taxes on the vehicle. This is really only applicable if you have recently purchased your car, but it is an important thing to think about. Auto transport companies will refuse to move a car if it is not up to date on all sales taxes.
The customs documentation that you will need to provide is going to depend on exactly where your car is being shipped from, and where it will be delivered. In almost all situations, however, import duty paperwork is required. You will need to provide evidence of any duties or taxes that are levied against your vehicle, and proof of payment.
If you are working with a transportation broker, or if you are having someone else move your car on your behalf, then either you or the person shipping the car will need to provide a document that proves that the shipper has the power of attorney to act on your behalf. This document would give the shipper the legal authority to make financial decisions and submit paperwork for the owner of the car.
Now that you understand the essential car shipping documents that you will need, you’re going to need to find a trustworthy shipping company to transport your car for you. With R+L Global Logistics, you’ll get so much more than just the baseline services. In addition to our world-class auto transport services, we also offer 24/7 customer support in multiple languages, real-time visibility for tracking your shipment, and expedited shipping with a 99.5% on-time delivery record. Shipping a vehicle is a big job, but with R+L Global Logistics, it doesn’t have to be a stressful one.
Call us today for a free quote, with no strings attached!
Copy URL to Clipboard
