Shipping Z Overseas - Advice

[JTZ23]

I am kicking around the idea of shipping my Z overseas to run a hillclimb. I met a fellow z guy in the UK a couple of years ago and while on business across the pond they happen to have a two day event at Gurston Downs http://www.gurstondown.org/ which I attanded.

I camped out the weekend a met a ton of great people and the event was awesome. And, here I am thinking of shipping the Z over to run Gurston next year. So has anyone shipped a car overseas particularly from the Florida area. I know there is a roll on roll off ferry that leaves Jacksonville and lands in Salsbury which is about 30 minutes from Gurston.

For all of you interested in Hillclimbs check out the web site. There are a couple of videos and the red, white and blue big flared Z is the guy I met.

Thanks

JT

[gogriz91]

I would wonder about insurance, ro-ro also stands for roll on-roll over.

[260DET]

The alternative to ro/ro is a container, which can be risky if the car is not tied down properly, more expensive too. Go ro/ro, with the appropriate insurance, my ro/ro Z from Japan arrived safely.

[JTZ23]

Thanks for the input. I am going to check on some rates later this week. Hopefully I don't get sticker shock but I have a feeling it won't be cheep.

JT

[esprist]

Thanks for the input. I am going to check on some rates later this week. Hopefully I don't get sticker shock but I have a feeling it won't be cheep.

JT

I ship cars to Japan all the time, and here is the problem with your loving Z car. Most Lo/Lo docs are operated by the union, and most of the drivers do not drive cars with soul. Besides that, as of this past April, unless you have an anual permit(cost $150 and few classes) , you cannot dive your car into the berth. ( I normally take proof photos upon shipment in the doc, so I can claim any damages later) . Now container is better idea, but cost more money (Freight seems cheaper than Lo/Lo ship, but you will pay more money at the end, becuase of doc fees and all the other cost). But container protects your car from damages, abusive driving, and most of all "rust". I am always amased how fast components under car get rusty......... I ship cars on a container when it comes to very historical, expensive, or rare car.

Esprist

www.jdm-car-parts.com

[ChrisZ]

If you are going to ship in a container, consider to get a 40ft high cube and ship 3 shells along with your car, i think there is a fair chance to even sell the shells in advance, when i had a container shipped a year back, it ran in to $5500 from the west coast, i can hook you up with the shipping company i used or you can shop around.

We had 2 roadsters and my Z in a 40ft, all on the floor and i bet you can have 4 empty shells and your car in one, if you pack it well.

Chris

[Ronaldo1973]

Well I have had my Zcar shipped from the US to my home country, From my shipping experience and what i have learned, There are three ways of shipping:

1- Roll on / Roll off: this is the cheapest method, in which your car would be loaded on the vessel with other vehicles in a place looks like a parking lot, Here YoU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION, since stealing parts from shipped cars is something to be expected! Beside that RO/RO service is available in a selected seaports!

2- Full container Load: Here your car would be loaded into a container that is reserved for you only, your car would be tied down to prevent it from moving, believe me your car wont move more that 2 inchs, this expensive method (you should go for 20ft container, it is enough for car and half .

3- Less than container Load (LCL): this the cheapest method you would see if you are first time shipper, in this type you will share a 40 ft container with other customers, and this shipping costs would be shared between you, here, your car won't be shipped unless the company finds other LCL customers, so you have to wait for the other two cars that are sharing the container with you, Regarding the price, you will find it is the cheapest method, but wait, once your container arrives the destination, the port authority will charge your the handling fees based on the volume your car occupied in the shared container in addition to the price you have paid for sharing the container!

these are the methods that I knew from my shipping experience, I have gone with LCL shipping, where the company quote was $1300, but in fact I have paid more $500 for the destination port! which was close to full conatier load qoute ($2050) :stupid:

Important note: you should be aware of the exporting regulations, law and procedures at the destination before attempting to do so, for example, my country prohibits importing cars that are manufactured between 2005-1983.

More More Important note: THIS is my personal experience only.

Edited October 12, 2009 by Ronaldo1973
TyPo :)

[Lazeum]

I have shipped my car overseas as well (from MI to France)

Shipping a car could be risky if you do not chose the right method. Customs could also be a pain, most of the company at arrivals will charge you for files fees.

I've chosen the RO/RO method but since you leave the keys with your car, everybody on the boat can come in & out. As a result, the stereo was gone (with all wires cut), the head cover filter was gone also. I complained and I asked some money back since I have insurance but deductibles were $500 so expense was on me

Overall my experience was not that bad but I've heard stories way worse than mine (doors missing, carbs missing, etc.)

[HS30-H]

I am kicking around the idea of shipping my Z overseas to run a hillclimb.

JT,

Is your car road registered / road legal in USA? Does it have license plates?

Reason I'm asking is I'm wondering if you are planning on driving the car to and from Gurston when you are in the UK? If it's not road legal you would need a trailer and a tow vehicle, of course. Could end up being quite expensive if you have to factor such things into the equation........

If you do have license plates, and you are happy to run the car on the road, then I guess it brings the question of road-use insurance into the equation too.

I see USA licensed 'temporary import use' cars running around in the UK quite often, so it can't be that difficult. But it seems most of these high flying people have all their costs paid by their employers, or by the US government. I don't think you'll have that luxury!

I'd be worried about Ro-Ro'ing a race car too. It will have lots of parts on it that light fingered people will think are attractive. I've imported cars from Japan and lost some parts off them that way. When I imported my KPGC10 I chose to use a container for this very reason, but it cost three times as much as the cheapest Ro-Ro......

If there's anything that you need here in UK, I'm sure that Ben S. or myself can help in some way. Don't be shy to ask.

Cheers,

Alan T.

[JTZ23]

Wow, great input from everyone!! Thank you so much. Well is looks like what I expected, a rather expensive proposition for a weekend skip across the pond, which I hate because running Gurston or probably any hillclimb in the UK would awesome!! I had origionally thought of going with a 40' container and taking the truck, trailer and car for the trip since its an all out race car very simiar to Ben's. John Forsyth turned me on to the Ro/Ro but ouch that's scary as hell.

Well I am still going to check out rates and report back to everyone. Maybe I'll hit the ole Florida lottery and get that chance of a life time. I still plan on going back to Gurston, hopefull next year. Which again I highly recommend to everyone because the event and people you will meet are class act.

JT