It’s the opportunity of a lifetime: moving to a new country to start a job or open an office for the company you already work for. Or possibly you are fulfilling the dream of retirement in a quieter, less hurried land. Maybe the challenge came out of the blue, or perhaps it’s something you’ve long been working toward. Whatever the reason, here you are, ready to go. But now you need to pack up your house and go. It’s time to find an international mover to partner with in that project.
The good news about international moves is that you have plenty of vendors from which to choose. Any moving company engaged in international shipments from the United States must register with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), which licenses companies authorized to handle such moves. Coordinating international deliveries requires the company to work with subcontractors, including trucking companies, warehouse and storage providers, and ocean transporters. The firm you choose must be reliable and aboveboard. If you live near an origin port in the U.S., the total distance may be shorter, but there are still multiple steps involved in the process.
The FMC maintains a consumer resource site where you can identify licensed and registered companies and investigate whether the ones you are considering have a history of complaint issues. You should also consider checking with your state consumer protection agency for customer concerns and look for cases reported to the Better Business Bureau.
You may want to start with the local agent of a national van line which offers international service. With any household relocation, the work you do at the beginning to find a trustworthy company will pay off as you continue through the process. In an international move, the importance is higher since you relinquish control for a longer time and greater distance. Ask for referrals from people you know who have moved. Chances are they used a local company that has an affiliation with one of the major vendors that will be able to coordinate a project like this for you.
The FMC suggests starting with a moving plan, including the following elements:
The FMC cautions that consumers should be wary of the following when considering companies for their international move:
Probably. The same moving company that you use to move your household shipment is likely to be a good source of information about moving a vehicle, or you can research it on your own. Where you are going, what kind of car you want to move, and how long you are staying are factors in determining whether it makes sense. Usually, a vehicle exported for personal use needs to be without a lien. It will be subject to an import tax and must comply with local regulations in the destination country. It probably won’t travel with the rest of your belongings, so you may also want to look at alternatives for shipping the car. You can send a vehicle as unprotected cargo in a “Ro/Ro” or Roll On/Roll Off transit, or in an exclusive or shared container.
In a Ro/Ro transit, the vehicle is driven onto a vessel with a huge cargo area that is essentially a parking lot on board. Shared container involves multiple vehicles loaded into a shared container. There are more fees–terminal handling charge, a trucking charge, unloading charges, and customs clearance charges. This takes more time because the container has to be full to leave. “Full container” means one vehicle in a shipping container, which is more expensive, but is the most secure and fastest means of transport.
Three Men And A Truck services moves nationwide. Below are some of the most popular areas we work in, and have movers and moving trucks ready to assist:
New York City | Austin | Boston | Milwaukee | Raleigh |
Los Angeles | Jacksonville | El Paso | Albuquerque | Miami |
Chicago | Fort Worth | Nashville | Tucson | Long Beach |
Houston | Columbus | Detroit | Fresno | Virginia Beach |
Phoenix | Charlotte | Oklahoma City | Mesa | Oakland |
Philadelphia | San Francisco | Portland | Sacramento | Minneapolis |
San Antonio | Indianapolis | Las Vegas | Atlanta | Tulsa |
San Diego | Seattle | Memphis | Kansas City | Tampa |
Dallas | Denver | Louisville | Colorado Springs | Arlington |
San Jose | Washington | Baltimore | Omaha | New Orleans |