Avoiding Common Pitfalls When Shipping a Car from the UK to Australia

It is not easy to ship a car from the UK to Australia, as it would be performing a daunting task for the first time shipper.

There are several factors that might easily mislead you, several factors that might jump before you and complicate your shipping experience: The above mistakes are some of the main issues that you are likely to encounter when shipping your car, but by being conscious of them then you will be in a good position to avert them, thus warranting a less complicated car shipping experience.

This guide will assist you towards understanding some of the issues that are associated with car shipping and give you some background as well as guidelines so as to avoid some pitfalls that are likely to be encountered.

1. Failing to Comply with Australian Import Regulations

Another major disadvantage of road transport of a car from UK to Australia is not adhering to the strict legal requirements on importation laid down by the Australian government.

Australia has many regulations on the imports of automobiles looking at the interest of their automobile industry and probably a desire to protect their environment.

Safety features and emission norms are mandatory for all vehicles and they may differ on the basis of the vintage of the vehicle, make and model.

How to Avoid It: 

As a customer, make some effort to study the Australian import rules and regulations before shipping your car.

Make certain that the vehicle meets all safety standards, emission control, and any quarantine provisions that may be in force in that country.

Before orienting your car, you may be required to secure an Import Approval from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

But engaging the services of a shipping company that has extensive knowledge about UK to Australia car shipment will also guide you through them.

2. Not Preparing Your Vehicle Properly for Shipment

One of the most frequent mistakes is lack of preparation of your vehicle for shipping.

Some things you should do beforehand are to secure your car from vandalism while in transit and to have it in a condition that will allow it to pass through quarantine/biosecurity measures on arrival in Australia.

Such preparation involves washing the car to ensure that it does not have any form of dirt, pests, or plant material since this would cause a lot of delays in shipment or in some facilities, attract an extra cost in cleaning the car.

How to Avoid It: 

Wash the car both outside and inside, under the car, the wheels, and every part of the interior.

These could include things like earth, seeds, or foodstuffs which are prohibited in Australia and which should therefore be rejected.

Before shipping your car, you might want to get it washed and polished to the tune of Australian biosecurity requirements.

Also, wash all personal belongs from the vehicle in case shipping companies do not compensate for such losses.

3. Underestimating Shipping Costs and Associated Fees

A large number of people do not consider the overall cost of transporting or shipping a car from UK to Australia.

In addition to the shipping costs, there are several others which may be incurred during shipment, including; tariffs, taxes, insurance charges, and fees for quarantine inspections.

These cost may accumulate over the period and the inpatient may incur a rather large amount if he does not budget for it.

How to Avoid It: 

Make sure that your shipping company provides you with the total expenses that you are going to face including customs duties, GST and amount for the quarantine inspection fees.

Request for charges to know what is covered and what needs to be paid for individually.

Secondly, estimate extra costs like port charges and storage costs in the event there are any; unavoidable incidences.

Being financially ready for your shipping needs will come in handy to meet all the emergent hitches on the way.

4. Choosing the Wrong Shipping Method

Some of the disadvantageous consequences arising from the selection of the wrong shipping company include, costs, time taken for the shipment, and even damages on your car.

The two primary means of shipping are Roll-on/Roll-off also referred to as RoRo and container shipping.

However, each of the methods has certain characteristics, and the choice of which one to use depends on the available amount of money, the required time for spraying the car’s body and the degree of its protection needed.

How to Avoid It: 

Think about what you value and study both options of shipping.

In terms of their price offerings RoRo is generally cheaper than LoLo but your car is open to the various natural elements during shipment.

Container shipping is relatively costly and offers more protection than Ro-Ro shipping in that your car is locked in the container.

In the situation where you have a high-value or touring car, it is advisable to go for container shipping.

Try to seek the advice of your shipping company so that you can know the most suitable method.

5. Ignoring Insurance Options

International car shipping comes with certain risks that are associated with damage, theft or loss of the car during the transit.

Most car owners commit the error of insuring their cars inadequately, thinking that the shipping company insurance is enough.

Nonetheless, standard liability coverage is usually restrictive, and the policyholder may not be adequately reimbursed for any loss or damage.

How to Avoid It: 

Acquire insurance that ensures that any risk that might be encountered when conveying goods is fully catered for.

You should advise your shipping company to help you in determining which kind of insurance it is best for you to have.

There is certain information which must be well understood about the policy including; the coverage, limits, exclusions and the claims handling process.

Automobile insurance will also serve as a safety measure and should anything negative occur to your car during transportation, you are sufficiently covered.

6. Not Accounting for Customs Clearance and Quarantine Delays

Importation of a vehicle into Australia requires one to undergo customs clearance as well as quarantine inspection.

Originally, many car owners do not expect that several days are needed for these processes, which results in time spending and additional money if the car failed the inspection.

How to Avoid It: 

Ensure that you have all the documents which the importer needs for the import approval, bill of lading, ownership proof and any other supporting document that may be needed.

To prevent additional time losing when passing through customs, inform customs about what is inside and the state of your vehicle.

Negotiate the quarantine conditions and be certain that your vehicle conforms to such measures so that you do not incur further measures such as extra inspection or cleaning charges.

7. Overlooking the Importance of Hiring a Reputable Shipping Company

To stay clear of the unnecessary mistakes, hiring a company that is trustworthy and has a previous experience is crucial.

They select the carrier that provides delivery for the least amount not thinking about the guaranty of the service.

This may result in poor handling, delays, and appearance of other costs which the firm may lack the capacity to handle in international shipping.

How to Avoid It: 

Select and identify a reliable shipping company that has a good experience in shipping of cars from United Kingdom to Australia.

Search for the customers’ feedbacks, inquiry regarding referrals as well as ensure that you check on the legitimacy of the company as well as its membership to the certain professional associations.

With an experienced shipping company, many issues relating to the shipment process, paperwork, to even customs clearance is taken care of to minimize stress.

Conclusion

Taking a car to Australia is not a difficult task but has various stages and some possible challenges which can still be countered.

These are some of the general mistakes that should be avoided during the shipping process:

• Import legislation not being followed
• Vehicle not prepared well
• Not estimating the correct costs
• Wrong method of shipping chosen
• Insurance not considered
• Customs clearing time not considered
• A bad shipping company not hired While avoiding these mistakes, you can experience an easy and smooth shipping process.

Just note that the long and careful selection process of the right partners is the foundation to a smooth car shipping.