- Home
- About Us
- Join/Renew
- Member Benefits
- Member Pages
- Log In
- Help
- Museum Store
Needing recommendations for transporting a brass car from UK, Southampton port, to Savannah GA (Port). Do you suggest getting a 1908 car through Customs? Should I find a broker?
I will have insurance coverage through Hagerty and am deciding RORO or container?
Bill clearing the car through US Customs should be relatively straightforward. There should be staff on hand who will assist you in clearing the car. Is the car of US manufacture? Also, being built in 1908 it would be considered an antique over 100 years old. Are you located near the port where it will be cleared? If so, you should be able to clear the car easily. If you are not near the port, you might want to hire a broker as finding a bonded carrier to bring the car to a port near your home might be troublesome.
Both RO/RO and containerization have advantages and drawbacks. A 20 foot container would afford more protection than RO/RO, but unless the car is properly blocked and braced within the container, it might be damaged just from bouncing around in the container. Remember, a ship at sea goes back and forth, side to side, as well as up and down over the waves and anything in the container would have to be braced to prevent this movement.
Marine insurance is a whole horse of another color from regular automotive insurance. If a ship were to suffer a loss or sinking at sea, if you’re not covered for marine properly you might wind up owing the owners of the ship prorata for their loss of the ship. I would check your Hagerty policy very closely or otherwise contact your commercial insurance broker. A forwarding agent arranging transport overseas should be able to arrange proper marine insurance coverage.
Also, in reference to self clearance versus hiring a broker. I am assuming that you are importing this vehicle for personal use and ownership, and not for resale or commercial purposes. A commercial importation is much more complicated. I suggest you CBP website, http://www.CBP.gov, click on the “Trade” tab, and look for a publication for new importers entitled “Importing into the United States.” It will give you a good overview of import procedures.
Also, in reference to self clearance versus hiring a broker. I am assuming that you are importing this vehicle for personal use and ownership, and not for resale or commercial purposes. A commercial importation is much more complicated. I suggest you CBP website, http://www.CBP.gov, click on the “Trade” tab, and look for a publication for new importers entitled “Importing into the United States.” It will give you a good overview of import procedures.
The knowledge on this board never ceases to amaze me.
In case nobody has figured it out, Ken Mueliner has many years of experience with US Customs !!
Greg Long
Pray, tell..what’s the latest addition to your family? According to a previous
owner, my 1904 Oldsmobile was exposed to seawater while returning from the
London to Brighton Event. It had to be re-restored.
Years ago while on a two month motor trip through Europe,I did purchase a very original 1927 Rolls Royce 20hp Barker Enclosed Drive Cabriolet from a classic car person outside London.I had him do some work on the car and when completed the car was steam cleaned underneath per US regulations then put on the ship bound for the port of Houston.The car was not crated.I was advised to hire a customs broker to clear the car through customs and he brought gasoline so I could drive the car as it was drained before shipment.When I saw my car it was between crates of lettuce but during shipment the car got a dent in the rear fender and the bumper center clamp was broken by pulling the car with a forklift but otherwise was fine except for being covered in cosmoline.We put in the gas and I drove to the Houston Rolls Royce dealership to have them check the car over before driving home to Santa Fe.If I ever did this again I would have the car crated and trucked to my location.The drive home of 800-900 miles in absolute cold is a story in itself.I did have marine insurance but never knew one could have costs for the loss of a ship.
I registered the Rolls Royce in New Mexico with no problem with the British title but when the MVD guy say the word “Cabriolet”” he asked me what kind of Chevrolet it was.The car now is in France.Interesting experience!You have to work with the schedule of the shipping company and I would really suggest having everything properly set up way in advance.”
I thank you all for your help. I just realized that my comments were in PM messages. The PAS society is very helpful. Very helpful. I am proud to be part of this family.
I have some very good information and am proceeding to get our car home. There may be some snags and will reach out for help.
Update: About have the car on a boat.
1.) Hagerty insured the car for usual prices. They DO have a Marine Carrier. $160 total. Covers the car from the Auction House to the Port and then on the ship, 20-foot container and covers the voyage and unloading in USA Port where we pick it up and bring it home.
2.) Check around for prices. I have a 20-foot container from 1495GBP to 4000GBP! Still getting transport from Auction house to the port enclosed transport. Range from 940GBP to 250GBP.
I want to thank Ken Muellner for his very good advice about getting Marine Insurance!! Great idea! PAS Family comes through.
With all the help I’ve received from members over the past few years, I am just glad to help out someone else for a change. Call anytime you need something.
The people helping people in the PAS is why its the BEST club for pre war cars in the country. People at the big shows talk to me about it all the time.
EXPORT LICENSE from UK Needs to go through the “UK Arts Council”. IF a car is over 50 years in age, or over 40,000GPB value. Needs an Export License. Country of origin seems unimportant. I had heard that an American car returning to America had preferential treatment, No.
Export License takes about 5 days and this is free service. The Auction house or seller needs to fill out the paperwork. Important that the car needs to have been in the UK less than 50 years.
In online bidding in a UK Auction it is super important that you check out the fine print, and any link that has “additional fees.”
Especially when bidding online and using a service “Saleroom.com”. They will add an additional fee beyond the auction house’s “buyer premium.” Just in the case of my bidding, using the Saleroom.com, an additional 3% of the Hammer Price was added to my final amount. In high price auction, the bottom line difference between using a phone with an auctioneer, using the 3% added to the hammer price is a very large amount. My total buyer premium including was over 20% of the hammer price!!!
YOW! READ THE FINE PRINT!
In online bidding in a UK Auction it is super important that you check out the fine print, and any link that has “additional fees.”
Especially when bidding online and using a service “Saleroom.com”. They will add an additional fee beyond the auction house’s “buyer premium.” Just in the case of my bidding, using the Saleroom.com, an additional 3% of the Hammer Price was added to my final amount. In high price auction, the bottom line difference between using a phone with an auctioneer, using the 3% added to the hammer price is a very large amount. My total buyer premium including was over 20% of the hammer price!!!
YOW! READ THE FINE PRINT!
The Car is paid for and ready to ship. However, needs an Export License from UK Council of Arts. Any car over 50 years old and over 41,000GPB.
Pro: free
Con: takes five days and the UK Arts Council, because do not have email. A hard copy must be mailed to the auction house and then filled out by the seller and then mailed back to the UK Arts Council, then the five days begin. Then the hard copy is mailed to the shipper.
Kafka-esque!
Perseverance is the hallmark of a successful life. No whiners need not apply!
After thirty five years of this, do you wonder why I’m retiring?