Patrick J. Martin
PCS Life Member/Illini Chapter President
Has anyone here ever shipped a vehicle overseas, and if so, perhaps you could offer some words of wisdom and recommend shipping companies to use.
To be more specific in my own case, some of you may know that Germany had a hearse trailer vehicle, the idea being that funeral directors could conduct a service using the trailer behind whatever his normal everyday car was. I have come across one, in Germany, that has captured my fancy, and I'm having thoughts about purchasing it.
I have contacted an international vehicle shipping broker who simply popped up in an internet search for shippers, and I find myself thinking they are not very knowledgable. I'm being told that if I brought the trailer over, it could only stay here for a year, and then have to go back. As I search government websites, the only reference I find to this one-year provision is if a non-US resident is bringing over their personal vehicle for use during a trip. I personally know a car collector near me who imported a Rolls Royce hearse from England several years ago now solely to add to his collection, so I do not beleive this one-year rule that I am being told.
Additionally, as I see it anyway, with this being trailer, it is not a motor vehicle, so I would think it would qualify as merely being personal property. And regardless as to what kind of vehicle it is, I understand that there is a 25-year-old historical expemption from imported vehicles needing to meet US manufacturing standards anyway.
I guess what I'm asking in a long-winded way is first, can someone recommend an overseas import company to use, and second, could someone perhaps point me in the right direction on who to contact to make perfectly clear any legal requirements on importing this trailer. My many thanks for any advice that may be offered!
To be more specific in my own case, some of you may know that Germany had a hearse trailer vehicle, the idea being that funeral directors could conduct a service using the trailer behind whatever his normal everyday car was. I have come across one, in Germany, that has captured my fancy, and I'm having thoughts about purchasing it.
I have contacted an international vehicle shipping broker who simply popped up in an internet search for shippers, and I find myself thinking they are not very knowledgable. I'm being told that if I brought the trailer over, it could only stay here for a year, and then have to go back. As I search government websites, the only reference I find to this one-year provision is if a non-US resident is bringing over their personal vehicle for use during a trip. I personally know a car collector near me who imported a Rolls Royce hearse from England several years ago now solely to add to his collection, so I do not beleive this one-year rule that I am being told.
Additionally, as I see it anyway, with this being trailer, it is not a motor vehicle, so I would think it would qualify as merely being personal property. And regardless as to what kind of vehicle it is, I understand that there is a 25-year-old historical expemption from imported vehicles needing to meet US manufacturing standards anyway.
I guess what I'm asking in a long-winded way is first, can someone recommend an overseas import company to use, and second, could someone perhaps point me in the right direction on who to contact to make perfectly clear any legal requirements on importing this trailer. My many thanks for any advice that may be offered!