TheSamba.com :: View topic - shipping USA-Uk

Fri Feb 25, 2005 2:03 pm

Hi Guys, :o

I put another post on the 'general' forum but thought I would put this one here.

I want to ship a bus back from San Fransico to the UK, I was wondering if anyone had done this (there must be?). If so which company did you use? I have found a few companies but its always better to use one that another person recomends.

What do I have to do to ship from the US, what paper work etc---- how long would it take to organise in the US?

Thanks for your help :D

Joe

Fri Feb 25, 2005 10:24 pm

check with vintagewarehouse.com greg has shipped a few buses to the uk and also bought some from there so he will probably be able to hook you up and he lives about 1 hour from san francisco

Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:44 pm

thanks.. :D :lol: ..i have sent an email to them.

Joe

P>S anyone else no anything? :?:

Thu Mar 03, 2005 2:59 am

I ship Oakland to Dublin, Ireland but have heard good things about Kingston for UK shipping.

HTH,
Britt

Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:30 pm

i emailed the vintage ware hosue and have heard nothing back...anyone have any more info :?:

Sat Mar 05, 2005 11:20 pm

PM me Joe and I'll see if I can help you.
Britt

Sun Mar 13, 2005 7:01 pm

This is who I am using to ship OAK to Sweden:

Kristine
510-632-6372

I've been quoted $1300 per car and $140/m2 for consolidated. A friend has already shipped with them, so they are good.

Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:58 pm

Joe,

Alan Shores at Kingstown shipping quoted me £950 a couple of months back for shipping one bus from California (either LA or San Fran) to Chatham, Kent. Includes UK handling charges for customs clearance and unpacking.

E-mail:

alan@kingstown-shipping.co.uk

http://www.kingstown-shipping.co.uk/

Not sure about what documentation you need. The California DMV website states that you need a vehicle title and have to fill out a REG32 form. The person filling out the REG32 has to be the person named on the title, which to me sounds like you'll have to get the title transferred from the sellers name into yours.
See here for detail:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/export.htm

Your shipper will need the original title so that the vehicle can be cleared for export by US Customs.

Not sure about the finer detail.

Can anyone advise what procedure needs to be followed?

Perhaps your shipper (who ever you choose) may be able to offer advice.

Regards,

Russell Brown
Norfolk and Good Campers

Tue Mar 22, 2005 3:47 pm

Ditto that ^^
I've used Alan and Mark at Kings town for my last 9 busses :) and they're spot on. Never brught any back from San Fran as i normally go out to LA myself for a holiday and shopping trip in one 8) but i'm sure they'll point you in the right direction.
All you need is the pink slip and a bill of sale, at whatever price suits you ;)
If you need any answers in depth, give me a buzz or send me a pm mate

Anton
07956379191

or better still come out with us in June :roll:

Laters

Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:18 pm

Switch,

look up " FASTBACKDON " here on the samba. He might be able to give you a better deal than Cal Ship and can go direct to UK instead of layover in Germany???? Give me a call! Anybody else coming over with ya??? I'm up to 4 busses and a beetle. I can only drive one... :roll:

Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:17 pm

Hello all,

thanks for the emails. slowly i'm getting there with the info that i need...below are a few more questions that as yet I don't know the answers to.

for export from the US all I will need is the pink slip - signed by the last owner and a bill of sale - does the bill of sale have to be wriiten on a special bit of paper or form?

thanks for the guys that came up with the shipping info, the prices seem to be very different - from $850 US to £950. those here that have done this before what is the cost break down i.e is there extra charges for paper work? If I ship back 2 buses (i plan to) can I get them both into one big container?

as for import and export taxes what do you guys know? will I have to pay any tax to get it out of the US? As for getting it into the UK I still can not find any info as to whether the buses will be called a classic or whether I will have to pay 10% import tax and then 17.5% VAT - any know any more?

Once again a big thank you for your help.

Joe :lol:

Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:38 pm

Not many people will tell you the whole shipping costs. My containers from Oakland to Dublin cost me $3200 on the US end but there's $300 extra in there to drop the container at my home. Then it costs about 2300 Euros in Dublin with Shipping ( Irish now) duty, customs, and stuffage ( the ripoff charge to unload the container from dock to holding warehouse). You can get 2 busses into a 40' container.
You can write a bill of sale on any piece of paper. Ie: Sold 1 VW Bus 1971 to _____________________ For the sale price of ____________ paid ni full on date___________. Bus is sold as is .

\Seller__________
Buyer_______________________

Hope this helps.

Britt

Sat Mar 26, 2005 5:54 pm

I just dropped my car off at the shipper yesterday. It's a no brainer on this end. There is a ~$300 charge for offloading on the other end, but I'll know more when I have to do it (4-6 weeks). Boats leave every two weeks.

Since I am moving to Sweden, the tax laws apply differently to me. Kristine can tell you specifically what types of taxes and fees to be prepared for. I paid $1538 and shipped ~1.5m2 boxes and a filled to the gills Squareback with two 18' kayaks on the roof.

Here's the info:
Kristine Highsmith -- Aladdin Freight
849 Alice Avenue
San Leandro, CA 94577

tel 510 632 6372
fax 510 632 6363

If you decide to go with her, mention "Steve with the Squareback" sent you... She's super cool and very professional.

And, holy shit, they had a split blue dormmobile in the receiving area. Looked like OG paint, too. Someone's a lucky bastard.

Sun Mar 27, 2005 1:09 pm

thanks guys.....

i'm getting there....keep the info coming.

joe :lol:

Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:58 am

What do you guys do for insurance?
I plan to by a bus in California, I'll then have to drive it to the shipping company depot. Surely I'll need insurance to do this? Can anyone advise. Do I get a policy in the UK that will cover me for a week in the USA to drive any vehicle, or do I get the insurance in the USA? Any help, company contacts etc. would be useful.

Thanks,

Russell Brown
Norfolk and Good Campers

Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:20 pm

thats a good point.....i have found some companies in the US that will insure me for 3months min (just serached the net), it costs a fair bit as you are viewed as i dangerous/high risk person as they have no way of knowing your past driving history.
Maybe for you it would be cheaper to transport the bus on a tow truck to the port?

Joe

Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:43 pm

This is what I found out. I reside in CA, shipped from CA. I used my regular insurance to the boat. On the boat, since I am moving, I used my home owners insurance for theft/loss. When in Sweden, I can cover liability, but not comprehensive with my insurer. I will need to find a local company for comprehensive insurance.

With regards to driving the vehicle before shipping, you will need to pay state DMV tax. You will also need to pay tax destination country tax, too. If you *don't* drive it in the US, then you can drive it to the boat (something like 3 days) and avoid paying tax. It's 8.5% in California.

Driving insurance for a non-CA/US driver is ungodly expensive. I would suggest getting your CA driver's license for $15 and about a days worth of time.

www.dmv.ca.gov

Good luck.....

Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:42 pm

We brought in several Type 2s and Splitties into the UK last year and during the summer the Customs people changed the rules so that VW campers are no longer considered as classic. This means you will have to pay duty at 10% on the purchase price of the camper, plus 10% of the cost of shipping and then 17.5% of the purchase price, plus 17.5% of the cost of shipping, plus 17.5% of the duty! Great isn't it!
Pete@oconnorscampers.co.uk

Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:28 am

cheers for the info on UK duty...... :D

why is a camper not a classic......??

when you brought back your type 2s who did you use for the shipping? from what I understand I have to pay to get them unloaded at the Uk end on top of the shipping costs?

What i really would like to know is the overall cost of importing a van with all the hidden costs in....if you could help that would be great

once again thanks...

joe

Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:33 pm

This, along with 1.75 m2 of boxes is what I shipped for the price above. I can't believe they took the kayaks without any questions!! Please don't laugh at my car. :D