How to Ship a Car From the USA to Africa

How to Ship a Car From the USA to Africa
Although it involves considerable expense, you may need to ship a car from the United States to Africa if you're planning outdoor adventures or other journeys that require an all-terrain vehicle or other specialized automobile. It's important to choose the right shipping company and follow the proper procedures.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:
  • Cashier's check or credit card Complete car description Desired delivery date and destination Embassy or consulate contact information
  • Cashier's check or credit card
  • Complete car description
  • Desired delivery date and destination
  • Embassy or consulate contact information
Step 1
Choose your company. It should have specialized service with shipping cars to Africa in general and to your destination country in particular. Most removal companies will handle much if not all the paperwork involved with clearing your car through customs and take care of tariffs and other administrative matters.
Step 2
Contact the embassy for your country of destination. The embassy can answer questions such as which documents are required for proper entry of your car. The embassy can also determine whether you car will face any particular problems with entry because of its age or other factors.
Step 3
Decide between shipping your car via container or roll-on, roll-off service, known as RORO. With container service, your car has its own container. You are also allowed to pack the car and the container with your personal effects. RORO service is considerably cheaper. However, the car must be empty except for a single spare tire, a wrench and a jack. Factory-installed features are allowed to remain with the car.
Step 4
Choose a shipping date and your exact destination. Also decide whether you want the car to be shipped terminal to terminal or door to door. It is more convenient but significantly more expensive to ship door to door.
Step 5
Contact the removal company. Provide the shipper with a complete description of your car, including the make and model, whether it is new or used, has a right-hand or left-hand driving column and other details. Also give your desired shipping date and final destination.

Tips & Warnings

 
If you choose container shipping, arrange for your personal effects to go into the container first, then your car. Arrange to have the car placed into the container so that the front end is facing the opening. You likely will be required to pay with a cashier's check, money order or credit card. Only a partial payment is usually required in advance. Countries often charge varying tariffs depending on the age of the car. Check whether your domestic driver's license is valid in your country of destination, or obtain an international driver's permit before leaving the United States. Drain the gas line, run the engine dry and disconnect the battery before having the car packed.
 
If you choose container shipping, arrange for your personal effects to go into the container first, then your car.
 
Arrange to have the car placed into the container so that the front end is facing the opening.
 
You likely will be required to pay with a cashier's check, money order or credit card. Only a partial payment is usually required in advance.
 
Countries often charge varying tariffs depending on the age of the car.
 
Check whether your domestic driver's license is valid in your country of destination, or obtain an international driver's permit before leaving the United States.
 
Drain the gas line, run the engine dry and disconnect the battery before having the car packed.
 
Many African countries place restrictions on either right-hand drive cars or left-hand drive cars, depending on how cars are configured within the country. Leave the construction of a platform within a container (for additional personal effects) to the removal company. It is too complex a task for anyone but a skilled professional. A car that is not drivable can be shipped. However, the brakes must work and you will have to pay a significant extra charge. The Law of the Maritime limits the liability of international car shipping companies to a maximum of $500 per car. You will need to purchase additional insurance.
 
Many African countries place restrictions on either right-hand drive cars or left-hand drive cars, depending on how cars are configured within the country.
 
Leave the construction of a platform within a container (for additional personal effects) to the removal company. It is too complex a task for anyone but a skilled professional.
 
A car that is not drivable can be shipped. However, the brakes must work and you will have to pay a significant extra charge.
 
The Law of the Maritime limits the liability of international car shipping companies to a maximum of $500 per car. You will need to purchase additional insurance.

Article Written By Chris Blank

Chris Blank is an independent writer and research consultant with more than 20 years' experience. Blank specializes in social policy analysis, current events, popular culture and travel. His work has appeared both online and in print publications. He holds a Master of Arts in sociology and a Juris Doctor.

Write for Trails.com
  • Editor's Pick

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...

    More National Parks...
  • Popular Article

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...

    More National Parks...
  • Featured Destination

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...

    More Camping Basics...

Hotel Finder

Destination
Check-in
Check-out
Adults (18+ yrs)
Children (2-17 yrs)
Get Rates and Availability

Outdoor Gear & Equipment

ALL NEW Trails Gear Store powered by:

Trail Finder

US Map

Search by Keyword