Shipping a Car or Equipment From a US Auction Overseas: Step by Step
You won the lot — now what? A practical, end-to-end guide to exporting vehicles and equipment bought at US auctions, from yard pickup to delivery at the destination port.
Seaway Project Cargo Team
Project Cargo & Heavy-Lift Specialists
Buying from US auctions is one of the best ways to source value, but the logistics trip up first-time exporters. Here's the full sequence.
1. Before you bid
- Confirm the title status. Salvage, non-running, or "bill of sale only" lots affect what some countries will admit and how the unit must ship.
- Check the destination rules in the relevant country guide — age limits, valuation method, required inspections.
- Estimate the landed cost with the Import Duty & Tax Estimator so the "bargain" stays a bargain after duty and VAT.
2. After you win
- Pay and collect documents promptly — auction yards (see our auction directory) charge storage and have firm removal deadlines.
- Arrange yard pickup to the load port. Inland transport from a remote yard is often a significant cost — factor it in.
3. Choose the method
- Running, wheeled vehicles often ship most economically via RoRo.
- Non-running, salvage, or tracked units are better containerized — sometimes dismantled to fit a box.
- Not sure which? Our RoRo vs container vs flat rack guide walks through the decision.
4. Export and ocean transit
We handle the export documentation (and US export filing), book the sailing, and provide the bill of lading. Estimate the schedule with the transit-time estimator.
5. Destination clearance and delivery
Your consignee (or a broker we coordinate with) clears the cargo, pays duty and VAT, and arranges final delivery. Markets like Kenya and Nigeria value against their own databases, so budget from that figure, not your purchase price.
Have an auction win to move? Send us the lot location and destination and we'll quote the whole journey. Request a quote.
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