At Sotby we understand the importance of facilitating and expediting customs clearance, as well as accommodating our clients with personalized warehousing services.
We provide complete U.S. Customs clearance services on all commodities. Sotby, Inc. has a great deal of experience with United States Custom Services. We are also proficient in all customs procedures, such as obtaining the appropriate export clearance documentation.
Any motorized vehicles that require DMV registration (auto, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, jet skis, ATV’s) are considered by U.S. Customs (and Foreign Customs) as motor vehicles. Shipping motor vehicles abroad is subject to certain special procedures related to customs and safety issues. Those procedures make shipments containing motor vehicles slightly different from shipping general cargo.
Custom regulations require the original title along with at least three copies (non-notarized) of the title, front and back. These must accompany the vehicle to the port of origin. If there are any liens against the vehicle, a notarized letter from the lien holder authorizing the export of the vehicle must also accompany the vehicle. If owner of vehicle, as in the vehicle title, cannot accompany the vehicle to the port of departure, then the owner must issue a power of attorney to the person or company that represents the vehicle’s owner before customs in the port of departure. The original title must be presented to the destination customs. If a vehicle had been sold to the consignee (recipient), then bill of sale must be presented at the destination as well. I.e. as soon as your vehicle had passed customs at origin, in order to avoid extra charges at the destination due to lack of proper documentation, mail all original documents to the consignee without delay. If vehicles are being shipped in a container, then doors of the container must be sealed and locked at a time when a customs officer checks the vehicles and it’s VINs inside of the container. Easy access for the customs officer to vehicles and its VIN numbers (as a rule on the left side under windshields) must be provided. Otherwise, the loaded container will be rejected to the shipment by customs and require to be returned to a loading dock for the reload. While loading and securing vehicles in containers we strongly recommend considering hiring a quality loading company experienced in shipping vehicles oversea.
The shipper is solely responsible for furnishing any and all documents related to the shipment. The documents should include all paperwork required by the origin and destination countries’ officials. Carrier of the cargo (as well as the freight forwarder representing the carrier) is not responsible for cargo documentation.
Commonly used documents include:
Bill of Lading – Carriers transport document. Shows cargo routing, consigner, consignee, cargo description, etc.