How to Move a Car Overseas as Part of a Household Move (2025 Guide)
If you’re planning a move overseas in 2025, you may be wondering:
Can I bring my car or motorcycle with me?
The short answer is: yes, but it depends—and you’ll want expert guidance.
At SDC International Shipping, we help individuals and families relocate their homes across the globe. For clients with a full household move, we also offer secure vehicle shipping as part of the overall relocation plan. But unlike general auto transporters, we never move vehicles as stand-alone shipments—and for good reason.
Moving a car internationally isn’t as simple as dropping it off at the port. Between country-specific regulations, import taxes, customs paperwork, and the physical safety of your vehicle in transit, the process can be complex, expensive, or even prohibitive if done incorrectly.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through:
- Whether it makes sense to ship your vehicle
- What countries allow or restrict vehicle imports
- Why container shipping is the only method we recommend
- How SDC makes it easy to coordinate your vehicle shipment with your household goods
If you’re relocating internationally and thinking about bringing your car along, this article will help you make the right call—based on facts, not guesswork.
Should You Bring Your Car When You Move Abroad?
Before you decide to ship your car overseas, stop and ask:
Is it actually worth it?
In some cases, absolutely. But in others, the answer is no—and we’re not afraid to say so.
At SDC International Shipping, we don’t just move cars—we help people relocate their entire lives. That means giving you honest guidance about whether shipping your vehicle makes financial, legal, and logistical sense based on your destination.
Here’s what to consider:
When It Might Not Make Sense to Ship a Car:
- High Import Taxes or Duties:
Some countries (like the UK, Australia, or many in the EU) charge 20%–100% in import taxes or require costly emissions and safety modifications. These fees can exceed the value of the vehicle. - Strict Age or Emissions Limits:
Many nations only allow cars under a certain age or those that meet local emissions standards. If your car doesn’t comply, it may be denied entry—or require costly retrofitting. - Left-Hand vs. Right-Hand Driving:
Countries like Japan, Australia, and the UK use right-hand drive vehicles. If your U.S. car is left-hand drive, it could limit your ability to use or sell it. - Local Market Realities:
In some countries, vehicles are affordable and widely available. It may be easier—and cheaper—to sell your car before you move and buy locally once you arrive.
When It Does Make Sense:
- You’re relocating long-term or permanently
- Your destination allows vehicle imports without extreme taxation
- You’re moving to a country where U.S. cars are common or compatible
- The vehicle is high-value, rare, or personally meaningful
- You’re already shipping a full household container (the most cost-efficient method)
We’ve helped clients bring their cars to Mexico, certain EU countries, parts of Central America, and more—but we always start with a country-specific check. Our relocation advisors can tell you upfront if your destination is friendly to imports or if you’re better off leaving the car behind.
Why We Only Ship Vehicles in Containers (And Never RoRo)
If you’ve been researching international car shipping, you may have seen two common methods:
- RoRo (Roll-on, Roll-off) – your car is driven onto a cargo ship and parked with hundreds of others
- Container Shipping – your car is secured inside a metal shipping container, either alone or alongside your household goods
At SDC International Shipping, we only offer containerized vehicle shipping—and we do so for one simple reason:
It’s the safest, most secure, and most compliant way to ship your vehicle internationally.
Here’s why we never recommend RoRo:
RoRo Shipping = High Risk, Low Control
- Your vehicle is exposed to salt air, weather, and theft risks during open-air transit
- It may be handled multiple times by dock workers with no visibility into who’s behind the wheel
- You can’t ship personal items inside the vehicle under RoRo, due to port restrictions
- It’s not available for many global destinations, especially for household combo shipments
- Delays are common if the port doesn’t fill with enough vehicles to justify departure
RoRo may be slightly cheaper upfront—but the risk to your investment and personal property is rarely worth the savings.
Container Shipping = Full Protection
When we ship your vehicle, it is:
- Loaded into a secure steel container, either solo or with your household goods
- Blocked, braced, and secured using approved automotive transport equipment
- Protected from the elements throughout the entire ocean transit
- Insured as part of your total shipment, and included in a single customs process
In many cases, you can ship household items in the same container as your car, which offers both convenience and cost-efficiency.
If you’re already moving your belongings overseas, adding your vehicle to the same container is the smartest and safest approach.
How the International Vehicle Shipping Process Works (Step-by-Step)
When you work with SDC International Shipping, your car isn’t just another item in a checklist—it’s a valuable part of your life. That’s why we’ve developed a streamlined, secure process for shipping your vehicle alongside your household goods, all under one expertly managed plan.
Here’s how it works:
1. Vehicle Eligibility Check
We start by confirming:
- Whether your destination country allows vehicle imports
- If your car meets age, emissions, and safety standards
- What documents, taxes, or local modifications may be required
We’ll tell you up front if it makes financial or logistical sense to bring your car. If not, we’ll suggest alternatives.
2. Inspection & Documentation
If your car qualifies:
- We conduct a full pre-shipment inspection (or guide you to one)
- You’ll provide documents such as:
- Vehicle title (in your name, free of liens)
- Passport or ID
- Proof of residence abroad
- Any destination-specific paperwork (we help you with this)
3. Packing & Container Loading
On moving day, we:
- Load your vehicle inside a secure steel shipping container
- Use approved blocking/bracing systems to prevent shifting in transit
- Carefully pack your household goods in the same container (if applicable)
- Create a detailed inventory and manifest for customs
Every container is sealed, tracked, and monitored from port to port.
4. International Transit & Customs
Once your container is on its way:
- We provide updates on ocean freight and customs timelines
- We coordinate with destination agents and customs brokers
- Your vehicle is cleared as part of your full household shipment
Because we manage the paperwork, you avoid delays, fines, and headaches.
5. Delivery to Your New Home
After clearing customs, your container is delivered directly to your destination—home, warehouse, or secure facility. We offer:
- Unloading and unblocking
- Vehicle inspection and condition report
- Final placement of goods inside your new residence
From start to finish, you’ll have a dedicated relocation advisor who handles every moving part.
Why Families and Professionals Trust SDC to Move Their Vehicles Overseas
When you’re moving overseas, your vehicle isn’t just another asset—it’s part of your daily life, your freedom, and your routine. Whether it’s your family SUV, your classic weekend ride, or your motorcycle, you want it to arrive safely, legally, and on time.
That’s where SDC International Shipping stands apart.
We’re not a generic auto transporter. We’re a licensed international moving company that specializes in full household relocations, and vehicle shipping is just one part of the expertly managed plan we build for each client.
✅ With SDC, You Get:
- A dedicated relocation advisor who coordinates your vehicle and household move
- Honest guidance about import laws, taxes, and what’s worth shipping
- Professional packing, container loading, and customs paperwork done for you
- Secure, weatherproof container shipping—never risky RoRo
- Insurance coverage and door-to-door delivery
❌ Without a Trusted Partner, You Risk:
- Choosing RoRo or budget shippers with poor security and no accountability
- Getting stuck at customs due to missing paperwork or compliance issues
- Paying unexpected taxes or fees in your destination country
- Delays that disrupt your arrival and add unnecessary stress to your move
When you ship with SDC, you’re not just moving a car—you’re moving forward.
Ready to Move Your Vehicle Overseas (the Right Way)?
Let’s talk about whether shipping your vehicle makes sense for your destination—and how we can make it part of a seamless international relocation.
👉 Request a free quote now
👉 Or call us at 877-339-0267 to speak with a household moving and vehicle relocation expert
We’ll help you build a custom plan—and give you the confidence to hit the road in your new country.
