How to Move a Car and Household Goods in One International Shipment
Why Combine Car and Household Shipping?
For many people moving abroad, the question isn’t just how to get their furniture, clothes, and household essentials overseas. It’s also whether they can bring their car along. After all, a vehicle is more than just transportation — it’s a valuable asset and often a part of daily life you don’t want to leave behind.
The good news is that you don’t have to ship your car separately. By combining your vehicle and your household goods into a single container, you save both time and money while keeping the process far simpler than managing two different shipments.
Families often find this option appealing because it consolidates everything into one timeline. Retirees moving permanently abroad appreciate the cost savings. Even professionals relocating for work enjoy the convenience of having both their car and their belongings arrive together at their new destination.
With SDC, combining car and household shipping means fewer handoffs, less paperwork, and one streamlined customs clearance. It’s the efficient, stress-free way to relocate everything important in your life — home and car alike.
Related: International Household Movers »
How Containerized Car Shipping Works
The process of shipping a car with household goods begins with careful planning and professional loading. At SDC, the vehicle is always loaded into the container first. Our team blocks and braces it securely so it will not shift during transit. Once the car is in place, we pack the household goods around and above it, making full use of the container’s space.
This method is known as containerized shipping. It offers a higher level of protection compared to other methods, like roll-on/roll-off, where cars are driven onto a vessel and exposed to handling along the way. With containerized shipping, your car and belongings stay sealed in one unit from departure until arrival.
Once loaded, the container is closed, sealed, and transported to the nearest port, often Long Beach or Los Angeles for Southern California clients. From there, it’s loaded onto an ocean vessel and carried to the destination country. At the other end, the container is offloaded and delivered to your new home, where the same care is taken during unloading.
The entire chain of custody is handled by SDC and our trusted partners, so you don’t have to coordinate separate providers for your car and your household goods. Everything travels together, with one shipment number and one delivery schedule.
Related: Shipping Containers Guide »
The Customs Advantage of Combined Shipping
One of the biggest challenges in any international move is clearing customs. Each country has its own rules about what you can bring in, how long you must have owned certain items, and what documentation is required. If you ship your car and household goods separately, you end up dealing with two different sets of paperwork and potentially two different clearance processes.
By combining your vehicle and your personal belongings into one shipment, you simplify everything. Customs officials review a single entry, which means one timeline, one inspection, and one clearance fee. This reduces both the cost and the risk of delays.
The required documents vary by country, but generally you’ll need the original car title, vehicle registration, a detailed packing list for your household goods, and proof of your change of residence or work assignment. When handled properly, these documents ensure that your items clear customs smoothly and avoid unnecessary duties or storage fees.
At SDC, our team helps prepare every piece of paperwork before your shipment even leaves California. Once it arrives at its destination, our local agents present your documentation and coordinate with customs authorities directly. This way, your car and household goods move through the process together, minimizing complications and giving you peace of mind.
Related: International Customs Regulations Guide »
What Types of Vehicles Can Be Shipped with Goods?
Not every vehicle fits neatly into a shared container, but most standard cars, SUVs, and motorcycles can be shipped alongside household goods without issue. These types of vehicles are compact enough to load first, brace securely, and still leave plenty of space for boxes, furniture, and other belongings.
Larger vehicles, such as pickup trucks, vans, or RVs, present more of a challenge. In many cases, they require a full 40-foot container on their own, or a different method like roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipping. RoRo involves driving the vehicle onto the vessel, which works well for oversized cars but does not allow you to include personal belongings in the same shipment.
Motorcycles, on the other hand, are often easier to ship with household goods. They can be crated, lifted into the container, and secured without taking up significant space. Many clients relocating long-term choose to bring a motorcycle as a practical and affordable way to get around their new city.
At SDC, we evaluate your vehicle type and size before recommending the best solution. If a containerized shipment makes sense, we’ll prepare it to travel safely with your household goods. If your vehicle is oversized, we’ll advise on whether a separate RoRo shipment or alternative arrangement would be more efficient.
Related: Car Shipping Options Explained »
Preparing Your Car and Belongings for Shipment
Shipping a car with your household goods requires preparation, and a little planning goes a long way in making the process smooth.
For your vehicle, the first step is to ensure it’s thoroughly cleaned. Many countries require cars to be free of dirt and plant material before entering, and a clean vehicle avoids unnecessary inspections or quarantine delays. The gas tank should also be nearly empty, usually less than a quarter full, for safety during transit. All personal items must be removed from the car itself, since only the goods packed in the container are documented for customs clearance.
Your household belongings need the same level of care. Each item should be packed in sturdy, internationally approved materials and listed in a detailed inventory. This inventory is essential for customs, as it confirms what’s in each box and its declared value. Professional packing also ensures your belongings are secure when placed around the vehicle in the container.
At SDC, we provide custom crating for fragile or high-value items, and our packing teams create a complete, itemized list that travels with your shipment. By preparing both your car and your household goods correctly, you avoid common pitfalls and ensure that everything arrives intact and ready for use in your new home.
Related: Professional Packing Services »
Insurance for Car + Household Shipments
Even with the most careful preparation, international shipping involves a long journey and many handling points. That is why insurance is such an important part of the process, especially when you are moving both a vehicle and household goods together.
With combined shipping, insurance is actually simpler. Because everything travels in the same container, you can cover the car and your belongings under a single policy. This avoids the confusion and added expense of insuring two separate shipments. It also means that if anything unexpected happens during transit, you only need to deal with one claim process.
There are generally two types of insurance available. Total loss coverage protects you if the entire container is lost or destroyed. All-risk coverage offers broader protection, covering damage to individual items or the vehicle itself. The latter is often the best choice for clients who want peace of mind knowing that every piece of their shipment is protected.
Another important factor is how your belongings are packed. Most insurance providers require professional packing in order to qualify for all-risk coverage. By using SDC’s expert teams, you ensure that your goods are packed to international standards, and you maximize the protection offered by your insurance plan.
Ultimately, insurance is about more than financial reimbursement. It is about confidence. Knowing that your car and household goods are covered allows you to focus on your new life abroad, instead of worrying about what might happen in transit.
Related: International Moving Insurance Options »
Why SDC Is the Right Partner for Combined Shipping
Not every moving company has the expertise to ship a vehicle and household goods together. It takes specialized knowledge, the right equipment, and a global network of partners to make sure the process is both safe and efficient. That’s where SDC International Shipping stands out.
We’ve been helping families, professionals, and retirees move their entire lives abroad for years. From carefully loading a sedan in Los Angeles to delivering a full household container in Europe, Asia, or Latin America, our team manages every detail. Our coordinators understand the paperwork, our packers know how to protect fragile goods around a vehicle, and our global partners handle customs with precision.
With SDC, you aren’t left guessing who is responsible for what. One company manages the full chain of custody, from your driveway in California to your new home overseas. This means one quote, one timeline, and one point of contact for the entire move.
Clients who choose combined shipping with us consistently mention how seamless the process feels. Instead of juggling multiple vendors, they can focus on the exciting parts of relocation — exploring a new city, settling into a new culture, and starting a fresh chapter of life.
When you want a safe, simple, and efficient way to move both your home and your car, SDC International Shipping is the partner you can count on.
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