Vehicles are normally quoted EXW, FOB or CIF. Under FOB the buyer nominates the forwarder and controls the sea freight; under CIF the supplier arranges it. For first-time buyers FOB with a forwarder you trust is often safer, because you can see the actual freight cost rather than an amount bundled into the vehicle price.
Special vehicles ship as roll-on/roll-off or in containers depending on size and protection requirements. A van-based ambulance can travel in a 40-foot high-cube container; a box-body truck usually cannot, and goes ro-ro or break-bulk. The shipping method changes the packing, the insurance and the port charges, so it should be decided with the quotation.
FOB is the most common term for vehicle exports because it puts a clear boundary at the ship's rail: the supplier is responsible until the vehicle is loaded, the buyer from that point. It also lets the buyer use their own forwarder, which usually means better visibility of the freight cost and better control of the arrival process.
CIF bundles freight and insurance into the price. It is convenient for a buyer without a forwarder relationship, but it hides the freight line, which makes it hard to tell whether the vehicle or the shipping is expensive. Ask for the freight cost to be shown separately even when the quote is CIF.
Whichever term is used, agree three things in writing: the port of loading, the packing standard (especially for ro-ro, where vehicles are exposed), and who pays demurrage if clearance is delayed at destination. Most disputes in vehicle shipping are about the third item, not the first two.
Most vehicle carriers serve major ports rather than small ones. Tell us the destination and we will quote the nearest commercially served port, including inland transport if that is cheaper overall.
Under CIF the supplier arranges minimum cover; under FOB the buyer arranges it. For vehicles we recommend all-risk cover rather than minimum cover, because hull damage in ro-ro handling is not always covered by a basic policy.
The supplier provides the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and the vehicle's technical documents. Customs clear...
Pricing and orderingWhat payment terms do you accept for vehicle orders?Standard terms are a deposit with the order and the balance before shipment, released against a pre-shipment inspection report and photographs. The de...
Tell us the vehicle, the market and the requirement. You will get a straight answer within one working day, whether or not it leads to an order.