Africa International Shipping Companies

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Africa international shipping companies specialize in transporting cars to and from the African continent. They can help you import your car into the U.S. from any African nation, or they can help you export your car from the US to any destination within Africa. Most of the larger Africa international shipping companies are familiar with the complex rules and regulations involved in shipping a car to or from Africa, and can help deliver your car to its destination in the most efficient manner possible.

Reviews of Africa International Shipping Companies

• Aim Logistics International
• Safmarine

Understanding Import and Export Regulations

Whether you are importing a car from Africa or exporting to an African nation, you will need to be prepared to deal with a lot of customs formalities and import regulations. For example, different countries in Africa have different documentation requirements for importing cars from the US. Countries such as Angola, The Republic of Congo, Senegal and Nigeria require you to obtain special import certificates or licenses, called Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) or Attestation de reservation de Calle’ (ARC), from the port of origin. Countries such as Ghana and Equatorial Guinea do not require such certificates.

Knowing What Is Permitted

Similarly, some African countries drive on the left-hand side of the road, and will only let you import cars that have steering wheels on the right-hand side of the vehicle. The import duties charged by the different countries in Africa also vary widely, with some countries, such as Tunisia, charging less than 18 percent, while others, such as Morocco, charge a 45 percent tax. Most Africa international shipping companies will be familiar with such rules and will be able to help you prepare the documentation needed to import a car.

US Safety and Emissions Requirements

Meanwhile, those importing cars to the US have a whole separate set of issues they need to deal with. The US prohibits the import of any vehicle that does not meet US safety and emissions standards. If your vehicle fails to pass the safety or emissions tests, you will be given 45 days to bring the vehicle into compliance. In the interim, you have to deposit a bond amounting to 150 percent of the value of the vehicle. If you do not bring your car into compliance within 45 days, you forfeit the deposit.

Shipping Cars to or from Africa

Africa international shipping companies can help you navigate through such formalities more easily. They will pick up your car from its port of origin and transport it over sea in either a Roll on Roll Off (RoRo) carrier or on a container ship. With RoRo carriers, cars are driven onto the ship at the port of origin, and driven off the ship at the destination port. With container shipping, your car will be loaded in a container before it is transported.

Required Documents

Shipping companies will require you to hand them a copy of your title, license, registration, and other documents at the port of origin. In most cases, you will need to arrive at your destination before your car arrives in order to clear it through customs. You will require your bill of lading, original title, bill of sale and emissions record when clearing customs. In case you are unable to arrive before your car does, you can ask your shipping company to forward your car to a bonded customs warehouse, from where you can pick it up later. Africa international shipping companies are familiar with the numerous formalities that exist in importing or exporting a car from Africa, and can help play a vital role in getting your car to where you want it delivered.