So you’ve decided it’s time to pick up stakes and transplant from the good old USA to a new home over the water. Maybe it’s to fulfill a lifelong dream to relocate to your country of origin in retirement, or you’re following a golden business opportunity. Whatever the case, as you make your plans you want to keep costs as low as possible. So let’s look at the cheapest way to ship your personal belongings overseas.
Shipping your personal effects on the water in a shipping container is the most economical, efficient way to move them overseas. Compared to air freight, it’s a terrific bargain, although it does mean baking in a longer transit time. An ocean voyage from the East coast to a European port ranges from 17-24 days, depending on a variety of factors. But if you plan the move well in advance, that’s really not an issue.
The standard maximum weight for goods to be shipped via container is 36,000 lbs for a 20’ unit and 44,000 lbs for a 40’ unit. But don’t worry about that; most household moves will fill up the box well before reaching the weight limit.
NOTE: in this article, we’re assuming you are moving an entire household of personal belongings and not just shipping a few boxes for a semester abroad. In the latter case, you’re better off shipping via parcel with UPS, FedEx or DHL.
If you're shipping an entire household of personal goods overseas, a Full Container Load (FCL) is usually the simplest option. A 20- or 40-foot container is delivered to your residence (access permitting), giving you a scheduled window of a few hours to have your belongings loaded. The container is then sealed and remains unopened until it reaches the destination country, minimizing handling and the risk of damage.
For smaller moves, Less Than Container Load (LCL) can be a more economical alternative. Instead of receiving a dedicated container, your belongings are picked up, and consolidated at a warehouse with other customers' shipments before being loaded into a shared container. After arriving overseas, the shipment is deconsolidated at the port, cleared through customs, and delivered to your new home.
The additional handling makes packing especially important, and residential pickups require more coordination than commercial FCL shipments. “LCL is a great option as long as the items are packaged and crated properly," said Andrew Rozek, president of freight forwarder I.C.E. Transport of New Jersey. “The pickup location should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis because residential collections can be more challenging than moving a commercial dedicated container.”
For customers with only a few pallets or several hundred cubic feet of belongings, who are able to get their belongings properly stowed and prepped, LCL can deliver a combination of value and flexibility.
Lane-by-lane container costs for shipping personal belongings overseas will vary based on market conditions, and carriers set their own rates. Freight forwarders who know the lane and the carriers can find you the cheapest way to ship your personal belongings overseas. But keep in mind that the cheapest rate isn’t always the lowest cost. Carriers with sub-par service can cause delays or damages which raise overall costs.
Depending on where your new home is located, your container may be transloaded onto a smaller vessel before reaching the destination port. For instance, shipping personal effects from the U.S. to Poland would typically involve a stop at a major Western Europe port like Bremerhaven, Germany before arriving in Poland.
Once the container hits your final port, your goods go through the customs clearance process, then transit by rail, truck or a combination for final delivery to your new home. Again, a freight forwarder experienced in shipping personal effects can not only handle the complex logistics, but find you the best balance of cost and service to ship your personal belongings overseas.
There are many freight forwarders who say they will ship household goods overseas, but make sure this is a core part of their business. I.C.E. Transport, for instance, has been helping families with overseas moves since 1987. Read our Guide to Shipping Personal Effects Overseas and our handy Shipping of Personal Effects Checklist.
If you have a situation where you’re moving into a fully or partially furnished home, you may only need to ship a pallet or two worth of personal goods. In that case, air freight, which is faster but more expensive than ocean freight, could become an option. For instance, it may become more attractive if your shipment would only fill up a fraction of a container.
“If you’re not taking furniture or major appliances, and you need to get there quickly, air freight would probably be the best value in terms of time vs. money,” said Rozek. “Obviously, you're not going to put a couple of pallets into a 20-foot container anyway because that's wasteful.”
Air freight is often used for high-priority household items such as clothing, personal documents, computers, children's necessities, medications, or business equipment that you'll need immediately after arriving. You could consider a hybrid approach: send essential items by air while shipping the rest of the household by ocean container.
Keep in mind that air freight pricing is based primarily on chargeable weight ‒ the greater of actual weight or dimensional (volumetric) weight. Lightweight but bulky items such as bedding, pillows, or large plastic storage bins cost more to ship than many people expect. Furniture, appliances, and other oversized household goods are generally much more economical by ocean freight.
Maybe the best news about shipping your personal belongings overseas is that most countries provide relief from import duties or taxes on household goods, provided certain conditions are met. As an example, check out this application for Transfer of Residence Relief (TRR) in the UK.
In general, customs agencies want to see proof that you were a U.S. resident for at least 12 months prior to the move, and owned the goods for personal use for at least six months. This is to prevent cases where people purchase high-value goods just prior to the move, or goods used in commerce, to avoid duty and tax payments.
Some people considering container shipping for their move assume that their car has to be handled separately. But cars can be loaded into a container just like your other goods. A 20-foot container can fit one car and some personal effects. A 40-foot container might fit as many as two cars, depending on the size of the cars and some personal effects.
Just like with other personal belongings shipped overseas, vehicles qualify for TRR exemptions from import duties and taxes as long as you provide documentation of residency for 12 months prior to the move, plus ownership and use of the car for six months.
Use of roll-on, roll-off vessels (RORO), where cars are driven onto the vessel, is a less expensive option, but there are drawbacks. RORO transit times can be shorter, but the ships don’t stop in as many ports. Also, you can’t load items into the vehicle, and there’s a greater risk of damage than in a secure steel container.
If you’re driving a late-model car, there won’t be any issues getting it shipped overseas. But if it’s a bit older, you’ll be subject to environmental import restrictions. For instance, if your car was built in 2015 or earlier, chances are it will need modifications based on Euro 6 and subsequent emission standards in effect in the EU and the UK. Those regulations don’t govern imports, but come into effect when you go to register your vehicle.
At the other end of the scale, older cars can qualify as antiques in many countries and be exempt from duties and taxes, provided they’re not used for daily commuting. This ranges from 20-year-old cars qualifying in Italy to a 40-year-old car standard in the Netherlands.
Before shipping a vehicle overseas, verify the destination country's current registration, emissions, and import requirements. These rules can change, and understanding them before departure can help avoid unexpected costs and delays after arrival.
Generally speaking, it makes more sense to have the modifications done once you move to your new country. That’s because local shops will know the country's requirements best.
“Most vehicles shipped from the U.S. to Europe have to undergo some type of a conversion process, usually minor.” Rozek said. “For instance, it could involve turning red turn signals into amber or changing the lighting pattern of the headlight.”
Many international moves stay on budget because nothing unexpected happens. Unfortunately, international shipping doesn't always go exactly as planned. Understanding where additional costs originate is one of the easiest ways to keep your move affordable.
Be on the lookout for hidden charges that can undermine your efforts to find the cheapest way to ship your personal belongings overseas. This is an area where a qualified freight forwarder can prove invaluable. Here are some unexpected charges to look for:
Even if you qualify for TRR, some goods might still be subject to import duties, Value Added Tax (VAT), or excise tax, especially if they don't meet all the eligibility criteria. Luxury items, high-value electronics, vehicles, or items not owned for the minimum required time may be subject to these charges.
You’ll want to insure your goods. The cost of insurance will depend on the value of your goods.
Ports often charge fees for handling and unloading containers, which can be an unexpected cost if not included in the shipping agreement. They can range from $100 to $500 or more, depending on the port, the size of the shipment, and the country.
Some countries, like Australia and New Zealand, may require a quarantine inspection for goods like wooden furniture, plants, or other things that may carry pests. These fees can be significant.
If there is a delay in customs clearance, the ocean carrier or port may charge storage fees for holding your container. These charges can accumulate quickly, ranging from $20 to $200 per day depending on the location and the size of the shipment.
Demurrage is charged by shipping lines when containers are held at port longer than the agreed-upon free period (as little as five days). Detention charges apply when a container is hauled out of port but not returned to the shipping line within the timeframe specified. These fees can be significant, from $75-$300 per day depending on the shipping line and port.
By choosing the right freight forwarder, you can easily avoid such charges as the forwarder will work with truckers and other partners to stay on schedule.
As with most things, if you research long and hard enough, you can find moving companies or logistics providers who can save you a bit on shipping your personal belongings overseas. But should your goal be to obtain the lowest cost possible, regardless of quality?
“You can find a fly-by-night company who recently decided to get into the personal effects business and, sure, they’ll be a little bit cheaper,” Rozek said. “But at the end of the day, you're talking about your life's belongings, things you've accumulated over the years that have a lot of value to you. To save just a couple of hundred bucks, do you roll the dice and risk your belongings with inexperienced providers?”
An international move can be stressful enough, considering all the details involved: packing, planning, setting up house in a new country. The last thing you need to worry about is the logistics of shipping your household goods overseas.
I.C.E. Transport, a family-owned freight forwarder with decades of experience in transatlantic shipping, has handled thousands of such household moves with a high degree of efficiency. Our extensive knowledge of logistics, ocean freight, carriers and customs clearance helps ensure a smooth, door-to-door shipping experience at the right price. I.C.E. Transport works closely with you on every detail, from documentation, packing tips, rates and sailing schedules, delivering peace of mind and building trust. Contact I.C.E. Transport today to learn more.