Getting an International Moving Quote
People who are moving overseas will search for an international moving company to ship their belongings. During this search they find that comparing costs and services can be very confusing.
The internet is an excellent way to shop for your international moving company. Many companies have websites that provide detailed information about everything you will need to plan your international move. This information includes tips on packing if you want to pack yourself, definitions of shipping terms so you can understand what you are being quoted and customs information.
The rules and regulations vary depending on how you are going to enter the country (work visa, student visa, returning citizen, retiree, etc.). It is your responsibility to find out if you are going to pay duties and taxes on your shipment or be exempt from taxation in your destination country. Customs information or a link to your destination country’s Customs website will be loaded with information on what you can and cannot bring into the country and duties and taxes information. Another source of information is the consulate or embassy for your destination country. Every country has its rules and regulations and they are subject to change without notice.
Before you speak to the international moving company, you will want to determine your budget and to be able to provide them with a realistic list of items you want to ship.
Now you are ready to speak to the international moving company to learn more about the services they provide, what lead time is required to schedule a pick up, how long the shipment will take, how they will handle your shipment, what kind of insurance is available, payment options, the deposit required and when the balance is due.
Insurance is recommended but optional. There is no basic coverage included in international shipments. Some companies will include “basic coverage” and this coverage is from your door to the port in the US. If you want Marine insurance, you will need to purchase it and complete an insurance application complete with the items you are insuring and their replacement values. If you pack your shipment, you can purchase insurance but it will be for total loss only. Unless the shipment is packed professionally, no insurance company will offer damage coverage.
Now that you have your quote, you will want to compare it to other companies. It is important that you compare the same services and the same volume on each quote. Price is important, especially in these difficult economic times, but price is not the only measure for choosing your international moving company. Remember the saying: “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.” A company is not going to ship your goods for free or at a loss to them.
Here are some other factors that you should consider when making your decision. Does the company answer your questions? Are they attentive to your needs? Do they respond promptly? Can you see their operation? Is their price reasonable? Do they carry the proper license? For international shipments, the proper license is an OTI license not a DOT or MC license. Will they keep you informed during the process about the status of your shipment? If the answer is yes to these questions, then you have found a company that will take good care of your belongings.
Getting a quote over the internet was so much easier! The company I am moving for insisted I get three quotes. I did a survey of my own house and filled out the form on your website. I didn’t even bother with the companies who wanted to send over a representative. I didn’t want to bother with the people coming over because it was so time consuming to get quotes that way. I was able to get quotes much faster over the internet. This website made it so easy. Thanks.