If you are going to send a car abroad, the method of how to save port storage penalties is probably the most vital issue of your whole plan, which you tend to forget. Ports all over the globe work on very tight schedules, so if your vehicle is left at the port for a time longer than that allowed, there will be daily storage fees levied on you that may become very high quite fast. The case is that you might find the storage penalties become more costly than the shipping ones.
Knowing the ways of avoiding port storage penalties is vital for any person willing to ship his car due to relocation, sale, military transport, or international business. With good preparation and cooperation with skilled platforms such as ShippingCars.org, you will be able to keep out of unwanted money, delay, and your shipping budget will be safe.
Why Do Port Storage Penalties Happen?
Port storage penalties- demurrage, detention fees, or warehouse charges, for example- have a vehicle that stayed too long at a port beyond the allotted “free time.” The majority of ports will give one only a very limited period of free storage, e.g., three or four days. Commencing from this period, a penalty will be calculated.
Common reasons for storage penalties include:
- Missing documentation
- Delayed customs clearance
- Owner or transport company picking up the goods late
- Vehicle delivery to the consignee prior to the shipping date
- Container delays or issues with vessel scheduling
- Quarantine inspections failing
- Delays in payments of duties or taxes
- Miscommunication between the shipper, carrier and port
With fees that can be as low as $25 a day and go up to over $100 a day, it is very important to be able to avoid making mistakes that can be avoided.
Tip 1: Prepare All Required Documents Before Arrival
The quickest method of port storage penalty avoidance is that the documentation should be complete, accurate, and readily available even before your vehicle gets to the port.
Pre-export documentation might be:
Ensure that you have all the necessary documents at hand, such as the original vehicle title, bill of sale, export declaration (like AES/ITN for U.S. exports), passport or government ID, power of attorney if needed, bill of lading, and any customs forms required for the destination country.
Import documentation may consist of:
- Import permit
- Tax payment receipts
- Customs declaration
- Emissions or safety compliance certificates
- Insurance documents
Even the lack of a single document can be the reason that customs will not allow the vehicle to clear, thus causing delays and port storage fees.
ShippingCars.org is a platform that makes it easy for shippers to figure out what documents are necessary based on where the goods are going. This way, they are less likely to experience delays due to their paperwork.
Tip 2: Do Not Deliver Your Vehicle Too Early
It is not uncommon to see car owners who want to ship their vehicles to a port multiple days before the time that they are allowed to drop off the consignment at the port. Ports have very strict schedules and late deliveries may cause additional costs for the storage of the consignment if it is kept in the port for a long time.
Key recommendation:
Do not drop off the motor vehicle at the port other than during the official drop-off time that your carrier has communicated to you.
The window is most of the time:
- 1–3 days before the vessel departure for RoRo
- 2–5 days before container loading
ShippingCars.org gives you the best time for the delivery depending on your shipping method and carrier schedule.
Tip 3: Clear Customs Before the Vehicle Arrives (When Possible)
In a lot of different countries, it is possible to start customs clearance even before the car gets there. Getting the clearing requirements done early is a way of making sure that no kind of delay will happen when the vehicle will be at the port of destination.
Advantages of loading clearance ahead of time: Release is much quicker. There is a very low probability of an inspection. The possibility of a storage penalty is greatly reduced. Coordination with inland transport becomes easier.
Such countries as Canada, Australia, and the U.S., together with a big number of EU nations, are offering a pre-arrival processing option.
Tip 4: Get Your Inland Transport Ready in Advance
One of the main reasons why storage penalties occur is the fact that a transport carrier has not been scheduled to pick up the vehicle immediately after it has arrived at the port.
To avoid delays:
- Book inland transport at least 2 weeks prior to the vessel arrival.
- Confirm the pickup date with your carrier.
- Make sure you have all the necessary documents ready for the transport driver.
- Keep track of your vessel’s ETA so that you can change your pickup plans accordingly.
It is very convenient for you to compare different inland transport options and find a reliable pickup through such platforms as ShippingCars.org.
Tip 5: Follow Your Shipment and Keep an Eye on ETA Changes
There are many reasons that shipping schedules can be changed such as bad weather, high traffic at the port, or changes in vessel routing. If you are not following these updates, then your vehicle may be arriving at the port without you knowing—and thus it will be staying longer than expected.
At all times, follow the vessel ETA, any port delays, customs inspection that may be taking place, and carrier notifications. By being up-to-date with the changes that are happening, you are able to adjust your inland transport schedule accordingly and thus prevent storage penalties.
Tip 6: Prepare Your Vehicle to Pass Inspections Quickly
Long delays are often the result of quarantine or safety inspection failures. In order to prevent the imposition of fines, be sure that your vehicle is in the right condition.
Start with cleaning the vehicle inside and out. Wash the exterior, take off the mud in the wheel wells, and vacuum the interior. Take off all personal items, and fix any leaks or mechanical issues because leaks can make the port refuse to load or release.
One of the most common causes of inspection that lead to delays is VIN mismatches.
ShippingCars.org gives vehicle preparation checklists for different countries in order to facilitate inspection passing on the first attempt.
Tip 7: Pay Duties and Taxes Without Delay
In a majority of countries, customs will not give you the green light for your vehicle unless you have paid all duties, VAT, and import fees. If you delay the payment, you will delay the release of your goods, and every day that the goods are delayed will bring you storage costs.
To avoid penalties:
- Know the estimated taxes before hand
- Make a budget in accordance with it
- Pay the fees without any delay as soon as you are notified
- One of the most easily avoidable reasons for port storage penalties is late payment.
- Tip 8: Work With a Reliable Shipping Provider
Some of the good things that a reliable shipping provider will do for you are:
- Communication delivery windows
- Offering up-to-date vessel schedules
- Getting your documents ready
- Informing you about customs changes
- Supporting you to be free from sudden inspection or paperwork that is delayed
ShippingCars.org helps shippers to find the most reliable international carriers who are experienced in handling complicated international logistics.
Tip 9: Avoid Shipping During Peak Congestion Months
Port congestion is typically heavily crowded:
- During the hot months of summer
- During the winter holidays period
- During the last logistics rush of the year
- When there is a considerable increase in major global trade
During such times congestion happens, processing times slow down, thus there is a risk of storage penalties. If you can, send your goods during the off-peak months.
Final Thoughts: How to Avoid Port Storage Penalties
Knowing ways of avoiding port storage penalties is a big deal when it comes to the planning of your international vehicle shipment. The reason why most of the penalties are because of the simple mistakes that happen, i.e., delayed paperwork, early delivery, missed pickup, or customs delays. By a good fortune, if you get yourself well prepared, then you can entirely get rid of these charges.
A good provider is the best choice you can make, and tools like ShippingCars.org will be of great help to you in this respect. You will be able to get the up-to-the-minute shipping schedules, the support in documentation, the guidelines for the inspection, and the options for the inland transport that will keep your shipment on the right track through these means.
