At Autoshippers we pride ourselves on being the go-to experts when it comes to shipping Land Rovers to the USA, as we have over 25 years’ experience in safely transporting cars, motorbikes and other vehicles worldwide. Our dedicated team of professionals ensure that every aspect of the shipping process is handled with care and attention, providing our customers with peace of mind and a seamless experience from start to finish.
Out of the hundreds of Land Rovers that we ship every year to the USA, we had the exciting task of shipping two high value examples of the iconic Defender 110 and 130, which we loaded into a 40’ container together for their trip across the Atlantic.
Shipping high-value and unique vehicles like these demands careful attention to detail and planning at every stage, from secure collection to proper loading and securing within a shipping container, we have experts at every point of the process to ensure we can deliver a flawless shipping experience for all of our customers.
Read on to learn about the process of shipping 2 Land Rover Defenders from the UK to the USA safely and securely together in a 40’ container.
Watch our YouTube video below for a behind-the-scenes look at exactly how these two luxury Land Rovers were loaded for shipping!
Quoting and Booking for Autoshippers FCL service to the USA
The Quotation Form
Every shipment, whether you are shipping a motorbike via our LCL service, a car via our RoRo service or 2 high value Land Rover Defenders on our FCL service, begins with a quotation. As the shipper of the Land Rovers has shipped with us before, and are well known to us, they knew that all they needed to so was complete our easy-to-use quotation form, which is on our user-friendly and accessible website.
This form is designed to capture all of the of required information, including the make and model of your vehicle (or vehicles!) the collection address and the intended destination. It is also an opportunity to give us additional details such as the vehicle’s condition, as on some services we can accept bookings for non-runners as well as full functioning vehicles, as well as specific details that we need to know to arrange the collection and loading into the container or onto the Ro-Ro vessel.
It’s important that as much detail is given to us at this point of the shipping process, so that we are able to tailor the quotation correctly to your needs. In the case of this shipment, we were advised that the two Land Rovers needed to ship together, and required collection using a covered transporter, so we knew which services and resources that we needed to base the shipping cost on.
Autoshippers Sales Team
Once our dedicated and knowledgeable sales team received this customers quotation request via the website, they prepared the bespoke and comprehensive quote to include the collection and shipping to the USA. Our rates are constantly updated and negotiated with leading container and Ro/Ro shipping lines to ensure that we are able to offer the best possible service at unbeatable prices.
As each vehicle shipment is unique, for many destinations we can offer multiple service options, using both seafreight and airfreight carriers as well as different service types. This allows you to choose the best solution for you based on not only price, but transit time and shipping frequency, which can differ between the shipping options available.
At Autoshippers we aren’t a faceless quotation machine, our sales team are always on hand to answer any questions that you may have around the shipping process, and are available either on phone or e-mail to assist in any way needed. If you have the questions, we know the answers.
Booking with Autoshippers
After reviewing the quotation, and discussing any questions that they had with our sales team, it was time for this customer to make the booking with Autoshippers. This is also conveniently done through our website, and the booking form guides a customer through the necessary information that is needed to finalise the shipment.
The booking form expands on the detail that has been provided on the quotation form, with additional information such as the vehicle registration number, value and full details of the contacts that we need to keep up to date of the shipping process. Often, as in the case of these 2 Land Rovers, there is a different party at the destination address that is receiving the vehicles, so we need to know who needs to be contacted to be kept up to date of arrival times and dates.
Another important aspect of the shipping process is the marine insurance cover, and the booking form gives information on the specific cover options available, and the costs.
Key Documentation for Shipping a Vehicle to the USA
Once the booking form has been completed, our next step is to advise our customers of the documentation that is needed so that we can ship their vehicle overseas. The key documentation required, specifically for the USA, is;
- Copy of the V5 Registration: This verifies the vehicles registered owner, so that it can be released to ship.
- Bill of Sale: If the V5 is not in the shipper’s name, we need a copy of the Bill of Sale/Invoice to show that the vehicle ownership has been transferred to the new owner.
- Copy of Photo Page of Passport: This is needed, specifically for shipments to the USA, for pre-departure customs requirements that allow a shipment to be exported to the USA.
To ensure that you are able to send us these documents safely and securely, Autoshippers operate a secure online portal, and a link is provided once a booking has been submitted to us. From the initial quotation request to receipt of your booking and documentation, we are dedicated to making the shipping process as seamless and efficient as possible.
Collection and Receipt into Autoshippers Warehouse
Collecting 2 Land Rover Defenders with a Covered Transporter
For high value, classic or rare vehicle collections, we offer UK nationwide collections using a specialist covered vehicle transporter. Due to the value of these Land Rovers, we used this service to collect them and deliver them to Autoshippers secure warehouse. This service ensures the highest level of protection during road transport, shielding a vehicle from external elements such as the weather, and providing an extra layer of security during transit, meaingin that these Land Rovers arrived with us in pristine condition, just as they left the shipper’s address.
We also gave the option for collections on multi-car transporters, as well as using single use trailers and even a service where a driver will collect the vehicle and drive it to the delivery point. There is also the option for a customer to deliver their vehicle themselves, either to our secure loading facility or directly to the port for our Ro/Ro service.
VCR – Vehicle Condition Report
An important part of the process is the vehicle condition report, or VCR. This is completed by Autoshippers experienced staff, and they conduct a thorough inspection of all vehicles that are received into the warehouse, noting any pre-existing damages. A VCR is also undertaken before a vehicle is loaded onto the transporter at the point of collection.
The VCR serves as an official record of a vehicle’s condition at the time of collection and receipt into the loading facility, not only providing peace of mind for the buyer and seller, but also acting as the record for the marine insurance broker of any pre-existing damages. These Land Rovers had their VCRs undertaken but, as you can see from the pictures here, they were in very good condition.
There are various steps as part of the VCR process;
- Visual Inspection: A comprehensive examination of the exterior and interior of the vehicle to identify any pre-existing scratches, dents or other marks, as well as noting detail such as the mileage reading and any spares or other items in the vehicle.
- Photographs: Multiple photographs are taken from various angles, including close-ups of any existing damage.
- Condition Report: A written report is completed, which details any findings of the visual inspection and includes names and signatures of the delivery agent and the Autoshippers team member that undertakes the VCR.
The use of the correct collection option, as well as the completion of the Vehicle Condition Report, helps Autoshippers to ensure that all vehicles are treated with care and respect, and underscores our commitment to providing the best possible care for high value vehicles such as these Land Rover Defenders.
Loading and Securing 2 Land Rover Defenders in a Shipping Container
The Stuffing Process
Loading goods into a shipping container is often referred to as “stuffing”, and it is crucial that this process is done correctly when stuffing vehicles to ensure safe and secure transport overseas, especially when dealing with 2 high value vehicles such as these Land Rover Defenders.
At Autoshippers we have honed the loading process over the course of our 25-year plus history, and meticulously and carefully follow protocols to guarantee that vehicles remain immobile and protected throughout their journey overseas.
The process begins when the container arrives at our loading facility, as it is thoroughly inspected to make sure it is clean, dry and free of any debris that could potentially damage the vehicle or vehicles that are loaded. The next step is to carefully position the vehicles inside the container, by driving them in with the use of a specially constructed ramp.
Securing Vehicles into a Shipping Container
One of the most important parts of the process when shipping vehicles in a container, is to properly secure them to ensure that they remain stationary and undamaged during transit. The steps to this process, that Autoshippers follow, are;
- Chocking the Wheels: Heavy duty wooden chocks are placed around each wheel to prevent movement, these are securely fastened to the container floor using screws, and provide a solid anchor point.
- Padded Ratchet Straps: The Land Rovers are further secured using specialist padded ratchet straps, these are strategically placed over the tyres and at points on the frame of the vehicles, ensuring a snug fit without causing damage to the paint or bodywork. These are then secured using the in-built metal eyelets that are positioned within the container.
- Strategic Positioning: Part of the planning process, especially when loading 2 vehicles together in a 40-foot container, is to make sure that they are positioned correctly to distribute the weight for safe, balanced loading onto the vessel, and to make sure that there are eyelets available to secure the ratchet straps.
- Double Check!: As important as any other step, the Autoshippers team perform a final inspection, double-checking all chocks and ratchet straps to make sure that everything is secure, and the vehicles are immobile.
As you can see, at Autoshippers we know what we are doing, and we have an experienced and knowledgeable team that load our vehicles into containers. These Land Rover Defenders were in good hands, and here is a video that outlines the loading process from the arrival into the warehouse, up to the point that the container doors are closed, and sealed.
Don’t forget to watch the video above to see how it’s done!
Shipping to the USA – The Sea Voyage & Arrival
After the Land Rovers are safely secured into the shipping container, it is taken directly from Autoshippers’ warehouse to the port in Essex, known as London Gateway Port, which is a deep-water port able to handle some of the largest container ships in the world, to over 50 countries and almost 100 ports.
Loading onto the Container Vessel
The process of loading onto the vessel, once the container has arrived at the port, includes;
- Inspection: The container undergoes an inspection by port authorities, making sure that it is sea worthy and complies with all regulations for loading onto the vessel.
- Container Handling: Using specialist container handling equipment, the container is moved into the “stack” waiting for vessel to be ready for loading.
- Loading onto the Vessel: Once the vessel is at berth, the container is lifted and carefully loaded by experienced dockworkers, with each container being strategically placed to balance weight distribution.
Once loaded, the container is locked in place with the use of “twistlocks” and “lashing rods”. These lock containers together, stacked one of top of the other, and are constructed of forged steel and ductile iron for strength.
Sailing from the UK to the USA
For these Land Rover Defenders that are loaded together in a 40-foot container, we arranged for them to be loaded onto vessel called Al Manamah. This is a container vessel that is over 300 metres long, an able to carry more than 7,000 TEU, which stands for 20-foot equivalent units. A 40-foot container is 2 TEU, so this means that the vessel can carry more than 3,500 40-foot containers.
The container carrying our two Land Rover Defenders was destined for the port of Houston in the USA, and the voyage transit time from London Gateway Port in the UK to Houston Port in the USA was 25 days. Transit times to the USA can vary depending on the arrival port, with a sailing to Baltimore on our Ro/Ro service taking as little as 10 days.
Autoshippers partner with some of the world’s leading shipping lines to ensure that vehicles that are booked on our services are transported professionally and safely. The shipping lines have vessels that are trackable on route, meaning that we are able to offer tracking services meaning our customers can find out the latest status of your booking 24 hours a day.
Arrival and Final Delivery
As soon as the vessel has departed from the UK, we receive the Bill of Lading from the shipping line to pass on to our customer. This document acts as a contract of carriage between a shipper and the seafreight carrier and includes all details of the shipment including the contact details of the agent in the USA.
The Bill of Lading is also sent to the agent in the USA, so that they can arrange Customs clearance of the vehicles and have them released to the customer to collect or arrange onward delivery to their chosen delivery address in the USA.
On this occasion, the customer that was importing these 2 Land Rover Defenders opted to arrange their own delivery, which shows that our service is flexible and we are able to accommodate specific requirements for every eventuality.
Marine Insurance – Your Peace of Mind
Shipping high value vehicles such as these 2 Land Rover Defenders to the USA from the UK takes a lot of planning to ensure they are handled with the utmost care and attention, but all shipping comes with inherent risks. For our customer’s peace of mind, Autoshippers offer a variety of marine insurance options through specialist insurance brokers Basil Fry & Co.
Marine Insurance Options
There are 3 different types of Insurance cover on offer, meaning we have options to cover all requirements. These are;
- Restricted Cover – Covers total loss of the vehicle
- Standard Cover – Covers total loss of the vehicle, along with cover for damages
- Super Cover – Covers total loss of the vehicle, along with cover for damages, but with the additional benefit of reduced excess
For more information on these levels of marine insurance cover, take a look at our website https://www.autoshippers.co.uk/Insurance.htm
Benefits of Having Marine Insurance Cover
Having sufficient marine insurance cover has many benefits, which include;
- Financial Protection: Insurance cover can mean that you are financially compensated in the unlikely event of damage or loss, depending on the level of cover you have in place. This means that you may not need to bear the full cost of repairs or replacement.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing that your vehicle is insured allows you to ship with confidence, reducing the anxiety associated with international shipping, especially when shipping high-value vehicles.
- Professional Handling of Claims: In the even of a claim, our insurance brokers are experienced in handling Marine Insurance claims efficiently and professional, giving a smooth and hassle-free process for you.
As well as just shipping a customer’s vehicle overseas, at Autoshippers we strive to provide complete peace of mind through our insurance options meaning that all vehicles, including high value Land Rover defenders, are in safe hands throughout the process.
The Land Rover Defender – An Icon of Rugged Versatility
The Land Rover Defender has a storied history that dates back to its original launch in the 1980’s. Known for its exceptional durability and off-road capability, the Defender has become synonymous with adventure and exploration. Among the most celebrated models in the Defender lineup are the 110 and 130, each offering unique features and capabilities.
These models are highly valued for several reasons:
- Durability: Built to withstand harsh conditions, Defenders are known for their longevity and reliability, often remaining in service for decades.
- Off-Road Capability: With advanced off-road features, including high ground clearance, exceptional traction, and water-fording ability, these models excel in challenging terrains.
- Versatility: Both the 110 and 130 models offer flexible configurations, from passenger transport to carrying heavy loads, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.
- Heritage and Legacy: The Defender’s rich history and reputation for toughness have made it a symbol of rugged adventure, appealing to enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
Defender 110
Introduced in 1983, the Defender 110 takes its name from its 110-inch wheelbase. This model is renowned for its robust construction, featuring a steel ladder chassis and aluminium body panels. The Defender 110 is equipped with permanent four-wheel drive, a dual-range transfer box, and a lockable centre differential, making it capable of handling the toughest terrains.
Its versatility is further enhanced by its spacious interior, capable of accommodating up to nine passengers, making it a favourite for both professional and recreational use.
Defender 130
The Defender 130, with its extended 130-inch wheelbase, was introduced shortly after the 110. This model provides even greater load-carrying capacity and is often utilized for commercial purposes, including as a utility vehicle for construction and agricultural work.
Despite its larger size, the Defender 130 retains the same off-road prowess as its smaller counterpart, making it a formidable vehicle in any environment. Its extended rear section offers additional cargo space, making it ideal for expeditions and heavy-duty applications.
Shipping Land Rovers to the USA with Autoshippers
Choosing a reliable shipping service, and a reputable shipping company, when dealing with high value vehicles such as these Land Rover Defenders is crucial, and Autoshippers expertise, attention to detail and comprehensive range of services mean that we are the go-to experts when it comes to shipping cars, motorbikes and other vehicles overseas.
As well as our dedicated full container service, we can offer Ro/Ro, shared container and airfreight options to all main destinations across the world, and our dedicated and knowledgeable team have the capability to assist you through the shipping process including Customs clearance.
Take a look at our website, as we have information regarding shipping from the UK to the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Cyprus and many other destinations, or you could complete our easy-to-use quotation form and we can provide you with the cost of shipping your vehicle to your required destination, using your preferred method of shipping.
Let us make your next vehicle shipment a stress-free and successful experience, just as it was for this customer and their 2 high value Land Rover Defenders.
