[quote=”DavidCMurray”] Sue, please do not let the threat of import duties on your household goods deter you from shipping a container. Everything in the container is, by definition, “used”, so it’s value is greatly diminished. Unless you are shipping lots of new and expensive electronics, the Customs duty will be minimal compared to the cost of replacing perfectly good things once you’re here.
Others are welcome to chime in, but I have never heard of a container of household goods being taxed as much as $1,000 by Customs. In our case, we insured part of our shipment for over $100,000 and paid about $600 in duty on the whole works, insured and uninsured.
You can include a vehicle in your container. Weight is immaterial; you’re paying for the container full or empty. Someone else will have to elaborate on the matters of which port your container would enter and the “drive on/drive off” question.[/quote]
As usual David has hit the nail on the head….it is better to ship all of your “used” stuff – and everything in your container (unless it is still in the original, unopened, factory-supplied box) should be listed on your inventory as “used”. Unless it is obvious that it is new, it is “used”. Having said that, I think most will agree that if you need “new” electronic devices it is still better to purchase them in the States and ship them – even with full duty (not likely) you will be better off.
As far as the costs of duty, you are really at the mercy of the customs officer AND YOUR SHIPPER! I had provided my inventory list with a lot of “new” listings (TV’s, appliances, furniture, etc.) to my shipper and I had received a quote from him. Once the container arrived I was told I needed to pay an additional $2500 to reimburse him for the extra duty he had to pay because “there was so much new stuff”. We eventually agreed on a lower amount, and everything arrived as advertised, or pretty much so. But when the shipper has received your container and has it in his or her possession, you are at their mercy and all you can do is hope that they are being honest with you.
I haven’t heard of any drive on/drive off car shippers, and with customs the way it is I doubt that it is a possibility here.