How are Tesla cars shipped?
Sustainability is a new factor in many of the global technological pursuits in current times. The automobile industry has been heavily affected by this transition as traditional vehicles are not exactly the most sustainable. Vehicles using alternative, more sustainable fuel types were given higher prominence. In such a scenario, Tesla received worldwide acclaim and the plaudits when they released their cars, which are fully electric and very sustainable as well.
Tesla is an all electric auto brand, renowned for its focus on safety, performance and efficiency. They are universally known and are highly sought after. In 2023 alone, more than a million Tesla cars have been sold and it is bound to get higher with the ever increasing demand for efficient electric cars
You might be curious on how Tesla cars are shipped internationally. Afterall, it is not an average, normal car. This guide was written in the hopes of clearing your issues and doubts.
Tesla Car Shipping
Tesla cars, being electric cars, have the potential to be labeled as dangerous goods (DG) in auto transport. This is due to their enclosed Lithium ion batteries. Therefore, a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) needs to be provided when the car is in for customs clearance after car shipping.
An MSDS contains detailed information regarding the internal components of your car with a technical breakdown of all the components within the shipment. This provides the necessary information required by the customs authorities to assess the auto transport.
Other than that, the process of car shipping is the same as it is for any car shipping.
Methods of Overseas Car Shipping
Car Shipping Dubai – CSD, being one of the best car shipping companies in the world, offers several methods of handling car shipping for you, each method with its own benefits and advantages.
1. Car shipping by Air Freight.
2. Car shipping in Containers.
3. Car shipping by Roll On-Roll Off (RoRo) car transport ships.
Car shipping by Air Freight
Car shipping by Air Freight is the quickest method of car shipping in our arsenal, so it is advisable to utilize this method for urgent car shipping needs with a tight deadline. However, it does tend to be comparatively more expensive than the other modes of car shipping. Some of the major airports that we collaborate with for this method of car shipping in the UAE are Dubai International airport, Abu Dhabi International airport and Sharjah International airport among others and we are able to deliver your vehicle to any of the major airports in the world. We have authorised agents from all the major airports all over the globe to handle your shipment and from the major airlines to the freight services, we have all necessary authorities onboard for the car shipping through air freight.
Car shipping in Containers
Car shipping in containers is the most common method of car shipping. We can either collect the vehicle from any UAE address or you can deliver it yourself to a nominated depot and save some money as well. We can either ship it through dedicated containers or consolidated containers. Dedicated container, albeit more expensive, provides the car with its own container where you can use the rest of the space ideally for a reasonable number of personal effects and items. Consolidated container is the more economical option with your car sharing the shipping journey in the container with one or two more cars in it. 20 foot and 40 foot containers are available for both shipping options. In both methods of shipping, our loading team will securely strap your vehicle for a safe shipping journey as it leaves off. From the oceanic car shipping methods, this method is considered the ideal method of auto transport for Tesla cars.
For landlocked countries, we will use either railroad or road carriers to transport the vehicle from the port of entry to the final destination. The carriers are fitted with special safety features to ensure that the vehicles are well secured to minimize unnecessary movements that might lead to damages. We mainly use nearby sea ports as the entry points to the destination.
Car shipping by Roll On-Roll Off (RoRo)
Ro–Ro ships are large car ferries with no passenger accommodation used commonly for car shipping. This method of car shipping is suitable for shipping anything containing wheels including any type of vehicle from heavy-duty tanks and trucks to motorcycles. Typically, this method of car shipping is the most cost effective method of car shipping. However, the removal of the Lithium ion battery is necessary in some cases so this leads to higher cost for car shipping. However, you would be mistaken to disregard this option as the ‘cheap car shipping option’ as the vehicles are all securely loaded onto the ship and are completely safe in the shipping journey, even from the elements. However, It is advisable to remove all personal belongings and effects from the vehicle apart from the key prior to shipping to avoid unwanted claims of lost possessions.
Just as it is for car shipping by containers, same procedure will be applied for this method of car shipping from port of entry to the destination. Same safety measures and features are available for this method of transport as well.
Cost of Overseas Car Shipping
The exact cost of overseas car shipping depends on many factors, such as the destination country, your location, preferred shipping port, method of car shipping. There are also custom clearances, taxes and duties to be paid, different in each nation. However, you can quickly obtain an exact cost for car shipping to the specific destination using our free quote.
Taxes and Clearances
Duties and VAT charges apply when shipping your vehicle. The percentage of taxes differs in each country. As always, our expert team will always be there to cooperate with you and get you and your car through this process with minimal hassle.
In most European countries, there is a condition that if you are moving to the specific country, having lived in Dubai or any of the UAE nations for over 12 months and have owned the vehicle in question for more than 6 months, you are then eligible to ship the vehicle duty-free. European made vehicles also tend to accumulate less percentages of VAT charges and duties levied in most countries.
Car Preparation
For the car to be given approval to be imported abroad, there are several quality checks that are conducted on the vehicle inorder to meet the required standards. Therefore, Its best to prepare the vehicle for this process. Special attention should be paid to,
Repairing any damage or dents.
Undercarriage should be specially cleaned and should be free of foreign soil.
Cleaning your vehicle inside and out.
Making sure all lights are working.
Checking tire pressure and treads.
Ensuring all fluids are topped off.