Terms & Conditions

01. Introduction and who we are

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Car Shipping Direct LTD, trading as Car Shipping Direct, provides international freight forwarding, vehicle shipping, roll on roll off (RoRo) shipping, container shipping, full container load (FCL), less than container load (LCL), air freight, project cargo, customs documentation and associated logistics services. They apply to every quotation we issue, every booking we accept and every service we perform, whether the instruction reaches us through this website, by telephone, by email, through a booking form or through any other channel.

Car Shipping Direct LTD is a company registered in England and Wales under company number 17331791. Our registered office is Unit 62A, Thames Industrial Park, Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, RM18 8RH. References in these terms to "we", "us" and "our" mean Car Shipping Direct LTD. References to "you" and "the customer" mean the person, business or organisation that requests a quotation, places a booking or on whose behalf goods are carried.

Please read these terms carefully before you book. They explain how prices are calculated, what is and is not included, when payment is due, how cancellations and refunds work, how our liability is limited and what we need from you so that your vehicle or cargo moves without delay. If anything here is unclear, telephone our export desk before committing to a booking and we will explain it in plain English.

02. Definitions

In these terms the following words have the meanings given below. Words in the singular include the plural and the other way round.

• Booking: a confirmed instruction from you to us to arrange a specific shipment, accepted by us in writing and supported by payment.
• Booking request: the moment you submit a booking form, send a written instruction to book or verbally instruct our staff to reserve space, whichever happens first.
• Booking entries: the administrative and operational steps we take once a booking request is received, including reserving vessel or aircraft space, creating carrier bookings, lodging customs and export declarations, arranging collection transport, ordering containers and issuing release instructions.
• Goods or cargo: any vehicle, machinery, personal effects, commercial goods, packaging, container or other item we are asked to handle.
• Carrier: any shipping line, airline, haulier, terminal, warehouse, packer or other third party engaged to perform part of the service.
• Quotation: a written price we issue for a defined service, route and cargo description.
• Working day: Monday to Friday, excluding bank and public holidays in England.
• BIFA conditions: the British International Freight Association Standard Trading Conditions, latest edition, which form part of these terms.

03. Our services and our role

We act as a freight forwarder. In most cases we arrange carriage on your behalf with independent shipping lines, airlines, hauliers and terminals rather than physically carrying the goods ourselves. Where we arrange carriage as your agent, the contract of carriage is between you and the carrier, and the carrier's own terms, the bill of lading, air waybill or consignment note will also govern that leg of the journey.

Our services may include, depending on what you book:

• Vehicle shipping by RoRo vessel, shared container, sole use container or air freight.
• Full container load and less than container load sea freight in 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube equipment.
• Air freight on scheduled passenger and cargo aircraft, including consolidated and express services.
• Project cargo, out of gauge, heavy lift and breakbulk movements.
• UK collection by car transporter, flatbed, tail lift or curtain side vehicle.
• Export customs declarations, safety and security filings and preparation of shipping documentation.
• Container loading, lashing, blocking and bracing at our facility or at an approved warehouse.
• Marine cargo insurance arranged on request with an approved underwriter.
• Destination clearance and delivery through our overseas partner network where requested and quoted.

We will perform our services with reasonable care and skill. We do not guarantee any particular sailing, flight, transit time or delivery date, because these depend on carriers, ports, weather, customs authorities and events outside our control.

04. Quotations and pricing

Pricing guides published on this website show typical costs for comparable shipments and are provided to help you plan. A pricing guide is not a quotation. A binding price is only given in a written quotation issued by our staff for your specific cargo, route and service.

What a quotation is based on

Every quotation relies on the information you give us. That includes the make, model and dimensions of a vehicle, the weight and measurements of cargo, the collection address, the destination port or airport, whether the vehicle runs and drives, and any hazardous characteristics. If the information turns out to be incomplete or inaccurate, we may revise the price to reflect the true cost of the service.

Validity

Unless stated otherwise, quotations are valid for 14 days from the date of issue and for shipment within 30 days. Ocean and air rates are set by carriers and may change before a booking is confirmed. Once a booking is confirmed and paid, we will hold the quoted freight rate for the sailing booked, subject to the exceptions below.

Charges that may change after booking

• Bunker adjustment factors, low sulphur surcharges and emergency fuel surcharges imposed by carriers.
• Currency adjustment factors where carrier charges are levied in US dollars or euros.
• Peak season, congestion, war risk and piracy surcharges introduced by carriers.
• Port, terminal and security charges revised by port authorities.
• Charges arising from a change in the cargo, route or service requested by you.

We will tell you about any such change as soon as we become aware of it and will provide supporting evidence on request.

What is normally excluded

Unless your quotation expressly includes them, our prices exclude destination port and terminal handling charges, import duty, import VAT or GST, local taxes, quarantine and biosecurity inspection, cleaning ordered by a destination authority, customs examination fees, demurrage, detention, storage, destination delivery and insurance. These charges are set by third parties and are payable by you or your consignee.

05. Making a booking

You may request a booking using the booking form on this website, by email or by telephone. A booking request is an offer by you to buy our services on these terms. A binding contract comes into existence only when we confirm the booking in writing and we have received payment.

When you book you must provide accurate details of the shipper, consignee and notify party, a full description of the goods, the value of the goods, collection and delivery details, and any special handling requirements. For vehicles we need the V5C registration document or equivalent proof of ownership, the vehicle identification number and the keys.

We may decline any booking without giving a reason, in particular where the goods are prohibited, where we cannot verify ownership or identity, or where the shipment would breach sanctions or export control law.

06. Payment terms

Payment may be made by bank transfer to the account details shown on our invoice or, where offered, by debit or credit card. We will never change our bank details by email. If you receive a message claiming that our bank details have changed, do not pay it and call us on 020 3807 1033 immediately.

Any additional charges arising after booking, such as carrier surcharges, waiting time, storage, extra documentation or destination charges collected by us, are payable within 7 days of invoice and in any event before the goods or original documents are released.

Prices are quoted in pounds sterling. International transport of goods is generally zero rated for VAT, but certain UK services such as storage and some domestic collections may attract VAT at the standard rate, which will be shown on your invoice.

If you fail to pay any sum when due, we may suspend the service, retain the goods and documents, charge interest at 4% above the Bank of England base rate under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 for business customers, and recover our reasonable costs of collection. We have a general lien over goods and documents in our possession for all sums owed by you, as set out in the BIFA conditions.

07. Cancellations and refund policy

We understand that plans change. Our refund policy is designed to be fair to you while reflecting the real costs we incur with carriers, hauliers and authorities once work on your booking begins. Refunds are calculated by reference to the time of your booking request and the stage your booking has reached.

Cancellation within 24 hours of requesting a booking

This applies to all services booked with us, including car shipping, container shipping and air freight, provided the request is made in writing by email to info@shipcarsuk.co.uk or confirmed by our staff in writing within that 24 hour window. Any non-recoverable third party cost already paid out at your specific request, such as a same day collection you asked us to dispatch, will be explained and evidenced to you before deduction.

Cancellation between 24 and 48 hours

If you cancel more than 24 hours but within 48 hours of your booking request, we will refund the amount paid less any non-recoverable costs already incurred with carriers, hauliers or authorities on your behalf. We aim to issue these refunds within 7 working days.

Cancellation after booking entries have started, beyond 48 hours

The longer period reflects the time needed to cancel carrier bookings, withdraw customs declarations, recover sums from shipping lines and terminals and reconcile charges. Refunds at this stage are the amount paid less non-recoverable costs incurred, which may include carrier cancellation fees, container release and haulage charges, customs declaration fees, collection transport already dispatched and an administration fee reflecting the work completed. We will provide an itemised statement with every partial refund.

When a refund cannot be given

• Once the goods have been loaded on board a vessel or aircraft, the freight charge is earned and is not refundable.
• Where the shipment has been cancelled because the goods were misdeclared, prohibited or not delivered as agreed.
• Destination charges, duties and taxes paid to authorities on your behalf, unless the authority refunds them to us.
• Insurance premiums once cover has incepted.

Cancellation by us

If we cancel a booking for reasons within our control, you will receive a full refund within 3 days. If a carrier cancels a sailing or flight, we will offer you the next available departure at no additional freight cost or, if you prefer, a refund of sums not yet paid out to third parties.

Your statutory rights

If you are a consumer, nothing in this section affects your statutory rights. Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 you may have a right to cancel a service contract within 14 days. Where you expressly ask us to begin performing the service within that period, you agree to pay for services provided up to the time of cancellation, which our policy above reflects.

08. Your obligations

You are responsible for ensuring that:

• All information you give us about the goods, their value, weight, dimensions and nature is complete and accurate.
• You are the owner of the goods or are authorised by the owner to accept these terms.
• The goods are properly packed, labelled and prepared for international transport.
• Vehicles have a quarter tank of fuel or less, a working battery, functioning handbrake, and no personal items unless agreed in writing.
• Electric and hybrid vehicles are declared as such, with state of charge within carrier limits.
• No dangerous goods, firearms, ammunition, drugs, counterfeit goods or prohibited items are included.
• You hold any export licence, import permit, compliance certificate or approval required for the goods.
• The goods comply with the import rules of the destination country, including age limits for vehicles.

You will indemnify us against all losses, fines, penalties, costs and claims arising from any breach of these obligations, including carrier fines for misdeclared cargo and customs penalties for inaccurate information.

09. Special terms for vehicle shipping

Vehicles must be delivered to us or collected in a clean condition, both inside and underneath. Many destination countries, including Australia and New Zealand, impose strict biosecurity standards and will order cleaning at your cost if soil, seeds or organic matter are found.

A condition report will be completed when we receive the vehicle. You should note any existing damage at that time. Minor marks consistent with normal handling, roll on roll off loading and lashing are not considered damage.

For RoRo shipments, vehicles are driven on and off the vessel by port staff. For container shipments, vehicles are secured with wheel straps and chocks. Personal effects in a vehicle are carried entirely at your risk and may be refused by the carrier or seized by customs.

Non running vehicles must be declared at quotation stage. Additional charges apply for forklift or winch handling and some services are not available for non runners.

10. Customs, documentation and compliance

Where we lodge export declarations on your behalf, you appoint us as your direct representative unless agreed otherwise. You must provide accurate commodity codes, values and origin information. We rely on the information you provide and are not liable for penalties arising from inaccurate data.

Import clearance at destination is your responsibility or that of your consignee unless we have expressly quoted for it. We are not responsible for delays caused by customs examinations, document checks, quarantine or the actions of any public authority.

We comply with UK sanctions, export control and anti money laundering laws. We may request identification, proof of address, proof of ownership and source of funds information, and may refuse or suspend a service where we have concerns.

11. Insurance

Our liability for loss or damage is limited, as explained below, and in most cases will be far less than the value of your goods. We strongly recommend marine cargo insurance for every shipment. We can arrange cover on request, subject to the insurer's terms, exclusions and excess. Insurance must be requested in writing before the goods are collected or loaded.

Where we arrange insurance, we do so as your agent and are not the insurer. Claims are handled by the underwriter according to the policy wording, which will be supplied to you.

12. Our liability

Our liability for loss of or damage to goods is limited as set out in the BIFA conditions, which currently limit liability to 2 Special Drawing Rights per kilo of gross weight of the goods lost or damaged, and in any case to the value of the goods. Liability of carriers is limited under international conventions including the Hague Visby Rules, the Montreal Convention and the CMR Convention.

We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of market, loss of use or delay, except where we have agreed otherwise in writing and you have paid any applicable surcharge.

Claims must be notified to us in writing within 7 days of delivery for visible damage, and within 9 months of the date of the event for any other claim, failing which we are discharged from liability.

Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any liability that cannot be excluded by law.

13. Delays and events beyond our control

We are not liable for any delay or failure to perform caused by events beyond our reasonable control. These include adverse weather, port congestion, strikes, vessel breakdowns, blank sailings, rolled cargo, pandemics, war, terrorism, government action, customs holds, cyber attacks, and failure of carriers or utilities. Additional costs arising from such events, such as storage or rerouting, are payable by you.

14. Storage, abandoned goods and lien

Goods held at our facility awaiting shipment for longer than the free period stated in your quotation will attract storage charges. If goods are not shipped or collected and charges remain unpaid for 60 days after written notice, we may treat them as abandoned and sell or dispose of them, applying the proceeds against sums due and accounting to you for any balance.

15. Complaints

If you are unhappy with our service, please contact us at info@shipcarsuk.co.uk with your booking reference. We will acknowledge your complaint within 2 working days and aim to provide a full response within 10 working days. If we need longer, we will tell you why and when you can expect an answer.

16. General terms and governing law

These terms, together with your quotation, booking confirmation and the BIFA conditions, form the entire agreement between us. If there is a conflict, the order of priority is the booking confirmation, these terms, then the BIFA conditions.

If any provision is found to be invalid, the remaining provisions continue in force. A failure to enforce any right does not waive it. We may update these terms from time to time; the version in force at the date of your booking applies.

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, save that consumers resident in Scotland or Northern Ireland may bring proceedings in their local courts.