Well where to start?
Having looked in to RV ownership or shared with their pros and cons ,we decided now or much later.Our son getting married in 2019 would mean 2020 at the earliest.
Because of other funsters posts we had obtained our 10 year visas late in 2017 in anticipation.
You need this to achieve up to 6 months in any one trip.A normal holiday visa called ESTA is quick to obtain but max out at 3 months.
Others in the past have been able to cross in to Canada or Mexico and after a short time get re entry for another 6 months.My research on this idea shows it may be frowned upon my the customs officials who at a whim can refuse re entry.
Note- the van has 12 months before export required .
Don't much fancy being stuck in Mexico with a van although you can ship home from Halifax in Canada if you wish to roll the dice.
The visa was not difficult,some form filling and a visit,for us, to the London Embassy for a 1hr queue for a simple interview.Other locations available I think.
So,with the news of a forthcoming wedding it brought all the dithering to a end and I made a request to Seabridge for a quote to sail asap.
Just Google.
They are a German company who have been shipping motorhomes worldwide for many years and have started to promote themselves at the NEC recently to tap in to the potential UK market.
It helps that they started to offer shipping from Liverpool instead of the continent from 2017.
They also speak very good English during my phone calls.
We moved on this very quickly ,confirming the quote early June and the van was shipping on 5 July.Based on our 8mtr van the shipping costs are based on volume.So I removed the sat dome , rear scooter and bike carrier.
We paid £3400 shipping which included port and agent charges and US documents.It will be similar for the return.
Also marine
insurance £1300 for here and return.
The road
insurance for six months £2200.
So £10,300 for 180 days = £58 per day.
Try to hire a van like ours to beat that ?
We paid extra £150 shipping for the scooter and £480 for its road
insurance.
All arrangements through Seabridge.
They send email documents to print,fill and we photographed them and returned jpeg.
Nothing complicated along with pictures of driving licence ,log books .You need a International Drivers Permit from the post office for a small amount.
You receive a EPA exemption certificate .Must have this before shipping.It gives authorisation to import for one year without modification.
We shipped from Liverpool which seemed very laid back ,we parked up amongst Range Rovers due for export and left keys on dashboard!
Of course it's in a secure compound but still unerving .We never met the shipping agent just a few emails and some friendly phone chats.All info provided on where to go and who to see for delivery.Everything stored out of sight and we covered everything in lightweight plastic you would use when decorating.
Seabridge send you a link that allows you to view the ships location.It leaves weekly ,they have a fleet.It goes to Halifax, Canada then New York and Baltimore.
Here I went to the shipping agent and paid their fees to be given the release papers with customs clearance already completed.You have to pay 75 dollars for a escort service.They picked me up from the agent and delivered me to the van through various custom controls.I followed her to the nearest fuel station to fill up and we were "good to go" as they say here.You can only have one person collecting so Glenda remained in the nearby hotel with noon check out.I was at the agent for 9 am and back in the hotel car park by 11 am.
Three screenshots of route idea