How do you ship a car without a title overseas?

There are many reasons why a vehicle would not have a title, but thankfully there are ways to export a car without a title. The documents required and export customs regulations that are applicable depend upon the reason the car is without a U.S. Title. In general, if you are trying to ship a car overseas without a title, you will need alternate documentation that proves legitimate ownership.

1. For used, self-propelled vehicles that are registered or titled abroad, the owner must provide to Customs the original document that provides satisfactory proof of ownership (with an English translation of the text if the original language is not in English), and two complete copies of that document (and translation, if necessary). 
2. Newly manufactured vehicles, issued a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (SO). For newly manufactured, self-propelled vehicles that are purchased from a U.S. manufacturer, distributor, or dealer that become used and are issued an SO, but not issued a certificate of title by any jurisdiction of the United States, the owner must provide to Customs at the time and place specified in this section, an original SO and two complete copies of the original SO.
3. Newly manufactured vehicles not issued an SO. For newly-manufactured, self-propelled vehicles purchased from a U.S. manufacturer, distributor, or dealer that become used and not issued an SO or a Certificate of Title by any jurisdiction of the United States, THE OWNER MUST ESTABLISH THAT THE JURISDICTION FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE COMES DOES NOT HAVE ANY OWNERSHIP DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS REGARDING SUCH VEHICLES and provide to Customs an original document that proves ownership, such as a dealer’s invoice, and two complete copies of such original documentation.
4. Vehicles issued a junk or scrap certificate: for vehicles for which a junk or scrap certificate, issued by any jurisdiction of the U.S., remains in force, the owner must provide to Customs the original certificate or a certified copy of the original document and two complete copies of the original document or certified copy of the original.
5. Vehicles issued a title or certificate that is not in force or are otherwise not registered. For vehicles that were issued, by any jurisdiction of the U.S., a title or certificate that is no longer in force, or that are not required to be titled or registered, and for which an SO was not issued, THE OWNER MUST ESTABLISH THAT THE JURISDICTION FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE COMES DOES NOT HAVE ANY OWNERSHIP DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS REGARDING SUCH VEHICLES and provide to Customs the original document that shows the basis for ownership or right of possession, such as a bill of sale, and two complete copies of that original document. Further, the owner must certify in writing to Customs that the procurement of the vehicle was a bona fide transaction, and that the vehicle presented for export is not stolen.

Please keep in mind that if none of the above situations applies to your vehicle, and the Original Title has been misplaced or destroyed, you will have to apply for a replacement Original Title from the relevant Department of Motor Vehicles.


K International Transport is an experienced international transport company for cars in particular, and we have successfully exported vehicles with a variety of title issues. It is important to us that your vehicle is exported correctly, and in accordance with all U.S. Export Customs regulations, so if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us by:


Phone: (212) 267-6400
Email: inquiries@kinternational.com
Skype: kinternationalny


You can also visit our international car shipping quote request page, and include any questions about your vehicle's title status that you have.

International Shipping Companies - In Depth: Shipper's Export Declaration (Part 2)

United States Export regulations can be on of the trickier parts of shipping your car overseas. For nearly all exports, the United States government requires a Shipper's Export Declaration to be filed prior to export. K International Transport can file the SED on your behalf, making international car shipping much smoother for you. In this series I will go through and explain the common pieces of information required to fill out a Shipper's Export Declaration, so the Automated Export System (AES) is less of a mystery. Please note that even if you intend to ship LCL internationally, it is likely still required to file an SED.


In this part of this series, I will cover the "USPPI Information" and "Ultimate Consignee Information" sections of the shipper's export declaration that must be filed if you want to obtain an AES Internal Transaction Number (ITN), which is required if you want to ship your car internationally.


USPPI Information

• United States Principal Party in Interest is generally the seller, owner or manufacturer. If a foreign entity is in the U.S. when they buy the goods for export, they could also be the USPPI
• Name of Company 
• Company or individual's name
• EIN Number - Employer Identification Number
• When exporting, you must apply for an EIN if you are an individual. The process is very short, and K International can guide you through it.
• If you are a non-U.S. passport holder, you may simply use that non-U.S. passport number instead of obtaining an EIN
• Contact Name
• Contact Phone
• Cargo origin
• Simply the physical location the items being declared began their shipment. If you are exporting a car and you just bought it from a dealership, then that would be the place of origin. If you are shipping your possessions from your residence, then it would be your residence. 

Ultimate Consignee Information

• The Ultimate Consignee is generally the party that will end up with the goods in the destination, such as the buyer, or you are moving, then this would simply be your name again.
• Name of Company
• Company or individual's name
• Contact Name
• Contact Phone
• Address
• This address must be an address in the country of destination

If you are interested in discussing how the above affects international car shipping, please give us a call or send us an email. For an international car shipping cost, please visit our rate request page, send an email to inquiries@kinternational.com, or call us at (212) 267-6400. We are also available via Skype at kinternationalny.

Ship a Car Overseas by Container

Shipping a car overseas by container is the most secure method of international transport for cars. While it is more expensive than using Roll  On / Roll Off Vessels, Containerized vessels call more ports, which translates into more efficient routing for your vehicle.


When you ship your car overseas inside a shipping container, the process begins at on the professional licensed warehouses that K International has a relationship with. Once delivered to the warehouse, the car is then cleared by export customs. This requires different documents depending on the port of export, but all require the following:

• Original Vehicle Title
• Dock Receipt (we will provide you with this document)
• Original Lien Release Letter (if vehicle had a lien on it)

Other documents that are sometimes required include original, notarized Bill of Sale.

Once cleared by customs, the warehouse will load, block, and brace the vehicle into the container, in order to safely ship your car internationally on a containerized vessel. The container will then be delivered to the port of export for loading onto the vessel, and the original documents used for customs clearance will be returned to you, or sent to the recipient at the place of destination. 

If you are looking to ship your auto overseas in a container, you can contact K International Transport!  We offer car shipping quotes from any available U.S. port to any available world port!  Contact us for shipping quotes at inquiries@kinternational.com / by phone: 212-267-6400 / or by Skype: kinternationalny