Shipping a Polo from Sydney to Germany - some advice/ help please

Hi everyone,

due to it being very unlikely that my beloved Polo will sell any time soon I have considered shipping it back to its country of origin. A mate suggested to this being a somewhat inexpensive move compaired to shipping a car over here as ships as well as containers often return to Europe empty and companies therefore attempt to fill their vessels.

I have advertised this car for a good six weeks and I will have to return to Europe as I cannot get a work permit for Australia. There has been no interest in the car whatsoever despite its immaculate condition and since I spent $2000.- on it this year alone I cannot really go any lower as the advertised price of $7000.- as I owe the money. Hence I am appealing for your help, in case that anyone may have had any experiences regarding the shipping of that kind.

I am looking for the cheapest and simplest option, possibly into Germany, that will allow me to drop off the car this week - I am leaving on the coming Thursday, which is very soon indeed.

I would be most grateful for any advice that any of you may have and maybe some of you people on here can even suggest a company.

I am at present living in the Baulkham Hills area (Greater Sydney) so getting the car to the boat would not be a problem but rather the lack of time and experience on my side regarding this move.

Anyhow, if any of you have any ideas who I could speak to in this regard, I reckon that would be perfect.

A big thank you in advance to all of you on here for your help, it really is very much appreciated!

Regards,

- Nick

Btw. The car is advertised in the “sales” section on this forum as well as on carsales.com.au

Just in case:

Mobile: 0424278956 (Vodafone)

Probably best to contact a couple of freight forwarding companies and ask their advice.

Yogie

Nick - not sure where you are heading in Europe, but in Germany at least, second hand cars aren't really worth much there.
You'd also be stuck with a RHD car in LHD mainland Europe - not the end of the world, but would make driving interesting.

BTW rebook quotes $4 to $5.5k for a 1998 manual in private sale. Yours is in good condition so would be in the top of that range.

Hi Cram,

I appreciate the fact that the car is worth less in Germany as there are heaps of them around but there is no way that I would accept $4000.- for a car for which I paid $7000 and into which I invested $2500.- on top of that while only driving 10,000kms with it over the time I owned it. Do you see my problem? Plus noone wants it anyway and I would have to purchase another vehicle in Europe that potentially also requires a new timing belt, tyres and all that. Once I get some offers I can possibly reconsider shipping it but so far nothing.

Having shipped VWs to Hamburg four years ago I can say the freight costs were $3300 per vehicle inside a 40 foot container. That was 4 years ago.
In June 2007 the quoted price to freight a Kombi to Hamburg was $4050.
Get onto the internet , there are several companies who provide an online quote facility.
If I was Sitting where you are and in the same predicament, I am not sure I would throw more money at it though.
countrybuggybill

nick1234 wrote:Hi Cram,

I appreciate the fact that the car is worth less in Germany as there are heaps of them around but there is no way that I would accept $4000.- for a car for which I paid $7000 and into which I invested $2500.- on top of that while only driving 10,000kms with it over the time I owned it. Do you see my problem? Plus noone wants it anyway and I would have to purchase another vehicle in Europe that potentially also requires a new timing belt, tyres and all that. Once I get some offers I can possibly reconsider shipping it but so far nothing.

You might have to cop the loss - I was offered a 2002 V8 Holden Caprice yesterday for $10,000. It cost $80K six years ago...

Nick, take the loss, i know it hurts but by the time you stuff around you will spend more than what you can get a good little car over there.