We did it! At the end of March, we had to make one of the most difficult decisions of our trip up to that point.
When we started our journey in June 2022, we knew that if we were going to encounter any obstacle along our way it would be around Myanmar-China. So right from the start of our trip, we looked at different routes and options.
One of them, and the route we preferred, was to drive through Myanmar. We contacted several organizations that kept in touch with us during our trip. Until January 2023, we had not heard anything from them. Then suddenly there were rumors that Myanmar might be opening its borders soon so we were extremely happy. Unfortunately, it remained rumors because by the beginning of March, there was still no progress. The organizations told us they would know more by the end of March but we couldn’t wait that long only to then maybe get a no after all.
The second option was to go through China. We had heard from several fellow overlanders who had done this before covid that it was definitely worthwhile but very pricey. In addition, many tour organizations did not respond to our email to forward us a quote and an itinerary. The companies that did respond simply said they were going to keep us informed. They had no idea when the borders would open but they said that it would not be happening anytime soon so we better not wait for that to happen. So we basically ruled out China at that point.
The third option was to ship. This was our least favorite option. We did find some information on various fora from fellow Overlanders but the information we found was very conflicting. The price ranged from 500 USD to 5000 USD. The reviews were also somewhat contradictory. some people said it all went very smoothly and everything went according to plan. Others had terrible experiences and lost a lot of money and time. So we were a little skeptical to embark on this whole process.
Since we had not received any positive news from both China or Myanmar by early March, the only option left for us was to ship the car.
Below we will give you some quotations that we received.
Important to know that you actually have to contact three parties and also have to pay all of them. Along the Indian side, along the Malaysian side and the shipping company itself (line charges,โฆ). They are not in contact with each other so you have to keep the organization on the Indian side and the one on the Malaysian side both informed about any updates.
Documents needed
India
-
- Carnette de passage
- Copy of passport
- List of personal belongings stuffed inside the car
- Address in Malaysia
- Copy of Indian visa
- Copy of international driver’s license
- Copy of vehicle registration
- a signed letter of declaration that there is no fuel or gas in the car and that the household battery is properly disconnected
Malaysia
-
- Completed carnet de passage (incl. exit stamp India)
- List of personal belongings stuffed inside the car
- Copy of passports
- Copy of international driver’s license
- ICP & motor insurance (Mr. Cheong)
Shipping companies
India
SECO (Mumbai) versus Goutam Pandey (Kolkata)
In March we were in Assam so Kolkata was way closer to us than Mumbai. Although Mumbai was a much larger port and many more people have shipped from here it was just too far away for us and we have to confess we were a little tired of driving in India so the thought of driving all the way through the center of India didn’t seem so nice to us at that time. But if we knew from the start that eventually we had to ship the car we would have made sure that we were somewhere around Mumbai because it just felt a bit more reliable.
We contacted SECO in Mumbai and Goutam Pandey in Kolkata. These were the two organizations that we felt were the most reliable. They responded very quickly and provided adequate information.
Quotes below for a 20โ feet container:
-
- SECO : 135.038 INR (= 1.517 EURO in 2023).
- Goutam Pandey: 140.000 INR (=1.573 EUR in 2023).
First, Goutam Pandey gave us a quote of 175.000 INR. We said that for this price we would drive to Mumbai because we still had a better feeling to ship with SECO (just because there were more reviews and info about shipping with them). We also found it odd that the price was the same as what SECO asked since shipping from Mumbai to Malaysia was way further. Their response: โok let me see what I can doโ. 1 hour later we got an email from them saying that the final price would be 140.000 INR incl. taxes and other charges.
Included in the price:
-
- Export custom clearance charges and export documentation charges
- Ocean freight for 20โ container
- Carnet handling charges
- CSF โ container freight station- charges (cargo transportation to port, loading/unloading on truck, loading car in container,..)
- THC charges for 20โ container (fees charges by the shipping terminals for the storage, positioning, handling of containers before they are loaded on a truck to go to the port)
- BL charges (documentation charges against bill of lading)
- Service charges
- Lashing charges (operation executed so that cargo is tied and secured)
- Taxes
Not included in the price:
- Marine insurance โ 1.5% of the value of the vehicle declared by the shipper (Goutam Pandey said it was not necessary, SECO said it was but it is not mandatory. Eventually we choose not to buy marine insurance).
Contact details s. Pandey: [email protected], 09830183049
Contact details SECO: [email protected], +91-22-22621107, +91-22-22614677
Malaysia
Alien logistics versus KT haulage
If you start comparing prices with each other, alien logistics is cheaper than KT haulage. Only downside to Alien Logistics is that you still must contact another party yourself to arrange ICP and motor insurance to drive in Malaysia. While KT Haulage arranges everything you need to drive your own car in Malaysia. For the ICP and motor insurance we contacted Mr. Cheong.
Before the car arrives in Malaysia, all documents must be in order. So make sure you arrive in Malaysia before the car so you can sign the documents at the office of Alien Logistics (Centro Mall, Klang – 45 min drive from Kuala Lumpur city center). The ICP and motor insurance must be ready before they can finish the documents. Once we got confirmation from Mr. Cheong that he finished the ICP and motor insurance, we passed this on to Alien Logistics and they were kind enough to go and pick it up from Mr. Cheong themselves.
Quotes below for a 20โ feet container:
- Alien logistics: 450 USD + ICP and Motor insurance (Mr. Cheong)
- KT Haulage: 565 USD + ICP and Motor insurance (Mr. Lee)
Included in the price:
- Warehouse handling (Cargo brokerage and Cargo inspection/unstuffing at Port Klang)
- Custom clearance (documentation, carnette de passage,..)
Not included in the price:
- Warehouse storage (KT haulage): 15 USD/vehicle per day
Quotes for driving in Malaysia:
- Mr. Cheong: ICP (34 USD/permit) + Motor insurance (20 USD/month, 30 USD/2 month) + insurance broker fee (34 USD/vehicle)
- Mr. Lee: ICP (80 USD/permit) + Motor insurance (?) + Broker (70 USD/vehicle)
Contact details Alien logistics: [email protected].
Contact details Mr. Cheong: [email protected]
Contact details KT haulage: [email protected]
Shipping line
These are additional costs you need to consider. It is not included in the price at both SECO and Goutam Pandey and they don’t tell you anything about it unless you specifically ask them.
Ask them what shipping company they ship with and if they want to request the line charges from them.
Goutam Pandey shipped with Baulmer Lawrie.
Quotes below:
Line charges Baulmer Lawrie: 245 USD
Our experience
On the 21st of march we went to Goutam Pandeyโs office (S.Pandey & Company, India Exchange Pl Road, Chitpur, Barabazar Market, 3th floor). This is a crazy road. Make sure you stay at the beginning of the street because the middle of the street is pure chaos. We didn’t find the office right away so we drove down the street and our mirror broke twice while we were waiting for a red light. There is no parking available but there is some space to park the car along the street and there is a guard who will keep an eye on the car.
We signed some papers (Copy of passport, visa, Carnette de passage and packing list) which took only 10 minutes. You can ask when you can load the car and when the vessel will leave but it will probably not be true. In our case he said that the vessel will leave on the 25th or on the 28th. Eventually we loaded the car on the 29th and the vessel left the port on the 2nd of April.
Loading car in Kolkata
We drove to the CFS (container freight station) from Balmer Lawrie on the 25th of march to check if our car would fit in a 20โ feet container. It fitted perfectly. They suggested that we gave them the key so they could drive the car into the container once the booked container was available. We didnโt like this idea so we suggested to come back once the booked container was available and drive it in the container ourselves.
On the 29th we received a message that the booked container had arrived and that we could load the car. Once we got there, we waited a long time. After several hours, customs looked at our car from the outside and took a quick look inside and we signed some papers. Since we still had a half-full tank, it had to be emptied. Also, our jerry can with spare fuel had to be handed over. So, tip: make sure you use up all your fuel before driving to the CFS. After the tank was empty (5 liters could remain) the car was ready to be loaded. Gas bottles for cooking are allowed but you have to make sure they are empty and also your household batteries are not a problem, but you have to declare that you disconnected them properly. Once the car is in the container, they make sure the car is secured. Afterwards they close the door and no one can touch your car anymore. You can take the key with you to Malaysia.
On the 1st of April we landed in Malaysia. On the 2nd we received a confirmation that the vessel had left the port of Kolkata and that it will arrive in Port Klang, Malaysia on the 9th of April.
Unloading car in Port Klang, Kuala Lumpur
Updates coming soon