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Frequently Asked Questions

International Moving

When you partner with us to make your international move, we strive to provide nothing less than excellence. As part of that effort, every Sterling International shipment is custom-priced based on the contracted services provided. We want you to know exactly what you're being billed for, so you can stay in control, and your international transition can be as smooth as possible.

International Pricing Fundamentals

There are seven fundamentals that make up every international moving price. Your total price depends on the size of the shipment, the location of origin and destination, and on the level of service requested. Your total may also be affected by country-specific regulations, as we abide by all regulations imposed by the countries involved in your relocation.

  1. Origin Service. Origin services are packing, wrapping and loading the shipment at your current location. Prices are typically quoted in dollars per 100lbs or per cubic foot.
  2. Drayage. Drayage is the trucking of an ocean container to and from a port location. If you require drayage, it is typically quoted on a flat rate, and will vary by region and distance to and from the port.
  3. Ocean Carriage. Ocean transportation from seaport to seaport will vary with world location and transit time requirements. Prices are quoted per container.
  4. Destination Service. Normal international destination service includes normal customs clearance, drayage, and delivery to residence, unpacking, unwrapping, set-up and debris removal. Destination service is typically quoted in the currency of the destination country, and is applied per 100lbs.
  5. Service Charges. Service charges are fees paid to a licensed freight forwarder or non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) for organizing, documenting and managing the international relocation services listed above. Service charges can be a flat rate or a percentage of the costs of services provided.
  6. Insurance. Insurance for your international move will be $0 deductable, Full Replacement value coverage, available at a rate of 2.5% of the stated value of the shipment. The value is established via a valued inventory of the shipment to be taken by the shipper.
  7. Duties, Taxes and Fees. Fees for normal customs clearances are included in most prices. The ports of the world impose a variety of fees, which Sterling International passes through at the actual charge.

Let's take a look at a few examples of how these prices add up during an international relocation.

If Sterling International were to move a four bedroom home, an approximately 12,000lb shipment from New Jersey to England, the cost would break down like this:

Origin Service: $4,800 - $6,000
Drayage: $500 - $700
Ocean Carriage: $900 - $3,500
Destination Service: $3,600 - $4800

Sub-Total: $9,800 - $15,000
Plus Insurance
Plus Service Charges
Plus all pass-through fees

If the same shipment were moving from Nashville to the United Kingdom, after applying current prices and international exchange rates, the ticket would look this way:

Origin Service: $4,200
Drayage: $150
Ocean Carriage: $1,500
Destination Service: $3,600

Sub-Total: $9,450
Plus Insurance
Plus Service Charges
Plus all pass-through fees

If the shipment were reversed, and the four-bedroom was moving from the U.K. to Nashville, here's what you could expect to be charged at current rates:

Origin Service: $5700
Drayage: Included in origin fee
Ocean Carriage: $3,500
Destination Service: $1,920

Sub-Total: $11,120
Plus Insurance
Plus Service Charges
Plus all pass-through fees

Want to see more specific examples? We'll be happy to help. Sterling International can create more specific price quotes on more specific metrics.