Shipping car abroad

[Lobbs]

I want to get my car over to Italy next year (as I'm getting wed) and wondered if anyone had any experience of shipping cars abroad.

Ideally I would drive it over and have some fun, but this would require too much time off work - and it wouldn't go down well if I turned up knackered after driving all night.

Cheers.

[hawkespcs]

well if you give me the keys. i would love to take it over. and i would do it for free as long as its free fuel of course. well no harm in trying. hope you find away mate.

[RUSSELLM]

I know what you mean about arriving tired, but it seems a shame to own such a "drivers" car but have to have it delivered to Italy for you.

If your that way inclined, you may as well get taxis when your there, and not have to worry about driving it at all.

Life's to short to worry about having an extra day or four off.

All IMO of course

[tubbystu]

If you do drive, give yourself plenty of time, and ensure you include the "route Napoleon" between Grenoble and Cannes - fantastic scenery on both ways but better going south. 1 day London to Grenoble, 1 day Grenoble to Italian border..............

Assume you have to drive back as well after the wedding ?

If its a non-drive I think SNCF do car-carrier trains to Cannes/Nice - which takes a big bite out of the journey - depends where in Italy you are getting wed too though.

[RUSSELLM]

I did it this year from Brum, and stopped in Reims for the night. You're a bit further south, so should make it a bit further down.

Personally I'd avoid going through Switzerland because of that damn long tunnel, and the fact that they only let twenty odd cars in at a time.

If I was doing it again, I'd go south past Lyon and enter Italy by San Remo (Monaco ish without looking at a map)

[Lobbs]

Thought I might get a few 'I'll drive it for you replies'.

RUSSELLM - I know what you mean, but the idea of having the car over there is to use it for our honeymoon. Touring around the Italian countryside will mean it'll get plenty of 'proper' use. And I am planning on driving it back to England, so again it will get used.

As I'll already be taking 10 days off work and extra few days would be pushing it.

[Marki]

tubbystu said:

If you do drive, give yourself plenty of time, and ensure you include the "route Napoleon" between Grenoble and Cannes -

Yes lets not take the long route ,, the blokes worried about being nackered when he gets there

[NCE 61]

No personnel experience of This Company, but I have seen a few of their delivery vehicles on the motorways of Europe.

[RUSSELLM]

Forgot to say, congratulations on the forthcoming hitch up

Which part of Italy are you going to ?

Mine's only an old Cerbera, but I'm not sure I'd be keen on it being container-ed anywhere, It's come back scratched on it's various piggy back rides with breakdown recovery companies.

[Lobbs]

Cheers, am getting hitched in San Gimignano, Tuscany, about an hour south of Florence.

Am a wee bit nervous about putting on a container too, hence the query about a reputable firm that's going to look after the car.

[ruaricoles]

Is there anyone going to your wedding you'd trust to drive it there for you? Paying the fuel and tolls will be far less than a shipping bill, and if it's a good enough friend you can be 100% sure the car will be looked after. They can fly back after.

Ruari

[morebeanz]

I didn't take the Cerb, but I did take an overnight train from Belgium through to Tuscany a few years ago. Had a decent cabin too.

It was through the Belgium equivalent of the SNCF...

[rejn]

Fantastic - another TVR in Tuscany! You'll love it, and so will the locals!!!

I took my Tuscan convertible to San Gimignano earlier this year - the easiest way I found was channel tunnel to Calais and then put the car on the overnight sleeper train to Nice - wake up on Saturday morning in Nice feeling fresh as a daisy, and you'll be in San G by tea time!

[Horse_Apple]

Lobbs said:

I want to get my car over to Italy next year (as I'm getting wed) and wondered if anyone had any experience of shipping cars abroad.

Ideally I would drive it over and have some fun, but this would require too much time off work - and it wouldn't go down well if I turned up knackered after driving all night.

Cheers.

You could always stick it in a box with all the ex factory bits which are supposed to be heading that way.

Got married in Italy this year, had a hire car shipped from Monaco. They just stuck it on the ferry. Easy.

Pretty sure you can get a car down to the bottom of France on a train. Not sure of the details but I'm sure I've heard of people do that for a season on the Riviera.

[Lobbs]

Thanks for the suggestions.

The train option looks like a possibility, although the motorail website looks like the service starts on May 18th which would be too late.

[Horse_Apple]

Lobbs said:

Thanks for the suggestions.

The train option looks like a possibility, although the motorail website looks like the service starts on May 18th which would be too late.

Why not drive the car down a couple of weeks beforehand with your Best Man as co-pilot for a final lads weekend?

[Marki]

Lobbs said:

Thanks for the suggestions.

The train option looks like a possibility, although the motorail website looks like the service starts on May 18th which would be too late.

I dont understand the problem its only Italy after all

[Lobbs]

Horse_Apple said:

Lobbs said:

Thanks for the suggestions.

The train option looks like a possibility, although the motorail website looks like the service starts on May 18th which would be too late.

Why not drive the car down a couple of weeks beforehand with your Best Man as co-pilot for a final lads weekend?

Great idea, but he lives in the US.

[Lobbs]

Marki said:

Lobbs said:

Thanks for the suggestions.

The train option looks like a possibility, although the motorail website looks like the service starts on May 18th which would be too late.

I dont understand the problem its only Italy after all

Which don't you understand; why this generally is a problem or why using the motorail is a problem?

[Horse_Apple]

Lobbs said:

Horse_Apple said:

Lobbs said:

Thanks for the suggestions.

The train option looks like a possibility, although the motorail website looks like the service starts on May 18th which would be too late.

Why not drive the car down a couple of weeks beforehand with your Best Man as co-pilot for a final lads weekend?

Great idea, but he lives in the US.

If he really was a 'Best Man' he'd find the time and money to help you out in your hour of need.

There are always the ushers as well.

Got to be worth trying to make it your last road trip as a free man.

First night in Monaco for a spot of gambling then over the hills and a run down the autoroutes.