A great many of our clients live thousands of miles from the car they are buying, and they want to know exactly where our job starts and where it stops. The answer is simple and it has not changed: you buy the vehicle, in your own name, through your own account, and once it is paid for we take it from there. This page sets out that split clearly, because knowing it in advance is what makes the whole thing work smoothly.
What we are, and what we are not
Cassandra Logistics is a federally licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediary, an NVOCC, operating under FMC licence OTI No. 025125NF. Legally we are Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. doing business as Cassandra Logistics, and the licence is public and verifiable with the Federal Maritime Commission.
What that means in practice is that we are the ocean carrier for your cargo. We issue the bill of lading, we file the United States export declaration, and we move your vehicle from wherever it sits in the United States to your destination port. That is the service, and it is a regulated one.
What we are not is a buyer, a dealer, an auction agent or a broker of vehicles. We do not purchase cars or equipment on anyone's behalf, and we are not party to your transaction with the seller. That separation is deliberate and it works in your favor, because the vehicle is yours from the moment you buy it rather than sitting in someone else's name on its way to you.
Auction accounts are yours, not ours
We do not hold, share, lend or provide access to auction accounts of any kind, including Copart, IAA, Manheim and the rest. We do not bid for clients and we do not register clients under our name. If you want to buy at a United States auction, you open your own account or you work with a licensed broker who does that specific job, and that arrangement is entirely between you and them.
This comes up often enough that it is worth being direct about it. An arrangement where someone else buys a vehicle in their name on your behalf puts the ownership, the title and the money in a position you do not control. Buying in your own name means the title comes to you, the receipt is in your name, and the export documents match the owner. That is a far stronger position, and it is also what makes the export filing straightforward.
Once the car is yours and paid for, send us the lot details and we will collect it. Our guide to buying at a US auction covers the purchase side in more depth.
What we do once the car is yours
We collect the vehicle from the auction yard, the dealer lot or the seller, anywhere in the United States. We bring it to our warehouse, where it is inspected on arrival and photographed so that you have a record of the condition as received. We prepare it for export, load it into a container, and secure it properly.
We then file the export declaration through the Automated Export System and obtain the internal transaction number, we present the title and ownership documents as required for export, we issue your bill of lading, and we ship the container to your destination port on a scheduled sailing. We give you the booking, the sailing dates and the documents your customs agent at destination will need.
If you want parts, spares or a second vehicle in the same container, that is arranged at the same time, provided everything is declared before the container is sealed. Our loading guide shows how the space usually works out.
What stays with you
Buying the vehicle and paying for it. Winning the lot, settling the invoice and obtaining the title or ownership document from the seller. Telling us accurately what the vehicle is, because we file what you furnish and you remain the party responsible for the truth and accuracy of that information.
At the far end, customs clearance, duty, taxes, inspection and registration are handled by your own licensed customs agent in the destination country. Import eligibility, age limits and any pre-shipment inspection requirement are set by that country and administered there, which is why we ask you to confirm them with an agent before you buy rather than after the car is on the water.
Storage charges at the auction yard are also yours, and they start sooner than most buyers expect. Arrange the collection at the same time you pay for the lot and the problem does not arise.
Why this split protects you
When the buyer, the title and the export filing all name the same person, there is nothing ambiguous about who owns the vehicle at any point. The paperwork lines up, the customs filing matches the ownership document, and the consignee at destination can show a clear chain from the auction invoice to the bill of lading.
When those things do not line up, problems appear later rather than sooner, and they appear at the point where they are most expensive to fix. A title in a third party name, an invoice to someone who is not the shipper, or a filing that does not match the ownership document can all slow a shipment down at the worst possible moment. Keeping the structure clean from the start costs nothing and avoids all of it.
Buying and shipping FAQ
Can you buy a car for me at a US auction?
No. We are a licensed ocean carrier and we do not purchase vehicles, equipment or parts on anyone's behalf. You buy in your own name through your own account, and once the vehicle is paid for we collect it and ship it. That separation keeps the title, the money and the export documents all in your name, which is a far stronger position for you.
Can I use your Copart or IAA account?
We do not hold, share, lend or provide access to auction accounts of any kind. Obtaining access to buy at a United States auction is entirely a matter between you and the auction house or a licensed broker who does that specific work, and it sits outside what we do. Once you own the vehicle, we take it from the yard and move it.
Will you bid on my behalf?
No, we do not bid for clients and we do not register clients under our name. What we can do, and are happy to do, is tell you before you bid what the shipping is likely to cost and whether anything about that particular vehicle is likely to cause a problem on your lane. That is a short conversation and it is worth having before the auction closes.
Why will you not just buy it for me?
Because it would put the ownership, the title and your money into a position you do not control, and because purchasing vehicles is not what an ocean carrier does. When the buyer, the title and the export filing all name the same person, the paperwork lines up and the shipment moves cleanly. When they do not, problems appear at the point where they are most expensive to fix.
What do you need from me once I have won a lot?
The lot number and yard location, the vehicle details including the identification number, the auction invoice or bill of sale, the title or ownership document, and your destination port. With that we can arrange collection and price the shipment. Send those over and we will come back within 24 to 48 hours.
How quickly should I arrange collection?
At the same time that you pay, without waiting. Auction yards allow a short free period after payment clears and then begin charging storage daily. Those charges are entirely avoidable and they are the most common unnecessary cost on an auction shipment. Tell us as soon as the lot is paid for and we will schedule the pickup.
Can you collect from anywhere in the USA?
Yes, from any auction yard, dealer lot or private seller anywhere in the United States. Vehicles are collected and brought to our warehouse for preparation and loading. If the vehicle does not run or does not roll, tell us when you book, because it needs different equipment and we would rather plan for that than discover it at the yard.
Will you tell me what condition the car is in?
We inspect and photograph the vehicle as it reaches our warehouse, which gives you a record of the condition as received and a checkpoint between the auction listing and the vessel. It is particularly useful to buyers outside the United States who never see the vehicle in person. It is a record of what arrived rather than a mechanical inspection.
Who files the US export declaration?
We do, through the Automated Export System, and we obtain the internal transaction number. We file it from the information you furnish, and you remain the principal party in interest and the party responsible for the truth and accuracy of what you provide. Give us accurate details and the filing is straightforward.
What if the title is in someone else's name?
It complicates the export, sometimes considerably, because the filing and the ownership document are expected to match. A title in a third party name usually needs a properly executed transfer or supporting documentation before the vehicle can be exported cleanly. Tell us early if this is your situation so that it is sorted out before the car is at the port rather than after.
Do you handle customs clearance at my end?
No, clearance at the destination is handled by your own licensed customs agent in that country, and duty, taxes, inspection and registration all sit with them. We supply the bill of lading and the export documents they need. That division is standard and it is the right one, because a local agent knows their own customs service far better than anyone abroad can.
Who decides whether my country will admit the car?
The destination country does, through its own customs authority, and the rules on age, condition and vehicle type are set and administered there. Confirm the current requirements with a licensed customs agent in the importing country before you buy rather than after. Rules change, and a car bought against an outdated rule is an expensive mistake.
What does the shipping quote include?
Collection from the yard, delivery to our warehouse, inspection and photographs on arrival, preparation and loading, securing, the United States export filing and the bill of lading, and the ocean freight to your destination port. What sits outside it is anything at the destination end, which belongs to your customs agent there.
When do I pay you?
We confirm the payment terms with your quote and booking so that there is nothing unclear about it. What we would ask is that payment and documentation keep pace with the booking, because a container that is ready to sail while something is outstanding ends up waiting, and waiting at a port is expensive. We will tell you plainly what is needed and when.
Why are other quotes cheaper?
Usually because something has been left out. Check whether the figure includes collection from the yard, the export filing, the bill of lading and the securing, or whether those arrive afterwards as separate charges. Ask also what happens to the price if the vehicle turns out not to fit the arrangement the quote assumed. A complete number is more useful than a low one.
Do you charge for storage at your warehouse?
We allow a reasonable free period and tell you plainly what applies after it, so there is no surprise. Holding a vehicle with us while a document or a payment is settled is normally far cheaper than leaving it accruing charges at the auction yard. Tell us early if you expect a delay so that we can plan the space.
Can I put more than one car in a container?
Yes, and it is usually the cheapest way to move more than one vehicle. Two to four cars commonly share a forty foot high cube depending on their size, and the cost per car falls substantially. If you are bidding on several lots, tell us before you bid and we will look at whether they consolidate into one booking.
Can I add parts or spares to the container?
Yes, provided everything is declared before the container is sealed. There is usually real unused space around a vehicle and filling it with parts costs very little extra. What does not work is adding items on loading day, because every item has to be on the export filing and the bill of lading first. Send us the inventory when you book.
Can I ship personal effects in the car?
Household goods and personal effects are declared differently from vehicles and parts, and several destinations apply their own rules to them. They are not simply filler for the space in a car. Tell us if you want to send them so that it is handled correctly, rather than packing them in and hoping, which is how shipments get held.
Are you a licensed carrier or a broker?
We are the carrier. Cassandra Logistics is a federally licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediary under FMC licence OTI No. 025125NF, legally Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. doing business as Cassandra Logistics. The licence is public and verifiable with the Federal Maritime Commission, and on cargo of this value it is worth verifying whoever you are dealing with.
How do I verify your licence?
The Federal Maritime Commission publishes a searchable register of licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediaries, and our licence number is OTI No. 025125NF under Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. Checking it takes a minute. We would encourage you to verify any company asking you to send a vehicle or a payment, not only us.
Where do you load from?
Our main loading points are New Jersey, Baltimore, Savannah and Houston, with collection and towing available from any state in the country. Which port your vehicle loads from depends on where it is bought and where it is going, and we route it the way that works out best rather than defaulting to one gateway.
How do I start?
Send us the vehicle or lot details, the yard location and your destination port, and we will come back with a real price within 24 to 48 hours. When you are ready to book, our online shipping form walks you through the details and produces your signed instructions as a PDF.
Import rules change. The customs information on this page comes from official government sources and was accurate when published, but duties, age limits and eligibility requirements are set by the destination country and can change without notice. Cassandra Logistics is a licensed ocean carrier, not a customs authority or a legal adviser. We are not responsible for changes to foreign import law, or for decisions made by customs at destination. Always confirm current requirements with a licensed customs agent in the destination country before you buy.