Transporting a classic car across the ocean

When a client was planning his return to Italy after living in the U.S. for the past 15 years, he wanted to take his precious Porsche 911 with him. The car was first transported across the U.S. by train and then shipped to Italy in a container. Gosselin handled all of the communications to get the car released on time, avoiding expensive fees, and helped with the customs process and registration.

“When our children got older, my wife and I wanted to return to Italy so they would have a chance to experience the unique culture. Before moving to the U.S. and living there for the past fifteen years, my wife and I lived in Milan where we fell in love with Italy’s beautiful scenery, fantastic food, and friendly people,” the client reminisces. “This was why we decided to move back in August 2021, but I couldn’t leave my precious car behind.”

Porsche 911

The client was born in Germany and grew up in the 70s outside of Stuttgart, where the Porsche headquarters are located. This was why the original 911 has always been the car of his dreams. “I bought the car in 2010 from an architect in Chicago and have been carefully updating and restoring it ever since. As a professional designer, I can appreciate the perfect proportions and iconic silhouette of the car. As a daily driver, I love the fact that it is very reliable and while it is more than 50 years old, it still feels modern and ahead of its time. There is something very honest and simple about it compared to today’s high-tech automobiles, and it still puts a smile on my face every time I start the engine.”

Complex procedures

It wasn’t easy for the client to hand over his keys and send his beloved car off on a long journey with many unknowns. It was first transported across the U.S. by train, and then shipped from Baltimore to Italy in a container, arriving at the port of Genova in October. “I was very relieved when the car got delivered to our new home near Como,” the client says. “Gosselin was extremely helpful in resolving issues we faced during the customs procedure in Genova. Barbara Savelli handled all communications in a proactive manner to avoid expensive fees. I was also relieved to hear that Gosselin would be able to assist us in the registration process, given our lack of experience with registering a car in Italy.”

A lot of people simply sell their car in the country of origin and buy a new one once they arrive at the country of destination. The process involved in exporting a classic car and registering it in Europe is very specific, and it’s difficult to find accurate guidance on the Internet. “Thankfully Eleonora De Riso was able to provide us with a very detailed overview of the process. She also supported us from the start until the Italian license plates were delivered. My Italian is still a bit rusty,” the client laughs. “The process took longer than expected, but the fact that Eleonora handled most of the in-person meetings with the different agencies and institutions made it so much easier for us. We always felt we were in good hands and appreciated the proactive and transparent communication from Gosselin’s side.”

You can reach the office in Italy at: 

Barbara Savelli
Branch Manager
GOSSELIN ITALY
italy@gosselin-moving.com 

About Gosselin

Gosselin is a leading provider of international moving and destination services. Our clients are  multinationals, relocation management companies, expats, diplomats, military personnel and private persons. With 56 offices in 34 countries, Gosselin has a strong presence in Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia.  

Gosselin is a division of the Gosselin Group that has its headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium. The company was founded in 1930 and employs a staff of 800 that generates more than 350 million euros in turnover.