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Boottocht camper
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Traveling with an RV is something we love. We never dreamed that we would own our own motorhome, much less that we would travel in North America with it. The possibility of having the camper shipped was unknown to us. We now know that there are a number of providers who offer this option. We had initially chosen Robert WWS. In this blog we will list the different providers and you will read why the choice of Robert WWS turned out to be very bad for us!!!! We will also explain our choice of Halifax-Canada, what to prepare for the crossing and how to insure the motorhome during the crossing.

Sailing plan from Europe to America and Canada

Shipping companies sail from Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Zeebrugge and Liverpool to Halifax (Canada), Baltimore, Brunswick, Los Angeles and Seattle (USA). Not every shipping company sails to all destinations. You first have to determine if you want to start in Canada or America and then you see from which port you have to depart.

Why choose for shipping to Halifax in Canada

If you ship your RV to America, it will be registered upon arrival. From that date on, the RV may stay in America for only one year on a Dutch license plate. Then you have to import the RV. In addition to meet American RV requirements, you also have to pay import duties. We have read on a number of forums that this does not apply if the RV enters America via Canada. Even if you drive the RV from America to Mexico and then enter America again. Whether this information is correct, we will find out when we cross the border. We will keep you updated in this blog.

Service providers/intermediaries

You don't book directly with shipping companies, but with intermediaries. We have requested a quote from the intermediaries that are listed below. The costs are calculated on the basis of height x length x width. The result of this calculation is multiplied by a fixed rate. Then there are insurance and other costs.
The quotation is based on L 7.72 (incl. bicycle rack) x W 2.32 x H 3.20*) meters and is roll on roll off. The camper does not go in a container. 

Shipping vergelijken
We do not have a good experience with Robert WWS
Is it wise to choose Robert WWS and camper shipping.com?

Not for us! We had chosen Robert WWS (=the same as camper shipping.com) because he was the cheapest and provided the most comprehensive information in advance. Before we booked, there were positive and negative comments about him on the Internet. We discussed these with Robert van Straten at the time and finally chose him in mid-February 2023. Still, we should have listened better to our gut feeling...... Read in this blog all about our experience.

Most chosen shipper: Link to Seabridgedash
Link to IVSS

Suspend road tax in the Netherlands and cancel insurance

Once the RV goes aboard, most RV owners suspend the vehicle from the National Road Administration (RDW). For more information on RDW and travel, click here. Officially, this should not be allowed, according to the Geneva Convention - Road Traffic - 1949. Read here What the ANWB (dutch AAA) writes on its website.

You can cancel the Dutch RV insurance. It only provides coverage in countries listed on the green card. Any excess premium paid will be transferred to you. 

Insurance after drop-off and during crossing 

Once the RV is dropped-off, then it is insured until pick-up and it is handed over to you. 

Insurance in Canada, USA and Mexico

There are a number of insurance companies that insure a RV on a foreign license plate. We have a separate blog written about it.

Roadmap for shipping your motorhome

In the attached roadmap, we have described all the parts that are important for shipping your motorhome. What you can/can't transport, cleaning the camper, returning it, picking it up, etc. This roadmap is easy to download.