How Body Kits Ship Overseas: Sea Freight, Volumetric Weight, and Crating
The short answer: body panels are big, light, and fragile, which is the exact combination freight companies charge the most to move. You pay by volume, not weight; big kits go by sea, small parts by courier; proper crating costs volume but saves parts; and your country charges import duties on top. Here's the whole honest picture, so nothing on your invoice is ever a surprise.
Volumetric weight: why a bumper ships "heavy"
Couriers don't charge by what a package weighs. They charge by whichever is greater: actual weight or volumetric weight, which is calculated from the box dimensions. A front bumper might weigh 9kg, but its box takes up the space of a 60kg shipment, so it's billed as 60kg. You're paying for the air the part needs around it to arrive safe.
This is physics and carrier policy, not a markup, and every company shipping aero deals with it. The difference is whether they explain it up front or hide it in a "handling fee." We'd rather explain it: when a shipping quote on a big panel looks high, volumetric weight is almost always why.
Sea, air, or courier: the real trade
| Method | Best for | Speed | The honest take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea freight (LCL) | Full kits, multi-panel orders to the US | Weeks | By far the cheapest way to move volume; the smart default for big orders |
| Air freight | Larger parts to AUS/EU, time-sensitive orders | Days to a week+ | Fast but volumetric pricing bites hardest here |
| Courier (DHL/FedEx type) | Hardware, interior parts, canards, lips | Days | Perfect for small boxes; uneconomic for panels |
The rule of thumb: the bigger your order, the more sea freight wins. And since every part is built to order anyway, the timelines stack sensibly: the crate sails while you prep the car.
For US customers: how our sea freight option works
At checkout on large orders you'll see our sea freight option, where the freight itself is quoted and invoiced separately after the order. Why: real freight cost depends on exactly what's in your crate, its final dimensions, and your delivery address. Quoting it after the crate is built means you pay the real number, not a padded estimate. No games, no "free shipping" baked invisibly into the part price.
Crating: where good shipping is won
A carbon panel that crosses an ocean loose in a cardboard box arrives as carbon shards. Proper export packing means a rigid crate, panels suspended and padded so nothing touches anything, and corner protection where it counts. It adds volume (see above, that's the trade) but it's why parts arrive looking like they left the shop. When you're comparing prices between brands, ask what the part actually ships in. The suspiciously cheap shipping is saving money somewhere you'll regret.
Duties and taxes: what your country adds
Import duties and taxes in your country are charged by your customs authority and aren't included in our pricing, same as importing anything. The rate depends on your country's tariff schedule for auto parts. US, Australian, and EU customers all see different structures, and they change, so we won't print numbers here that go stale. What we will do: tell you what customers in your region typically see before you order. Ask us, we ship to your market constantly.
Delivery day: residential freight in the US
If your kit arrives by truck freight to a home address, three things matter:
- Someone needs to be there. Freight delivers by appointment, not like a courier drop.
- Liftgate service. A crate doesn't come off a truck without one at a residence. We set this up on our side; just give us accurate delivery details at order time.
- Inspect before you sign. Note any visible crate damage on the delivery receipt before signing. It takes five seconds and it's the difference between an easy claim and a hard one.
If something arrives damaged
Photograph everything before you finish unpacking: the crate, the packing, the part, from multiple angles. Note damage on the delivery receipt if you caught it at handoff. Then contact us immediately with the photos and your order number. Freight claims have time windows, so same-day contact genuinely matters. We've shipped thousands of parts worldwide; when something goes wrong in transit, the process works if the documentation exists.
FAQ: shipping body kits internationally
How much does it cost to ship a body kit to the US?
It depends on crate size and destination, which is why we quote sea freight after your crate is built rather than guessing. As a rule, sea freight on a full kit costs a fraction of what air would, and consolidated orders (one crate, several parts) are far more efficient than separate shipments.
How long does sea freight take?
Weeks, not days: ocean transit plus port handling and inland delivery. Combined with the 6-8 week build time, a US customer ordering a full kit should plan roughly three to four months door to door. Small courier parts land in days once built.
What is volumetric weight?
The billable weight carriers calculate from a package's dimensions rather than its mass. Big, light boxes are charged by the space they occupy. It's why a 9kg bumper can be billed like a 60kg package, and it's standard practice across every carrier.
Why is freight invoiced separately from my order?
Because the real cost depends on final crate dimensions and your delivery address, which don't exist until your made-to-order parts are built and packed. Separate invoicing means you pay the actual number instead of a padded estimate baked into the product price.
Do I have to pay import duties?
Almost always, yes. Your country's customs authority charges duty and tax on imported auto parts at your local rate, separate from anything we charge. Ask us what customers in your region typically see and we'll tell you straight before you commit.
Do you ship to Australia and Europe?
Constantly. Smaller parts move by courier, larger orders by air or sea depending on size and timing. The volumetric logic in this article applies everywhere; only the routes and duty structures change.
What if my part arrives damaged?
Note it on the delivery receipt if visible at handoff, photograph the crate, packing, and part before unpacking further, and contact us the same day with photos and your order number. Freight claims have time windows; fast documentation makes them work.
Can I combine multiple parts into one shipment?
Yes, and you should: one crate with several panels is dramatically more freight-efficient than separate boxes. If you're planning a multi-part build, tell us up front and we'll build and crate it as one consolidated shipment.
Questions about shipping a specific order? DM us before you buy and we'll quote it straight. Written by Nate Benoit, founder of Elite Ti. Bespoke carbon and titanium for JDM and motorsport builds. Last updated June 2026.