It appears that I am the new owner of an FV-432 - now to get it over here.
It's near Liverpool in the UK - would like to know if anyone can recommend a cheap RORO shipper from the UK to the USA ?
I brought my vehicle from Sweden to Galveston via RO-RO. It pays to shop around and get quotes from LOTS of logistics companies. In my case, they were all quoting rates for transport by the same vessel, operated by Wallenius Wilhemsen. But the quotes varied by up to 30%! (Wallenius supposedly has their own logistics company that quotes, but I could never get them to respond to quote requests. I would not recommend contracting with them.) Use a responsive logistics broker that acts like they WANT your business. They have to be responsive to you and your customs broker, later, when the boat is on the water with your vehicle. They need to get manifests and other documentation to your broker after the ship leaves port.
By far the best shipping quotes all came from the logistics companies in the country of origin (Sweden in my case). US quotes for shipping were all at the high end of the range. I'm guessing you'll get the best quotes from small or modest size UK logistics companies. Start with Ascope Shipping Services UK and Giant Logistics Ltd., but be sure to get quotes from as many as you can.
On your end, find a good, small or medium sized customs broker located near the port of Tacoma--- make sure they have handled RO-RO arrivals and clearances at that port --- and definitely ask if they have handled MVs before. You may not find one that has, but if you do, I bet it would make things much easier than one that is just used to importing used BMW or Mercedes sedans. I for one, would be willing to pay a lot more for a broker that has cleared MV's before than for one that hasn't.
While you can go with lowest quote for the shipping, DO NOT go with the lowest quote on Customs Brokerage ! A good customs broker is worth double the cost of a crappy one, easy.
Good luck, would like to hear what kind of various shipping quotes you get.