How To Ship Cars From ModaMiami 2026

Step 1: Decide What You’re Buying at ModaMiami

ModaMiami 2026 brings together hundreds of cars at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, with RM Sotheby’s curating a catalog heavy on modern exotics and blue‑chip collectibles. Before you arrive, define your target list: do you want one hero car, a small portfolio of modern exotics, or a mix of halo cars and inventory pieces for resale?

Study RM Sotheby’s online catalog, shortlist cars that fit your budget and market, and note their auction days and lot numbers. Treat ModaMiami as a sourcing trip rather than a casual visit—knowing in advance which Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches, or boutique builds you will chase makes it much easier to align bidding with a shipping strategy.

Step 2: Pre‑Price Shipping So You Can Set Real Bids

Before you even register to bid, use West Coast Shipping’s international car shipping calculator to get estimated costs from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to your main destination ports. Enter sample values for a modern supercar, a hypercar, and a more common performance car so you understand how vehicle value, size, and destination affect total spend.

With those numbers in hand, build “all‑in” budgets for each target car: hammer price + buyer’s premium + estimated transport + import charges. This lets you set maximum bids that already account for logistics and prevents you from overpaying at the auction just because you haven’t thought about shipping yet.

Step 3: Register, Inspect, and Verify Documentation

When you arrive at ModaMiami, give yourself time to inspect shortlisted cars during preview sessions. Focus on condition details that can affect value in your home market: paint quality, service history, aftermarket modifications, and mileage. Modern exotics often carry hidden value in factory options and special equipment, so confirm build sheets and spec lists where possible.

At the same time, verify paperwork. Confirm that titles are clear, VINs on the car match the documents, and any prior salvage or damage history is fully disclosed. Guides like WCS’s auction documentation checklist and classic car overseas documentation guide provide simple lists you can work through while you are on the auction grounds.

Step 4: Choose Container Shipping as Your Default

For ModaMiami, container shipping should be your starting point. Most cars at the event are high‑value supercars, hypercars, or premium collector vehicles—exactly the kind of inventory that benefits from being fully enclosed inside a container. WCS’s explanation of why ship cars in containers shows how containers provide better physical protection, more flexible routing, and the ability to consolidate multiple purchases.

For standard cars, sports cars, and motorcycles, container shipping is generally the recommended option as well. RoRo is reserved for special cases—oversized vehicles or heavy machinery that cannot fit in a container, or lanes where RoRo is the only practical service. For a ModaMiami buyer focused on exotics, assuming “container first” keeps your cars safer and your logistics options wider.

Step 5: Plan Your Post‑Auction Logistics Window

Once the hammer falls, you will have a limited window—often a few days—for payment, paperwork, and vehicle release from the auction. Treat this as a mini project:

• Confirm final invoices and settle payment quickly so the car can be released on time.

• Share purchase details with West Coast Shipping (lot numbers, VINs, auction contacts, and release dates).

• Book enclosed or specialty transport from The Biltmore to WCS’s Miami‑area warehouse so the car is picked up as soon as it’s cleared.

Because ModaMiami takes place in late February, aiming to have your cars at the warehouse within a few days keeps you on track to load into the next suitable container sailing.

Step 6: Build Your Container Load

If you buy one car at ModaMiami, you can ship it in a shared container alongside other vehicles headed to the same region. If you acquire multiple cars—either at Moda alone or by combining Moda purchases with Amelia and Mecum wins—WCS can design a container layout that matches your goals. Articles like how many cars fit in a shipping container help you understand typical configurations.

A common approach is:

• One or two hero cars (for example, a Ferrari halo model and a limited‑series Lamborghini)

• Plus one or two supporting cars (modern GT cars or performance SUVs)

all loaded into a single 40‑foot container. This keeps your most valuable vehicles protected while maximizing the return on each container slot.

Step 7: Choose the Right Port and Route

From ModaMiami, West Coast Shipping can route your container via PortMiami or Port Everglades, both of which offer regular sailings to major regions; specific frequency depends on carrier schedules, season, and destination. For many European routes, South Florida sailings can be roughly two to three weeks at sea, while shipments to Gulf and Middle Eastern ports often run more in the four‑ to six‑week range.

These figures are planning estimates, not guarantees, since actual routes and schedules vary by port pair and season. The focus should be on matching auction timing to realistic departure windows. If you also buy at Amelia or Mecum, the Amelia–ModaMiami–Mecum 2026 pillar article shows how to stage purchases so everything arrives at the warehouse in time to load into the same outbound container.

Step 8: Prepare for Import at Your Destination

Because ModaMiami inventory is usually under 25 years old, import rules in your destination country will pay more attention to emissions, safety standards, and tax treatment than to classic‑vehicle exemptions. Use WCS educational content—such as the classic car overseas documentation guide—as a template, and then add any modern‑vehicle requirements your customs broker lists.

At a minimum, have ready:

• Original title and bill of sale

• Proof of payment and auction invoice

• Any homologation or conformity documentation for your destination market

• Clear records of modifications, especially for heavily tuned cars

This preparation shortens clearance times and reduces the risk of additional inspections once the container arrives.

Build Your ModaMiami 2026 Buying and Shipping Plan

ModaMiami 2026 is one of the most efficient ways to acquire multiple high‑end exotics in a single weekend—but only if shipping is built into your buying strategy from day one. Start by running scenarios through the international car shipping calculator so you know what your target cars will cost to move home. Then use the Amelia–ModaMiami–Mecum 2026 pillar article to coordinate Moda purchases with any plans you have for Amelia or Mecum Kissimmee and turn a Florida buying trip into a smooth, container‑based export plan.