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Shipping guide
RoRo vs container shipping: which is right for your car?
There are two main ways to ship a car to the UK by sea. One is usually cheaper, the other is more protected and more flexible. Here's how they compare, and how to pick.
The short answer
RoRo (roll-on, roll-off) is usually the cheapest way to ship a car that runs and has nothing inside it.
Container shipping costs more at face value but keeps the car sealed away for the whole voyage, takes non-runners, and is the safer choice for classics, high-value or modified cars.
Once the car lands, customs, testing and DVLA registration work the same either way.
The two methods
How each one works
Both routes get your car across the sea with marine insurance included. The difference is how it travels, and what that means for price and protection.
Option 1
RoRo (roll-on, roll-off)
The car is driven up a ramp onto a purpose-built car carrier and parked on one of its vehicle decks, where it's held in place with lashings and chocks. At the UK port it's driven off again.
- ✓Usually the lowest price at face value
- ✓Regular scheduled sailings on the big car-carrier routes
- –The car must run and be driven on and off by port staff
- –Normally has to be empty: no personal belongings or loose parts
- –Sits in the open hold alongside other vehicles, so more exposed to knocks
Option 2
Container shipping
The car is loaded into a steel shipping container, strapped down and, when sharing with other cars, secured on a wooden frame so more than one vehicle fits. The doors are sealed at origin and not opened again until the container is unloaded in the UK.
- ✓Sealed away from weather and handling for the whole voyage
- ✓Non-runners can be shipped (with extra loading work)
- ✓The right choice for classics, high-value and modified cars
- ✓Sharing a container with other cars brings the cost down
- –Costs more than RoRo at face value, especially for sole use
Side by side
RoRo vs container at a glance
The main differences that affect price, protection and what you can send.
| RoRo | Container | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Usually cheaper Typically the lowest shipping quote for a standard running car. |
Costs more at face value. A shared container narrows the gap; sole use is the most expensive option. |
| Protection | Held on an open vehicle deck with lashings and chocks. Handled and driven by port staff at each end. | Most secure Sealed inside a steel box from loading to unloading, out of the weather and away from other traffic. |
| Non-running cars | Must normally drive on and off. Non-runners are often refused or cost extra to move. | Accepted Loaded with special equipment. Expect some extra cost for the handling. |
| Items inside the car | Car should be empty apart from standard equipment such as the spare wheel and jack. | More flexible Spares or parts can often travel too, if they're declared. Ask us before you pack anything. |
| Transit time | Depends on route Set by the car carrier's sailing schedule and the ports it calls at. |
Depends on route More sailings and ports to choose from. Shared containers can wait for enough cars to fill them. |
| Best for | Everyday, running cars on popular routes where getting the lowest price matters most. | Classics, prestige and modified cars, non-runners, and anything where condition on arrival matters most. |
| Marine insurance | Included Included in every My Car Import shipping quote (an excess applies to minor damage). |
Included Included in every My Car Import shipping quote (an excess applies to minor damage). |
| Customs, testing & registration | Same either way NOVA, import VAT and duty, IVA or MSVA, and DVLA registration. |
Same either way NOVA, import VAT and duty, IVA or MSVA, and DVLA registration. |
As a rough guide, shipments from America usually take 2–4 weeks and from Australia around 6–10 weeks. Your quote will give a timescale for your actual route.
Quick check
Which method suits your car?
Answer four quick questions for a steer. It's a guide, not a quote: we'll confirm the best option when we price your import.
Our steer
Answer the questions to see a recommendation
Every car we import gets a shipping recommendation based on its route, value and condition.
After it lands
What stays the same, whichever you choose
Shipping method changes how the car travels, not what happens when it reaches the UK. We handle every stage.
- Step 1 Customs clearance A NOVA notification has to be made to HMRC within 14 days of the car arriving. Import VAT and any duty are worked out on the car's value plus shipping and insurance costs.
- Step 2 Delivery to us Once it's cleared and unloaded at the port, the car is brought to our site in Castle Donington by transporter.
- Step 3 IVA or MSVA test If the car needs an approval test, it's done on site. We're one of a handful of privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, and the only privately owned MSVA test centre.
- Step 4 DVLA registration We handle the DVLA registration using our dealer-level account, so your car can get its UK registration and go on the road.
FAQs
RoRo and container shipping questions
Want more detail? See our shipping service and container unloading pages.
Is RoRo cheaper than container shipping?
Usually, yes, at face value. RoRo is normally the lowest quote for a running car on a popular route. A shared container can come close to RoRo, while a container for your car alone costs the most. It's worth weighing the saving against the extra protection a container gives, especially for a valuable car.
Is container shipping safer than RoRo?
Container shipping is the more secure method. The car is strapped down inside a sealed steel container for the whole journey. On RoRo it's parked on an open vehicle deck, held with lashings and chocks, and driven on and off by port staff, so there's more chance of minor knocks.
Can I put personal belongings in my car?
Not on RoRo. The car normally has to be empty apart from standard equipment. With container shipping there's more flexibility to send parts or spares with the car, but everything must be declared. Check with us before you pack anything, as it can affect customs.
Can you ship a car that doesn't run?
Yes, by container. Non-running cars need special loading, so there's usually some extra cost. RoRo generally needs the car to be driven on and off the ship.
How long does shipping take?
It depends on where the car is coming from and the sailing schedule. As a guide, shipments from America usually take 2–4 weeks and from Australia around 6–10 weeks. We'll give you a timescale for your route when we quote.
Does the shipping method change the import tax I pay?
The rules are the same for both. Import VAT and any duty are calculated on the value of the car plus the cost of shipping and insurance to the UK, so the shipping cost does form part of that figure.
Is my car insured while it's being shipped?
Yes. All of our shipping quotes include marine insurance, whichever method you choose. An excess applies to minor damage.
Do I need to prepare the car before shipping?
Keep the fuel level low, remove personal items (unless we've agreed otherwise for a container), and note any existing marks or damage with photos. Containers may also be fumigated to stop foreign insects and bacteria arriving with the car.
