Sole-Use vs Shared Container Car Shipping: Full Cost Breakdown

Sole-use container: you buy the whole box. A 20ft takes one car comfortably; a 40ft takes two in line or up to four on racking. Nobody else's cargo travels with your vehicle, the container is sealed at the loading warehouse and opened at destination, and the schedule is yours.

Shared container (groupage / LCL / R-Rak): you buy space in a 40ft alongside other vehicles. The box is loaded when it fills, which is where the saving and the schedule risk both come from.

- Ocean freight: £1,150–£1,550
• Container hire and positioning: included
• UK terminal handling (THC): £185–£265
• Loading, blocking and lashing: £145–£225
• Export customs declaration: £45–£85
• Bill of Lading and documentation: £55–£95
• Marine insurance at 1.25% of declared value (£20,000 car): £250
• Typical total: £1,830–£2,470

Add £250–£600 for inland collection depending on distance.

- Ocean freight share: £560–£820
• UK terminal handling share: £95–£135
• Consolidation warehouse handling: £120–£180
• Racking or wheel-strap securing: £85–£150
• Export customs declaration: £45–£85
• Documentation share: £35–£65
• Marine insurance at 1.35% of declared value (£20,000 car): £270
• Destination deconsolidation and unpack share: £110–£190
• Typical total: £1,150–£1,625

The headline saving is roughly £600–£850 per vehicle. Note that deconsolidation at destination exists in the shared model and does not exist in the sole-use model — it is the cost most often missed when people compare quotes.

Shared wins outright for a single road-going car under about £35,000 where a three to ten day wait for the box to fill is acceptable.

Sole-use wins when any of these apply:

- You are shipping two or more vehicles — two cars in a sole-use 40ft usually beat two shared slots.
• The car is worth over £40,000 or is irreplaceable; exclusive handling reduces the number of times it is moved.
• You are shipping personal effects with the vehicle, which many consolidators will not accept.
• You have a fixed arrival deadline; sole-use sails on the published schedule rather than when the box fills.

For the RoRo comparison rather than the container comparison, see the RoRo shipping guide.

Destination charges are quoted separately by most freight forwarders and are where a cheap headline rate becomes an expensive shipment. Expect terminal handling, customs entry, agency fee and quarantine or inspection at the arrival port, typically £250–£700 depending on the country. Demurrage starts the day free time ends, at £40–£120 per day.

We quote UK-to-port inclusive and set out destination charges in writing before you book, so the number you see is the number you pay. Get a fixed quote to compare both options against your actual vehicle and route.