Vehicle Shipping Methods 2026: RoRo vs Container vs Shared vs Air

| Method | Typical cost | Transit (UAE) | Protection | Personal effects | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | RoRo | £695+ | 18–22 days | Open deck, enclosed garage | No | | Sole 20ft container | £1,950+ | 21–26 days | Sealed steel | Yes | | Shared container | £1,150+ | 25–32 days | Sealed steel, multi-shipper | Limited | | Air freight | £6,500+ | 3–5 days | Sealed ULD | No |

All prices indicative UK origin in 2026.

Best for: running passenger cars, vans, motorcycles, light commercial and machinery to RoRo-served ports.

Pros: cheapest, fastest cut-off, multiple sailings per month, simple paperwork.

Cons: no personal items, open exposure to other vehicles, fewer destinations than container.

Deep dive: RoRo shipping complete guide.

Best for: classics, luxury, modified, non-running, motorcycles, multi-vehicle moves and shipments with personal effects.

Pros: sealed, secure, weather-proof, no other shippers, personal items allowed.

Cons: 30–60% more expensive than RoRo, longer total turnaround, extra destination charges.

Deep dive: container shipping guide.

Best for: customers who want container protection without sole-use cost — saloons, hatchbacks and small SUVs to Australia, UAE, Cyprus, Canada and South Africa.

Pros: 35–55% cheaper than sole-use, sealed transit, predictable consolidation.

Cons: needs 7–10 days to consolidate, less space for personal effects, shared destination handling.

Deep dive: shared container shipping guide.

Best for: ultra-high-value vehicles (motorsport, prototypes, weekend track cars) on a deadline.

Pros: 3–5 day transit, climate-controlled, very low handling damage.

Cons: 8–15× more expensive than ocean. ULD weight and height limits restrict eligible vehicles.

Most private export customers do not need air freight. We arrange it when there is an event deadline.

Start with the destination — not every method serves every port. Then layer in the vehicle (running or not, value, dimensions), the timeline, your personal-effects need and budget.

Quick rules of thumb:

- Standard saloon, RoRo-served port, tight budget → RoRo.
• Classic, luxury or non-running → sole-use container.
• Standard saloon, container-only port, cost-sensitive → shared container.
• £250k supercar to a track day in 5 days → air freight.

Or just send us the details and we will quote all four options side by side: WhatsApp +44 (0)1495 320540 or request a quote.

| Route | RoRo | Sole 20ft | Shared | Air | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | UK → UAE | £695 | £1,950 | £1,150 | £6,500 | | UK → Australia | £2,450 | £2,950 | £2,150 | £14,500 | | UK → Canada | £1,150 | £2,650 | £1,650 | £9,500 | | UK → Nigeria | £750 | £2,750 | n/a | £8,500 | | UK → Cyprus | £695 | £1,750 | £950 | £4,500 |

We are happy to quote two or three methods on the same enquiry so you can compare like-for-like. Call or WhatsApp +44 (0)1495 320540, email info@shipcarsroro.co.uk or request a quote.

Before any international shipment, vehicles need to reach the loading port — and many customers ask us to handle the UK leg too. Our recovery and transport network covers every postcode, 24 hours a day.

Start with the main hubs: Car Recovery UK, Vehicle Recovery UK, 24/7 Breakdown Recovery and Nationwide Vehicle Transportation.

City coverage includes London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield and Bristol.

Pre-book a port run on a flatbed transporter from Southampton, Portsmouth, Liverpool or Felixstowe via Ipswich, or call 24/7 for breakdown recovery in London, Birmingham or Manchester.