Container shipping provides the highest level of protection for international vehicle transport. Your car is loaded into a steel shipping container — either a dedicated 20ft/40ft unit or a shared container with other vehicles — and sealed for the entire journey.
Ship Cars RoRo offers both exclusive and shared container services from all major UK ports. Container shipping is the recommended choice for classic cars, luxury vehicles, modified cars, non-runners, and anyone who wants to ship personal items alongside their vehicle.
Quick Answer
Container shipping is a method of international vehicle transport where the car is loaded inside a 20ft or 40ft steel ISO container at the UK warehouse, professionally braced and lashed, sealed for the voyage and shipped on a deep-sea container vessel to the destination port. It offers fully enclosed protection, accepts non-runners and allows personal effects, making it the preferred choice for classic, exotic, high-value and personal-relocation shipments.
Ship Cars RoRo loads containers in-house at our Bristol warehouse and at partner facilities near Southampton, London Gateway and Felixstowe. A standard 20ft container fits one saloon plus boxed effects. A 40ft container fits two cars end-to-end, or up to four cars on R-Rak racking for shared loadings. We use the major liner carriers Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Evergreen and OOCL, with weekly departures to every major destination port worldwide.
Sole-use container shipping is the right choice when you want absolute control of who shares the box, when you want to pack a significant volume of personal effects, when the vehicle is non-running, when the car is exceptionally valuable, or when the destination route has long RoRo waits. Indicative 2026 sole-use customer rates from the UK: 20ft to UAE from £2,800, 20ft to USA from £2,500, 20ft to Australia from £3,800, 40ft to Australia from £5,200, 40ft to New Zealand from £5,500. Every booking includes loading, bracing, customs, marine insurance and the bill of lading.
Container shipping is mandatory for any vehicle that cannot be driven, for shipments to destinations where RoRo is unavailable or unsafe, for classic and pre-war cars where exposure on open decks is unacceptable, and for relocations carrying household effects packed inside the car. We provide a detailed packing list service for personal effects, advise on destination customs rules for what can and cannot be shipped inside the vehicle, and arrange agreed-value insurance for classics and supercars.
Why Choose Our Container Shipping
Maximum Protection
Your vehicle is fully enclosed in a steel container, protected from weather, salt spray, and any external damage during transit.
Ship Personal Items Too
Unlike RORO, you can fill the remaining space in your container with personal belongings, boxes, or motorcycle parts.
Ideal for Non-Running Vehicles
Non-running cars can be loaded by forklift or winch into the container — no driving required.
Shared Container Savings
Share a container with other vehicles heading to the same destination to split costs — typically 20–30% cheaper than exclusive.
Exclusive Container Option
Book an entire 20ft or 40ft container for your vehicle. Maximum privacy and protection.
Classic & Luxury Specialists
Custom bracing, soft ties, and additional padding for high-value and classic vehicles.
How It Works
Get a Quote
Tell us your vehicle details and we'll recommend shared or exclusive container options with fixed pricing.
Container Loading
Your vehicle is professionally loaded into the container at a secure facility near your chosen UK port.
Sealing & Documentation
The container is sealed with a unique security seal. We handle all export documentation and customs.
Shipping & Tracking
Your container is loaded onto the vessel and shipped. Track your container's journey in real-time.
Destination Delivery
Container arrives at destination port. We arrange customs clearance and can organise local delivery.
Indicative Pricing
Prices are estimates for a standard car. Get an exact quote for your vehicle.
Shared Container (Europe)
Share costs with other vehicles
Shared Container (Worldwide)
Most popular option
Exclusive 20ft Container
Fits 1 car + personal items
Exclusive 40ft Container
Fits 2–4 vehicles
Transit Times & Indicative Prices
Sample routes for container shipping from UK ports. View full schedule.
| Route | Method | Transit (days) | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton → Jebel Ali (UAE) | 20ft FCL | 18 to 28 | £2,800 |
| Felixstowe → Sydney | 40ft HC FCL | 38 to 50 | £5,200 |
| London Gateway → New York | 20ft FCL | 14 to 21 | £2,500 |
| Southampton → Auckland | 40ft HC FCL | 40 to 50 | £5,500 |
| Felixstowe → Hong Kong | 20ft FCL | 28 to 35 | £2,900 |
Documents Required
Paperwork our team prepares or collects for every container shipping booking. See the full documents guide.
V5C Logbook
Original DVLA V5C registration document. We submit the V5C/4 export notification on your behalf.
Passport or Photo ID
A valid passport or UK photo driving licence is required for export customs and destination clearance.
Proof of Purchase
Invoice, bill of sale or auction receipt to support the customs declared value.
Proof of Address
Utility bill or bank statement dated within the last three months.
Export Declaration
We file the C88/CHIEF or CDS export entry with HMRC and supply the MUCR reference.
Destination Import Documents
Country-specific paperwork such as NOVA, GCC certificate, RAV/SEVS, RIV or EPA/DOT release, prepared by our agent network.
Vehicle Types We Ship
All vehicle classes accepted under container shipping.
Popular Destinations
Top corridors for container shipping from the UK. Browse all destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between shared and exclusive containers?
Can I ship personal items in the container?
How are vehicles secured inside the container?
Is container shipping insured?
How much does container shipping cost from the UK?
What's the difference between sole-use and shared container?
Can I pack personal items in the car?
Can I ship a non-running vehicle by container?
How long does container shipping take?
Is container shipping safer than RoRo?
How is my car secured inside the container?
Can I fit two cars in a 40ft container?
Do you load containers at the port or at your warehouse?
What is a 40ft high-cube container?
Is container shipping insured?
Can I track my container?
What is FCL versus LCL container shipping?
Do you provide loading photos?
Can you ship motorcycles in a container?
How far in advance should I book a container?
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Read moreAbout this page
Operated by Ship Cars RoRo, a UK-based international vehicle shipping specialist. BIFA-affiliated forwarder with weekly RoRo, container and shared container sailings from Southampton, Tilbury, London Gateway, Felixstowe and Bristol to 150+ countries.
- Author: Zahir Hussain, Head of Vehicle Export, Ship Cars RoRo
- Last updated: 2026-05-12
- +44 (0)1495 320540
- info@shipcarsroro.co.uk
- United Kingdom — serving worldwide
Entities & topics covered
Ready to Ship?
Get a free, no-obligation quote for container shipping from the UK. Browse our destinations or use the cost calculator for an estimate.