Sole-use and shared containers · Updated October 2026

Container Shipping for Cars, Motorhomes and Machinery

Container shipping means your vehicle is loaded into a sealed steel container, chocked and strapped down, and shipped as one unit. Choose a sole-use 20ft container for one car or 4x4, a 40ft high-cube for two vehicles or one with belongings, or share a container to split the cost. Sole-use 20ft containers start from £1,995 from the UK to Australia and £2,450 from the UK to the USA, and shared space starts from €1,250 per vehicle.

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Sole-use 20ft container, UK to Australia

from £1,995

40ft high-cube from £2,650 · plus import costs at Australian port

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No account needed. You get instant pricing.

Sizes

20ft and 40ft high-cube

Door height

About 2.28 m (standard) and 2.58 m (high-cube)

20ft fits

One car or 4x4

40ft fits

Two cars, or one vehicle with belongings

Shared space

From €1,250 per vehicle

Book ahead

Containers are booked 4–6 weeks before sailing

When should I ship my car in a container?

RORO (roll-on roll-off) is usually the cheapest way to ship a single vehicle that can be driven. A container is the better choice when security, belongings or the vehicle itself matter more than the lowest price.

Classic, collector and high-value cars that should travel sealed
Vehicles travelling with belongings, spares or household goods
Non-running vehicles, which can be winched in
Several vehicles at once: a 40ft container can match RORO per vehicle
Motorcycles, alone or with a car
Routes and ports with no RORO service

Vehicles taller than about 2.5 m, such as many motorhomes and expedition trucks, will not fit through a container door and go RORO instead.

RORO shipping explained →

RORO, shared container, sole-use container or flat rack: how do they compare?

RORO is usually the cheapest for a vehicle that can be driven. A container costs more but is sealed, takes non-runners and lets you pack belongings; sharing one splits the cost. A flat rack carries loads too big or too static for either.

	RORO	Shared container	Sole-use container	Flat rack
Best for	Driveable cars, motorhomes, trucks and machinery	Cars, low campers and motorcycles on a budget	Classic and high-value cars, and vehicles with belongings	Oversized or static machinery, boats and loads that cannot roll
Typical cost	Car from £987, UK to the USA (sea freight)	From about €1,250 per vehicle on some routes	20ft from £2,450, UK to the USA	Quoted per load from its size and weight
Belongings	Cars empty; motorhomes can usually carry secured items	Yes, listed on an inventory	Yes, listed on an inventory	No
Non-runners	Roll trailer on some routes, at extra cost	Yes, winched in	Yes, winched in	Yes, lifted on
Height limit	Any height: high and heavy space in the hold	About 2.5 m (high-cube door 2.58 m)	About 2.5 m (high-cube door 2.58 m)	Over-height and over-width loads
Security	Enclosed hold; driven on and off by port staff	Sealed container, shared	Sealed container, yours alone	Open platform, lashed down
Book ahead	4–8 weeks	Shares are usually confirmed 2–3 months ahead	4–6 weeks	As early as possible; space is limited

Flat rack shipping →

What fits in a 20ft or 40ft container?

20ft container: About 5.9 m long inside, with a door about 2.34 m wide and 2.28 m high. Takes one car or 4x4.
40ft high-cube: About 12 m long inside, with a door about 2.34 m wide and 2.58 m high. Takes two average cars, one long vehicle with belongings, or a car and motorcycles.
Flat rack: An open platform for vehicles too wide or tall for a container on routes without RORO. Costs more than RORO and is not sealed.

Send us the length, width and height of your vehicle, including roof racks and tents, and we will confirm what fits before you book.

How much does container shipping cost?

Prices from our current customer quotations. Unless marked all-in, the price covers export costs, export customs clearance, loading (stuffing) and trucking at the departure end; destination costs are shown as a guide and paid at the arrival port.

Route	Sole-use 20ft	Sole-use 40ft HC	Shared, per vehicle	Destination costs
UK to the USA (Newark, Miami)	£2,450	£3,000	US$3,250 all-in (Newark)	About US$1,800–3,000 (sole-use)
USA to the UK (East Coast)	US$3,780 all-in	US$4,240 all-in	US$1,450 + £750 import (Newark)	Included (sole-use)
UK and Europe to Canada (Halifax)	€2,640	€2,900	On request	About US$1,200–1,800
Canada to the UK and Europe (Halifax)	£2,525 / €2,965	£2,950 / €3,300	On request	Quoted with your booking
UK to Australia	£1,995	£2,650	On request	About US$1,500–2,500
Europe to New Zealand	€2,780	€3,500	On request	Port fees about NZ$465 / NZ$681
UK and Europe to South Africa (Durban)	£2,611 / €2,780	£3,924 / €3,700	£2,250 / €2,350	Quoted with your booking
UK to South America	£1,935	£2,100	£1,400	About US$1,000–2,500
Argentina and Uruguay to the USA (Miami)	US$4,265	US$5,440	On request	About US$1,800–3,000
Netherlands to Cyprus (Limassol)	€1,950	€1,950	€1,250	About US$1,000–2,500

Not included unless stated: marine insurance, duty and taxes, destination terminal handling, and any costs if customs selects the container for inspection. Container prices are confirmed for your sailing. You get instant pricing with the exact price.

What does the container price include?

Included

Booking the container and sailing
Trucking the container to the loading facility
Loading (stuffing): chocking and strapping the vehicle
Export customs clearance
Sea freight to the destination port
Updates until arrival

Budget separately

Destination port charges and unloading, unless all-in
Customs clearance at destination: through our broker, a local agent we introduce, or your own
Import duty and taxes, if any
Marine insurance
Costs if customs inspects the container

How is my vehicle loaded and secured?

At the loading facility your vehicle is driven or winched into the container and positioned. All four wheels are chocked and ratchet-strapped to lashing points in the container floor, and towing eyes can be used for extra lashing, so it cannot move at sea or while the container is lifted. The container is then sealed. Shipping containers must be certified structurally sound and wind and watertight.

Can I pack belongings with my vehicle?

A container is the best way to ship belongings with a vehicle. Everything must be on an inventory and declared to customs at both the departure and arrival ports. Nothing hazardous may travel: no spare fuel, gas bottles you have not declared or weapons. Lithium batteries, including leisure batteries, must be declared before booking.

What you can pack and how →

How does container shipping work?

Get your quote Fill in the 2-minute form for instant pricing.
Book We book the container and sailing, normally 4–6 weeks before departure.
Deliver or collect You deliver the vehicle to the loading facility, or we arrange collection.
Load and seal The vehicle is chocked, strapped and sealed in the container.
Sea crossing We track the vessel and keep you updated.
Clear and collect Customs is cleared by our broker, a local agent or your own; then the container is unloaded and you collect.

Can you ship several vehicles for a business?

We load several cars per 40ft container for dealers and importers, ship vehicles with parts and equipment, and handle regular volumes on our main routes. Send us the vehicle list and dimensions and we will quote the best mix of containers and RORO.

Get a business quote

Questions about container shipping

How much does it cost to ship a car in a container?

A sole-use 20ft container starts from £1,995 from the UK to Australia and £2,450 from the UK to the USA, plus destination costs. A shared container starts from about €1,250 per vehicle on some routes. The 2-minute form gives you instant pricing for your sailing.

Is container shipping better than RORO?

A container is more secure, lets you pack belongings and takes non-runners, but usually costs more than RORO for one car. RORO is cheaper for a single driveable vehicle and is the only option for vehicles over about 2.5 m high.

Will my motorhome or camper fit in a container?

Only if it is under about 2.5 m high. A standard container door is about 2.28 m high and a high-cube door about 2.58 m. Most motorhomes and expedition trucks go RORO.

How many cars fit in a 40ft container?

Two average cars, or one long vehicle with belongings, or a car and several motorcycles. A 20ft container takes one car or 4x4.

Can I put belongings in the container with my car?

Yes. Everything must be listed on an inventory and declared to customs. Hazardous items such as spare fuel are not allowed, and lithium batteries must be declared before booking.

What is a shared container?

Two or more shippers share one container and split its cost. Once you complete our booking form, we add you to an open container share or look for a partner, and take a deposit when a partner is found.

What is not included in a container price?

Unless the price is marked all-in: destination port charges and unloading, customs clearance at destination, duty and taxes, marine insurance, and any costs if customs inspects the container.