When it comes to shipping a vehicle internationally, two methods dominate the market: Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and container shipping. Each has genuine advantages, and the right choice depends on your vehicle type, budget, route and timeline. Here is what you need to know.
What Is RoRo Shipping?
RoRo vessels are purpose-built car carriers — essentially floating multi-storey car parks. Vehicles are driven directly onto the ship and secured to the deck. No cranes, no boxes. It is the same method used by global car manufacturers to move millions of new vehicles each year, which tells you a great deal about its reliability.
The process is straightforward: your vehicle is collected or delivered to the departure port, driven onto the vessel, and driven off again at the destination port. From there it clears customs and continues to the final delivery address.
What Is Container Shipping?
Container shipping places your vehicle inside a standard steel shipping container — either a 20ft or 40ft box. The container is loaded onto a cargo vessel and transported like any other freight. Vehicles can be loaded alone (FCL — Full Container Load) or alongside other vehicles or cargo (LCL — Less than Container Load).
At World Car Logistics, we specialise in maximising container space: our custom-built platforms allow us to stack motorcycles and load multiple vehicles in ways that significantly reduce per-unit freight costs.
Cost Comparison
RoRo is generally the more affordable option for standard vehicles. Because RoRo terminals operate at high volume and vehicles load efficiently, port handling costs are lower. For a single car on a well-served route — say, Dubai to Antwerp — RoRo is almost always the budget-conscious choice.
Container shipping carries a higher base cost because you are paying for the container itself. However, when shipping multiple vehicles or motorcycles together, the per-vehicle cost can become very competitive. For motorcycles in particular, our double-deck loading solutions often make container shipping the most economical choice.
Protection and Security
This is where container shipping holds a clear advantage. Inside a sealed steel container, your vehicle is shielded from the elements, port activity, and any incidental contact. There is no exposure to salt air, rain or industrial dust during transit.
RoRo vessels do protect vehicles from weather — they are enclosed ships, not open car transporters — but vehicles are parked on open decks within the vessel and can be exposed to salt air. For high-value, classic or exotic vehicles, container shipping is the strongly preferred option.
Transit Times
Transit times are broadly comparable on most major routes, as both methods use ocean freight. RoRo services tend to operate on fixed schedules with frequent sailings on busy routes, which can mean shorter waiting times for the next available vessel. Container shipping frequencies depend on the carrier and route.
On the Dubai to Europe route, for example, both methods typically deliver within 20–28 days sea transit. The difference in total door-to-door time usually comes down to port handling and customs clearance rather than time at sea.
Which Vehicles Are Suitable?
RoRo works well for:
- Standard cars, SUVs and pickup trucks in running condition
- Commercial vehicles on well-served routes
- Volume shipments where cost per unit is the priority
- Vehicles that can be driven onto the vessel without modifications
Container shipping is the better choice for:
- High-value, classic or exotic vehicles
- Non-running vehicles (loaded by forklift or crane into container)
- Motorcycles — especially when multiple bikes are being shipped together
- Vehicles being shipped to or from ports without RoRo services
- Clients who want maximum protection and a sealed, documented environment
Our Recommendation
For most standard vehicles on major routes, RoRo offers excellent value and reliability. For anything valuable, unusual or requiring extra care, container shipping is the right call. If you are unsure, our team will assess your specific vehicle, route and budget and give you an honest recommendation — not just the most expensive option.
Get in touch for a free quote and we will advise on the best shipping method for your situation.