Can I put personal items in the car on RoRo?

No. International RoRo lines and most destination customs authorities prohibit personal effects inside vehicles. Anything left inside risks confiscation, fines or refusal of loading. If you need to send belongings, use a shared or sole-use container.

Is container shipping safer than RoRo?

Container shipping has lower exposure to deck-side handling damage, but well-secured RoRo on modern car carriers is also a low-risk option. Our marine insurance covers both methods to the same standard — total loss, fire, sinking and partial damage with surveyor evidence.

How do I get a live comparison?

Use the instant quote tool on our homepage — enter origin, destination and vehicle, and you'll see RoRo and container prices side by side, with the next three sailings for each.

RoRo vs Container Shipping in 2026: Which Is Right for Your Car?

RoRo Container How-To Pricing

If you are shipping a car from the UK in 2026, your first real decision is method: Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) or a container. The right answer depends on the destination, the vehicle's value, what is inside it, and how quickly you need it on the road at the other end.

This post walks through the trade-offs using current 2026 freight rates, port fees and insurance pricing, with worked examples for four of our busiest lanes.

How each method actually works

RoRo vessels are purpose-built car carriers. Your vehicle is driven on at the UK port, secured to the deck, and driven off at the destination. There is no packing, no crating and no shared space — it is the cleanest, simplest way to move a road-going vehicle.

Container shipping puts your car inside a 20ft or 40ft steel box. A 20ft container holds one car comfortably; a 40ft holds two, or one plus a meaningful amount of personal effects. Containers are sealed at origin and only opened at the destination yard or by customs.

RoRo: faster check-in, fewer fees, no personal effects allowed inside the car
Container: slower handling, higher cost, but full protection and household goods welcome

What it costs in 2026

Indicative all-in prices from a UK port in mid-2026 (freight + UK port + basic destination handling, excluding duty):

Southampton to Lagos: RoRo from £1,150 / 20ft container from £2,650
Felixstowe to Mombasa: RoRo from £1,950 / 20ft container from £3,200
Southampton to Jebel Ali: RoRo from £1,450 / 40ft shared container from £1,750 per car
Southampton to Sydney: 20ft container from £3,950 (RoRo limited)

When RoRo wins

RoRo is the default for standard saloons, SUVs and 4x4s under £25,000 going to West Africa, East Africa and the Middle East. You save 30–50% versus a sole-use container and the schedule is typically two weeks tighter.

When container wins

Choose container when the car is over £30,000, when it is a classic or modified vehicle, when you need to ship parts or household effects with it, or when the destination is in Asia Pacific or the Americas where RoRo coverage is thin.

Frequently asked questions

About the author

TheShipCars Editorial Team

Logistics specialists at TheShipCars Worldwide with hands-on experience moving vehicles from UK ports to over 60 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe.