Shared container shipping (sometimes called groupage or part-load) lets you ship a single car inside a 40ft container without paying for the whole box. We consolidate two to four cars from different shippers into one container at our UK warehouse, professionally lash them, and ship the whole unit to a destination where they are deconsolidated for separate clearance and delivery.
It is the sweet spot between RoRo (cheap but exposed) and sole-use container (private but expensive). Shared container pricing is typically £700–£1,200 per car-slot — usually within £100–£300 of a RoRo booking, but with the full protection of a sealed steel container and the ability to load personal effects inside the vehicle.
How shared container works step by step
Step 1: you book a single car-slot and we collect the vehicle from your UK address. Step 2: the car is delivered to our consolidation warehouse, photographed, condition-reported and stored until the container is full (typically 2–4 weeks max). Step 3: we load the container — usually two or three cars side-by-side or end-to-end depending on size — lash everything to floor and side rails, photograph the load, seal the container and dispatch it to port. Step 4: at destination the container is deconsolidated, each car cleared separately under its own Bill of Lading and released to its owner.
What you can put in a shared container
Personal effects can be loaded inside the vehicle (boot, back seat, under seats) and securely strapped — subject to a packing list. Typical allowance is up to 100–200kg of personal items per car without surcharge. No flammables, no alcohol over personal allowance, no weapons.
- Spare parts, tools, fixed-fitted accessories
- Clothing, bedding, kitchenware (boxed)
- Small electronics with batteries removed
- Bicycle, child seats, toys
Best destinations for shared container
Shared container is most popular on lanes with high single-car demand and frequent container sailings: Lagos (Nigeria), Tema (Ghana), Mombasa (Kenya), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Durban (South Africa), Dubai (UAE), Jebel Ali, Kingston (Jamaica), Bridgetown (Barbados) and Karachi (Pakistan). Less popular routes may take 4–6 weeks to fill a container.
Costs vs RoRo and sole-use
For a Ford Focus from Southampton to Lagos: RoRo ~£950, shared container ~£1,150, sole-use 20ft ~£1,650. The £200 premium over RoRo buys you sealed steel protection, personal-effects capacity and zero stevedore handling at destination.
Transit times
Shared container is typically 1–2 weeks slower than RoRo because of consolidation at origin and deconsolidation at destination. Total door-to-door: 5–9 weeks depending on lane.
Insurance and tracking
All-risks marine insurance is available at the same rates as sole-use container shipping. You get milestone tracking by container number and a personal pre-load photo report of your vehicle inside the box.
Frequently asked questions
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