Ocean Freight, RoRo, Container

International Car Shipping

Ship cars overseas, to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or anywhere ocean freight reaches. Roll-on roll-off or container. $99 deposit locks the booking.

Call 888-780-6207Track shipment
Instant Quote
v1.0 · instant
Transport Mode

No login. No spam. Real number, in 30 seconds.

FMCSA
Licensed Broker
4.8 stars
1,200+ Reviews
$99
Locks Your Rate
100%
Insurance Verified
24/7
Live Coordinators

International, demystified

International car shipping is mostly ocean freight, not over the road. We handle origin trucking to the port, the ocean booking, customs paperwork, and arrange final delivery on the other side through our overseas partners.

Two main flavors: roll-on roll-off (RoRo), where the car drives onto the ship and parks on a deck, and container shipping, where the car is strapped inside a 20 or 40 foot container. RoRo is cheaper, container is more flexible for personal items, classic cars, or destinations without RoRo terminals.

We also cover Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and Guam. Those are technically domestic but the move is ocean. Same process applies.

RoRo vs container

Roll-on roll-off (RoRo)

  • Car drives onto the ship
  • Cheapest international option
  • Most major ports have RoRo service
  • No personal items allowed inside
  • Open exposure on the ship deck
  • Typical: $1,500 to $3,500 to Europe

Container shipping

  • Car strapped inside a sealed container
  • Personal items often allowed (varies)
  • Better for classics and collectibles
  • Available to almost any port worldwide
  • Sealed protection from weather and saltwater
  • Typical: $2,500 to $5,500 to Europe

Where we ship internationally

1

Europe

Germany, UK, Netherlands, Italy, France, and beyond. RoRo and container, weekly sailings.

2

Caribbean

Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and most island nations.

3

Hawaii

Mainland to Honolulu, container or RoRo. Transit 10 to 14 days from West Coast.

4

Alaska

Seattle to Anchorage barge service. Transit 5 to 8 days. Container friendly.

5

Middle East

UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar. Strong demand for US classics and SUVs.

6

Australia and Asia

Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong. Container is standard.

International shipping process

1

Quote and book

We quote origin trucking, ocean freight, customs, and destination delivery as one package.

2

Truck to the port

Carrier picks up at your address, hauls to the origin port (Newark, Baltimore, Houston, Long Beach, etc).

3

Loaded on ship

RoRo or container loaded at the terminal. Bill of lading issued.

4

Customs and delivery

Cleared on the destination side by our partner agent, then trucked to the final address.

International paperwork

More documents than domestic. Get these in order before booking.

  • 1Original title (clear, no liens) or lien holder letter
  • 2Bill of sale if recently purchased
  • 3Photo ID for shipper and consignee
  • 4EIN or SSN for US Customs export filing
  • 5Destination country import permit if required
  • 6Proof of insurance (carrier-supplied during transit)
  • 7Vehicle photographs at pickup and at port
  • 8Customs declaration forms (we prep these)

International by the numbers

30+
Countries served
Weekly
Sailings to Europe
14 to 35 day
Typical ocean transit
Door to port
Or door to door

Sample international rates

International pricing depends on port, country, and method. These are ballparks. Live quote pulls real numbers.

DistanceOpen TransportEnclosed TransportTransit Days
Mainland to HawaiiRoRo: $1,400 to $2,100Container: $2,200 to $3,20010 to 18 days
Mainland to AlaskaBarge: $1,500 to $2,300Container: $2,400 to $3,4008 to 14 days
US to EuropeRoRo: $1,500 to $3,500Container: $2,500 to $5,50014 to 28 days
US to AustraliaRoRo: $3,500 to $5,500Container: $4,500 to $7,50030 to 45 days

Estimates only, your exact rate comes from the live carrier load board. Get an instant quote at the top of the page for real numbers.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to ship a vehicle?

Cost depends on distance, vehicle size, open vs enclosed, and how flexible your dates are. Most door-to-door moves run between $700 and $1,800. The instant quote at the top of this page gives you a real number in under 60 seconds.

How long does it take?

Pickup usually happens 1 to 3 business days after you lock the rate. Transit time depends on distance: under 500 miles is 2 to 4 days, coast to coast is 7 to 10 days. We give you a live ETA from the driver's GPS once the truck rolls.

Is my vehicle insured during transport?

Yes. Every carrier on our network carries cargo insurance, and we verify the policy is active before they pick up. You get the insurance certificate emailed to you with the dispatch confirmation.

How does the $99 deposit work?

The $99 deposit locks your rate and books the carrier. It is the only money you pay upfront. The balance is due to the driver at delivery, cash or certified funds. No deposit, no booking.

What is the pickup window?

Standard pickup is a 1 to 3 day window. Expedited is next day or 2 day. The driver calls 4 to 24 hours before arrival to confirm the exact pickup time so you are not stuck waiting all day.

How do I prep my vehicle for transport?

Quarter tank of gas, remove personal items, disable toll tags, fold in mirrors, and snap a few photos of the exterior. The driver does a full inspection at pickup and you sign off on the condition report.

How do I pay for the rest?

Balance is paid directly to the driver at delivery. Most drivers accept cash, cashier's check, or Zelle. We confirm payment method on the dispatch sheet before pickup so there are no surprises.

What if the carrier cancels or runs late?

If a carrier falls through, we re-dispatch to the next available truck at the same rate you locked, no rebooking fee. Delays from weather or breakdowns get a real ETA update from your coordinator, not a canned email.

Can I put personal items in the car for international shipping?

RoRo, no, the car must be empty. Container, sometimes yes depending on the destination country's rules and our partner agent. We confirm in writing before pickup.

How long does international shipping take?

Hawaii and Alaska are about 10 to 18 days door to door. Europe runs 14 to 28 days. Australia and Asia are 30 to 45 days. Customs clearance on the destination side can add days.

Do I need to be at the destination port?

No. Our overseas partner agents handle customs and final delivery. You meet the driver at your final address overseas, just like a domestic delivery.

What about duties and taxes?

Import duties and taxes are charged by the destination country. We quote shipping and customs filing. Duties are paid by you to local customs, the rate varies by country. We give you a heads up on typical amounts.

Is Hawaii considered international?

Technically domestic, but the shipping process is ocean freight just like international. Same paperwork minus the customs declaration. We handle it the same way.

Ready to ship?

Pick the path that fits how you want to move.

Get a quote

Instant rate in under 60 seconds. No spam, no upsell.

Go →

Track shipment

Live GPS, pickup window, delivery window, driver info.

Go →

Talk to a coordinator

Real human, no phone tree. (888) 780-6207, 7 days a week.

Go →

Related

Ship a Car Across CountryEnclosed Auto TransportState to State Car ShippingDoor to Door Auto TransportOversized Transport

Every auto transport service we run

Auto transport is not one product. A dealer moving forty units off an auction lane, a collector shipping a numbers matching car across the country, and a family sending one sedan ahead of a move are three different jobs that happen to use the same highways. They need different trailers, different insurance limits, different loading equipment, and different scheduling. Quoting all three the same way is how customers end up with a truck that cannot legally carry their vehicle. Pick the line below that matches what you are actually moving, and the quote comes back against the right equipment the first time.

By transport type

By vehicle

By who is shipping

Not sure which one fits? Call (888) 780-6207 and describe the vehicle and the route. A dispatcher will tell you which equipment it needs and what the lane is running, or start with an instant quote and adjust from there.

Auto transport coast to coast, state to state

We move vehicles in all fifty states, and the network is deepest where the freight already runs. Each state page below carries its own lane table, transit windows, and the local conditions that actually change a rate.

Northeast

Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

South

Midwest

Mountain

Pacific

Browse every city we coverPopular lanes and live ratesHow state to state shipping worksCross country moves

Read before you book

Most complaints in this industry trace back to something the customer was never told: that the first quote was a placeholder, that the broker on the phone is not the company driving the truck, or that personal items in the trunk are not covered by cargo insurance. None of that is complicated once somebody explains it. These are the explainers we send customers before they book, written to be useful whether or not you ship with us.

Lock your rate today.

$99 deposit holds the carrier, balance on delivery.

Call 888-780-6207Get an instant quoteTrack a shipmentHow it worksFor carriersLicensing and insuranceCoverage map