Car Shipping Containers Guide

Car shipping containers offer a safe and sturdy solution for having your vehicle moved long distances, but what should you know before considering one?

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Written by:

Dash Lewis , Writer

Written by: Dash Lewis Content Writer

02/12/2024 12:51 AM

Key Points:

Car shipping containers protect your car in a steel shell and provide a good option for long-distance, international transport.
Using a car shipping container can cost anywhere from about $1,700 to $5,500 depending on the size and destination.
Auto shippers like Montway offer enclosed shipping options for land transport.

The most common method of car transport is open car shipping, but if you’re storing your vehicle long-term or moving it overseas, car shipping containers might be better suited for your needs.

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about car shipping containers, from how they work to their average costs. We’ll also recommend car shipping companies that have the industry’s best services.

How Do Car Shipping Containers Work?

Car shipping containers are mostly used for shipping cars via ocean freight or when people without garage space want to put their cars in long-term storage. Shipping container garages create space for both your car and personal items, making them cost-effective ways to clear out space in your home.

With car shipping containers, there’s a specific process for loading your vehicle and preparing it for transport. Your car will be placed inside a steel container via a racking system and then secured with safety equipment, such as ratchet straps. Unlike with air freight or roll-on/roll-off (RORO) services, your car will be protected inside a metal container for the entire trip.

20- Vs. 40-Foot Car Shipping Container

There are two general shipping container sizes: 20-foot and 40-foot. A 20-foot container can fit one or two vehicles depending on their size. A 40-foot container can fit three or four.

In contrast to car shipping over land, the size of your vehicle doesn’t affect what you pay if you buy or rent a whole shipping container. Now, if you use a car shipping company that will fill a container with other vehicles, shipping a large truck or SUV can limit what the company can fit. This brings us to our next point.

Shared Vs. Private Car Shipping Container

You can either use an entire container for yourself or select a shared container service when working with a shipping company. If you use a shared container, you’ll get a cheaper rate. However, the company will have to fill the rest of the container, so it can take a bit of time for your car to leave the port.

Besides air freight, booking an entire container yourself is the fastest way to ship a car internationally. You can also load it with other items.

Car Shipping Container Process

A car shipping container is most economical for overseas shipments of valuable vehicles. Once you connect with an international car shipping company, the simplest option is to drop your vehicle off at the exit port. If you don’t live nearby, the car shipping company can also arrange to transport your car to the port by truck.

You might be able to send your car in a shipping container from your origin city, but this may cost quite a bit more than using standard car transport trailers. Enclosed shipping over land protects your vehicle in a fully enclosed trailer. This is like the equivalent of container shipping on land. The other option is to use open car transport over land. This can save you money but your vehicle will be exposed to the elements.

You may work with multiple car shipping companies if you’re shipping the vehicle over a long distance. For instance, shipping a car from Denver to Berlin would require three legs: land, sea, and then land again.

How Much Do Car Shipping Containers Cost?

Depending on size and destination, using a car shipping container can cost anywhere from $1,700 to $5,500. Below are a few rates for 20- and 40-foot containers shipped from New York City, New York to other destinations according to MoveHub:

Destination	20-Foot Container Cost	40-Foot Container Cost
Hamburg, GER	$1,693	$2,152
London, UK	$2,083	$2,627
Mumbai, IND	$2,885	$3,205
Barcelona, ESP	$2,612	$3,407
Sydney, AUS	$2,894	$3,910
Cape Town, SAF	$3,316	$4,636
Hong Kong, HKG	$4,211	$5,586

Even though container shipping is an expensive shipping method, it offers secure car shipping to Alaska, Puerto Rico, and foreign countries.

Transport costs for car shipping containers depend on the following factors:

Vehicle size: If you have an oversized car, you will need to use a whole container yourself.
Time of year: Car shipping costs spike during peak seasons, such as early January and the summer.
Location: If you schedule a pickup in or delivery to a rural area, you may pay more since it’s harder for car carriers to reach.

Shipping Container For Car Storage

You can also use a shipping container to store a car on your property. This is a secure option as the container can protect the vehicle from the elements and any nosey neighbors.

However, a standard container only has a door on the end since shippers load vehicles by forklift. This means you won’t have room to open the car door from inside a standard container. Though it may cost slightly more than a standard container, you’ll want to find one that has a door on the side.

Prices can vary greatly depending on the size and whether you’re buying a new or used container. Container suppliers often have rent or rent-to-own options, too.

Car Shipping Containers: Our Take

Car shipping containers are often worth it if you need a secure spot to store your car, as buying a container once is cheaper than making high monthly payments on a storage unit for years. It can also be used to transport personal items or household goods during a large move.

Car shipping containers are also the safest method of having a car shipped internationally, as their steel shells block outdoor elements from damaging your vehicle during transit. It provides maximum protection during overseas trips, since the longer the distance the more potential there is for accidental damage to occur.

While car shipping containers can get pretty expensive, it is undoubtedly the safest and most efficient transport option available. If you’re shipping a car to Hawaii or even across the globe, be sure to look into it.

Recommendations For Car Shipping Companies

Montway Auto Transport and Easy Auto Ship can arrange international transport and help you decide if a shipping container is the way to go. These companies are regarded as some of the industry’s best due to their expansive services and affordable rates.

Montway Auto Transport: Best Overall

Montway Auto Transport is the best choice for car shipping, especially if your shipment is going overseas. The company has extensive car delivery services, such as door-to-door transport and expedited shipping.

Montway Auto Transport can also accommodate the shipment of specialty vehicles such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and classic cars. We named the provider Best Overall in our review of the best car shipping companies, and it offers great customer service for those who need their cars shipped in containers.

To find out more about this auto transporter, check out our Montway Auto Transport review.

Easy Auto Ship: Excellent Service Selection

Easy Auto Ship offers strong insurance coverage, a no hidden fees promise, and an array of car shipping services. The company provides an easy and stress-free car shipping experience, that leads us to highly recommend it for the delivery of car shipping containers.

The company holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and we give Easy Auto Ship 4.6 out of 5.0 stars for its competitive pricing, various location options, and fully vetted transport partners.

You can learn more about this company by checking out our Easy Auto Ship review.

Car Shipping Containers: FAQ

Below are a few frequently asked questions about car shipping containers:

How is a car loaded into a shipping container?

Vehicles are loaded into car shipping containers by being rolled down a ramp from a flatbed truck. Then, they’re pushed to the back of the container using a forklift. If you’re shipping via ocean freight, expect your car to be lifted onto the cargo ship by port cranes.

How many cars can fit into a shipping container?

Standard 40-foot storage containers can hold three or four regular cars, but a 20-foot container can only hold about two cars at a time. You also have the option of reserving a whole shipping container rather than sharing one for overseas car shipping.

What do I need to know about shipping a car?

You can learn how the shipping process works by researching car shipping companies and the services they provide. Be aware of insurance policies, as top car shipping companies will offer high-coverage cargo insurance for deliveries of car shipping containers.

How We Rate Auto Shipping Companies

Our review team extensively researches car shipping providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

Reliability: Providers that earn strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have a long history in the auto transport industry score well in this category.
Services: We take a look at what types of transport services are available through each company, including open and enclosed transport, door-to-door shipping, and more. Those with wider service selections are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
Pricing: Our team performs a secret shopper analysis to get quotes for a variety of shipping routes and services. We compare each company’s costs to industry average prices to see how it stands up to the competition.
Customer Experience: We consider customer reviews on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot to better understand the consumer experience. Car shipping companies with convenient quote processes also perform well in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

Dash Lewis Content Writer