Guide to shipping a vehicle
Whether new cars, used cars, classic cars, vans or construction machinery: we ship vehicles worldwide from Hamburg and Bremerhaven – for dealers as well as private customers with a single vehicle. The vehicle calculator instantly shows which container your vehicle fits into and how many vehicles fit in one container.
Vehicle calculator
The class dimensions are typical values. For more accuracy, enter the figures from the vehicle registration document – simply overwrite them.
RoRo or container?
| RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) | Container | |
|---|---|---|
| Principle | The vehicle is driven onto the ship and secured there. | The vehicle is loaded into a container and firmly lashed. |
| Suitable for | roadworthy cars, vans, trucks, construction machinery | also non-running vehicles, classic cars, high-value vehicles |
| Protection | good, the vehicle is on an enclosed vehicle deck | very good, the vehicle is inside a sealed container |
| Personal items in the vehicle | usually not permitted | possible depending on destination and agreement |
| Costs | usually cheaper for single standard vehicles | economical when several vehicles share a container |
Documents we need
- Original vehicle registration certificate part I and part II
- Purchase contract or invoice
- Copy of the shipper's ID card or passport
- for commercial shippers: EORI number
- Name and address of the consignee in the destination country
Deregistration and customs
The vehicle must be deregistered before shipment or carry export number plates. For a value of more than EUR 1,000, an electronic export declaration is required – we handle this for you. After export, dealers receive the exit confirmation as proof of the VAT-exempt supply.
How to prepare your vehicle
- Fuel tank no more than a quarter full
- No loose items or hazardous substances in the vehicle (exceptions only by agreement)
- Vehicle thoroughly cleaned – for Australia and New Zealand also the underbody and wheel arches
- Hand over all keys; deactivate the alarm system
- Document the condition with photos
Check before you buy
Many countries have import restrictions, e.g. age limits, requirements on steering side or emission standards. Please clarify these in advance with the consignee or the competent authority in the destination country – we are happy to support you with our experience.
Import rules and process for popular destinations:
Destination ports in the Middle East and transit times
We ship a particularly large number of vehicles to the Middle East – around 200 containers since 2019. Transit times are based on our own shipments, from departure in Hamburg to arrival at the port of destination.
| Port of destination | Country | Transit time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Beirut | Lebanon | 3 weeks |
| Port Said | Egypt | 3 weeks |
| Alexandria | Egypt | 3 weeks |
| Aqaba | Jordan | 4 weeks |
| Jebel Ali (Dubai) | UAE | 5–6 weeks* |
* Ships currently do not call at Jebel Ali directly. We ship to Jeddah or Khor Fakkan, and from there the container continues by truck to Jebel Ali.
Examples from our practice
Used car dealer from Lebanon
A dealer from Beirut regularly buys used cars all over Germany. We collect the vehicles from the sellers, handle export customs and load them into 40' High Cube containers in Hamburg – more than 60 containers in the last 18 months.
Car dealership with customers abroad
A German car dealership has been shipping vehicles to its customers in Beirut and Port Said through us since 2019. We take care of customs, loading and sea freight, while the dealership focuses on sales.
Private customers with one car
We also ship single vehicles – in their own 20' container or more cheaply in a shared container, for example to Alexandria, Aqaba or Jebel Ali.
The process in 5 steps
- Enquiry – vehicle details, destination port and preferred time frame
- Quotation – RoRo or container, with transit time
- Delivery – you bring the vehicle to the port or we arrange collection
- Customs and loading – export declaration, loading and securing
- Shipping – you receive the documents for collection at the destination port