Guides
Real answers to the questions we get every week — costs, paperwork, age limits, customs duty math for every major destination from Canada.
Start here if you're new to international shipping. These guides cover the fundamentals — RoRo vs container, what a Bill of Lading is, how customs duty is calculated, and why cargo insurance matters.
RoRo is typically $300-800 CAD cheaper and 3-7 days faster. Container makes sense for classics, high-value vehicles, or routes RoRo doesn't serve. Full decision tree + cost comparison per route. (Note: we currently ship running vehicles only.)
The most important document in international shipping. House vs Master, Original vs Express Release vs Seaway, what's on a BOL, and the 5 mistakes that delay cargo at destination ports.
How CIF value works, HS codes, country-by-country duty math with worked examples, who files the Canadian export declaration, and 5 over-payment mistakes.
Carrier liability is capped at ~$500/package under Hague-Visby. All-risk marine cargo insurance is 1.2-2.5% of declared value — cheap insurance against catastrophic loss. Full claim process walkthrough.
Nine checks before you send a deposit to any vehicle shipper — how to verify the company legally exists, why an insurance certificate from a forwarder may be worthless, and the silence test that catches problems weeks early.
Togo applies no vehicle age limit, which makes Lomé the realistic destination for an older car Ghana would penalise heavily — often a larger saving than the entire ocean freight bill. Plus the Sahel transit corridor.
Costs, transit times, paperwork, and the common mistakes that cost first-time shippers thousands. Everything you need to know to ship a vehicle from Canada to Lagos, Tin Can, or Port Harcourt.
Real costs from Montreal to Tema or Takoradi, GRA duty math (~50% of CIF combined), the 10-year age limit with overage penalty bands, G-CAP inspection, and the 5 mistakes that delay clearance.
Real costs from Montreal to Port of Dakar, Senegal's strict 3-year age limit for personal-use vehicles, COSEC royalty, customs duty math, and the mistakes that delay clearance.
Real costs to Port of Douala, how Cameroon's combined duty stacks up on older vehicles, the ANOR Certificate of Conformity requirement, SGS pre-shipment inspection, and the documentation gaps that lock cargo at port.
Real costs from Montreal to Jebel Ali, UAE duty/VAT math, ECC certificate gotchas, and the RTA registration steps that trip up first-time importers.
Real costs from Montreal to Jeddah, the SASO/SABER compliance steps most first-timers miss, the strict 5-year age limit on used cars, and the ZATCA duty math (5% + 15% VAT).
Real costs to Port of Kingston, Jamaica's age and ownership rules, Returning Resident status benefits, Trade Board import licence, and the duty + GCT + environmental levy structure.
Real costs to Port of Spain, Trinidad's engine-displacement-based tax, the 50% surcharge on engines 2000cc+, returning national reduced rates, and the EV exemption that wipes duty + MVT + VAT entirely.
We ship to 30 destination countries from our Oakville warehouse. Tell us where you need to go and we'll come back with a firm quote within 24 hours.
Get a Custom Quote →Automated assistant. For specific shipments contact admin@swiftshipping.ca.