RoRo vs Container Shipping — Which Should You Pick?

What each one actually is

RoRo (Roll-on / Roll-off)

A specialized car-carrier vessel (think 7-12 decks of parking) that vehicles drive onto, get strapped down by professional lashers, and drive off at the destination port. No container involved. The vessel is purpose-built for moving large volumes of wheeled cargo: cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, construction equipment, even buses and tractors.

Major RoRo operators serving Canadian ports: Grimaldi, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Höegh Autoliners, EUKOR.

Container

The vehicle is driven into a 20-foot or 40-foot steel shipping container, secured inside with straps and wheel chocks, and the container is sealed. The sealed container then travels on a regular container ship — the same kind that carries everything from electronics to clothing.

Two flavors: FCL (full container load) is your own dedicated container; LCL/shared means your car shares the container with one or two other vehicles, splitting the cost. Most retail vehicle exports use shared 20ft or sole 20ft containers.

Carriers: Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, MSC, ZIM — every major container line will book vehicles inside containers.

Cost comparison

Across the destinations Canadians ship to most (Montreal departure, typical mid-size sedan), the pattern is consistent: RoRo is the cheaper method, and a shared container carries a modest premium on top. The relative gap is small and fairly steady by destination:

For SUVs and pickups, the container premium grows a bit (larger floor footprint). Luxury cars and classics often go sole 20ft container for protection, which carries a larger premium over RoRo. Get a custom quote for exact pricing on your route.

Transit time difference

RoRo vessels typically sail more often and follow tighter schedules:

• Cutoff to sail: RoRo cargo can usually catch the next weekly sailing (3-5 day window); container cargo waits for container booking + stuffing (5-8 day window before loading)
• Vessel speed: Comparable — both ocean-going at 15-20 knots
• Discharge: RoRo cars roll off in hours; containers wait their turn for crane unloading (often 24-48 hr longer)

Net: 3-7 days faster door-to-door via RoRo for most routes. On a Canada → Nigeria shipment, this is the difference between 35-40 days and 40-50 days.

When RoRo is wrong (use container instead)

1. The vehicle doesn't run

Non-operable vehicles can't roll on/off. RoRo carriers will refuse them or charge a heavy penalty (and typically still refuse). Container is the only option for: accident-damaged cars going to a salvage buyer, classic restoration projects, EVs with dead batteries you haven't replaced.

2. The car is high-value and you want it enclosed

RoRo vessels have multiple decks and the cars are exposed to other vehicles' fluids, salt air, and occasional knocks during loading. For a high-value vehicle (Range Rover, G-Wagon, Tesla, AMG, classic), the modest premium for a sole container is cheap insurance against cosmetic damage in transit.

3. You want to ship personal items inside or alongside

RoRo carriers strictly prohibit personal effects inside the vehicle (no boxes in the trunk, no items on the seats — they'll be removed at the port, with a fine). Container shipping lets you declare personal effects in the container with the vehicle. Common for diaspora moves where you want both the family car and household items on one shipment.

4. You're shipping two vehicles together

A 40ft container fits two standard sedans or one SUV plus a small car. Splitting one 40ft container is usually cheaper than two RoRo bookings. Common for diaspora customers sending a car to family + keeping one for themselves.

5. The destination port has no RoRo service

Some smaller Caribbean and Pacific ports don't get regular RoRo calls. Container ships call almost everywhere with port infrastructure. Less common than the other reasons but worth checking with us if your destination is unusual.

What's NOT allowed inside the vehicle (RoRo only)

RoRo carriers worldwide require the vehicle to be empty. Specifically:

• No personal effects (boxes, bags, clothing, electronics) — anywhere inside
• No spare parts unless securely mounted (no loose parts in the trunk)
• No fuel above ~¼ tank (some carriers require <10L)
• No removed components shipping loose (e.g., wheels off the car)
• Battery must be connected and operational
• No aftermarket alarms armed (impossible to disarm at port)
• Spare keys provided to the carrier

Port inspectors check randomly. If items are found, you'll be fined and the items may be confiscated or your shipment delayed for re-inspection. We help our customers prepare the vehicle for RoRo at our Oakville warehouse — cleaning out personal items, draining fuel if needed, confirming battery health.

Insurance considerations

Carrier liability is the same for both methods — capped at 666.67 SDR per "package" under the Hague-Visby rules. On a car, that's only a 1-2% recovery in a worst-case loss. Both RoRo and container shippers should buy separate cargo insurance.

The actual risk profile differs slightly:

• RoRo theft: Slightly higher historical incidence of in-transit theft of removable items (mirrors, badges). Why we clean the vehicle ahead of time.
• RoRo damage: Cosmetic scrapes during loading/discharge slightly more common.
• Container theft: Lower — sealed container, but if it's tampered with, it's usually catastrophic.
• Container damage: Lower — but securing inside the container (lashing) determines outcome. Poor lashing = the car becomes a wrecking ball.

All-risk cargo insurance at 1.2-2.5% of declared value covers both. Don't ship a vehicle without it.

Decision tree

Ready to book?

Our quote form will ask which cargo type you're shipping. We'll recommend RoRo or container based on your specific vehicle, destination, and needs — and quote both options if it's a close call.

Questions we didn't cover? Reach out.