Questions? We've got answers.

We export vehicles — cars, sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, commercial vans, and motorcycles. Running vehicles ship at our standard rates. If yours doesn't start or drive, we can still move it through our partner network in a container — it costs more, so ask us and we'll price it. We don't ship general (non-vehicle) cargo. Everything ships from our Oakville, Ontario warehouse to ports around the world.

It means the vehicle drives under its own power — forward and in reverse — so it can be driven into and out of the container, or onto the vessel, at intake. A weak or dead battery that just needs a boost is fine. A vehicle that has to be towed, pushed or winched counts as a non-runner: we can still ship it in a container through our partner network, but it can't travel RoRo and it costs more, so tell us up front rather than at intake. Please arrive with a quarter tank of fuel or less. If you're planning to leave anything in the vehicle, just ask us (or the chat assistant on this site) — what's allowed varies by carrier and destination, and anything packed inside rules out RoRo.

Either. We can pick up anywhere in Canada and bring the vehicle to our Oakville warehouse (482 South Service Road East, Unit 201), or you can drive it in yourself — there's no inland pickup charge if you drop off. On arrival we inspect the vehicle, photograph its condition, and you sign an intake form. We collect your original ownership/title, a copy of your ID, and both keys at that point.

RoRo (roll-on/roll-off): your vehicle is driven onto a specialized car-carrier vessel and secured to the deck. It's usually the cheaper option for a single running vehicle and tends to have a faster turnaround, and it's port-to-port. Container: your vehicle is loaded into a 20ft or 40ft container, lashed and blocked, and the container is sealed. It offers more protection and lets you share a 40ft box with a second car to split the cost. When you request a quote we recommend the best method for your vehicle, route, and budget — and where both serve your destination, we can compare them.

Fill out our 3-step online quote form — about 3 minutes (vehicle details, destination, timing). A real person reviews your vehicle, route, and timing, and we email you a firm price, usually within 24 hours and often the same business day. The quote comes with a one-click accept link and is valid for 7 days. The window is short because carrier rates move week to week; if your quote expires before you're ready, we'll refresh it with current rates.

Ocean freight from the load port to your destination port; inland pickup in Canada if we collect from your address; container or RoRo handling (loading, lashing, securing, and the container seal); and documentation (House Bill of Lading, the Canadian export declaration where required, commercial invoice, and packing list). Destination duties and taxes are not included — those are the receiver's responsibility, though we give you an estimate. Cargo insurance is not included and we do not sell it; see the insurance question below.

A 30% deposit confirms your booking and secures your sailing slot — we don't reserve carrier space until it clears. The remaining 70% is due before the ship sails. We don't release the original Bill of Lading until the balance is paid in full, and your consignee needs that Bill of Lading to collect the vehicle at the destination. Paying on time matters: a late balance can push your vehicle to a later sailing and rack up storage fees at port.

Interac e-Transfer (send to admin@swiftshipping.ca with your booking reference in the message), or wire transfer. Quotes are shown in US dollars with the Canadian-dollar equivalent alongside, and charges are processed in CAD.

Transit times are estimates, not guarantees. They're measured from our Oakville warehouse to the destination port, and customs clearance at the destination adds more time on top. Rough sea-transit ranges by region: Caribbean (Jamaica, Trinidad) 10–18 days; UK / Europe 12–20 days; West Africa (Lagos, Accra, Lomé) 20–28 days; Middle East (Dubai, Jeddah) 22–30 days; Southern Africa (Durban corridor) 25–35 days; Southeast Asia (Singapore, Port Kelang) 30–40 days. Weather, port congestion, customs holds, and carrier schedule changes can shift these.

On the Canada side, typically: the original vehicle ownership/title in your name (plus a lien-release letter from your bank if it was financed); a bill of sale if you bought the vehicle within the last 12 months; government-issued photo ID; and both sets of keys. If the vehicle is registered to someone else (a gift or family transfer), we need a notarized letter from the registered owner authorizing the export. We prepare the Canadian export declaration and confirm on your booking who files it, and we issue your House Bill of Lading. Your consignee will need destination-specific paperwork too (import permit, a tax/ID number, a licensed clearing agent) — this varies by country and we'll tell you what applies to your route.

We handle the Canadian export side. That includes preparing the Canadian export declaration (CERS, which replaced the old B13A form), required by law on most exports valued at CAD 2,000 or more to any destination outside the USA. Depending on how your shipment is booked, that declaration is filed either by us or by the consolidator carrying the container — we confirm which in writing on every booking, along with the Proof of Report number, before the vessel loads. At the destination, customs clearance, duties, and taxes are your consignee's responsibility. We provide a good-faith estimate of those destination costs up front, but the final assessment is set by the destination customs authority, and any dispute is between your consignee and that authority. Most people use a licensed customs broker (clearing agent) at the destination. We don't keep a broker network, so choose your own — check they're licensed with the destination customs authority, ask whether they charge a percentage of duty or a flat fee, and get it in writing before the vessel arrives.

Most countries base duty on the CIF value — Cost (what you paid for the vehicle) + Insurance + Freight — and then stack VAT or sales tax on top of (CIF + duty), so the combined rate is higher than the headline duty rate alone. The exact percentage varies widely by country, vehicle age, engine size, and fuel type. Rather than quote a headline figure here, use our <a href="/import-duty">import duty checker</a> — it runs the destination's actual duty, VAT and levy structure over your vehicle's value and shows each line. Where we can't source a rate we can stand behind, it says so instead of guessing: Nigeria is the clearest example, where the levy on used vehicles is reported three different ways across government sources with about ten points of spread on CIF, so we won't put a number on it until we have an assessment in hand. Customs authorities usually value the vehicle from their own reference database, so under-declaring the value tends to backfire — they re-value and add a penalty. We include a realistic destination-cost estimate with every quote.

Only to a very limited extent, and you should assume the answer is effectively no. The ocean carrier's liability under the Hague-Visby Rules is capped at roughly 666.67 SDR per package or 2 SDR per kilogram, whichever is higher — on a car that is a small fraction of its value. We strongly recommend arranging your own all-risk marine cargo insurance for the full value; it typically runs about 1.2–2.5% of the declared value and any licensed marine broker can write it. To be straight with you: **Swift Shipping does not sell insurance and cannot collect a premium for it** — doing so without an insurer's licence is an offence in Ontario, and any forwarder offering to 'add insurance to your invoice' is worth a hard question. We'll tell you what cover to ask for and hand over the shipment details your broker needs. One caution: a forwarder's own liability insurance covers our mistakes (wrong document, wrong routing) — it does not cover loss or damage to your cargo.

Yes — and it's the single most important thing to check before booking, because a vehicle that can't legally enter the country is a wasted shipment. The rules differ in kind, not just in number: some countries refuse an over-age car outright, others simply charge more. Ghana has no enforced ban but applies an escalating penalty on the CIF value for vehicles over 10 years, rising steeply past 15. Nigeria's 12-year limit should be treated as in force — reports that it was lifted in May 2026 could not be confirmed against any findable instrument, so we won't promise an older car will clear until a Lagos agent confirms it in writing. A vehicle from outside West Africa must also arrive by sea rather than overland. Togo has no age limit at all, which makes it the realistic destination for older vehicles. Côte d'Ivoire caps at 5 years, measured from when the car was first registered — not its model year. Kenya requires right-hand drive, so most Canadian cars can't go there at all. We screen your exact vehicle against your destination on every quote and tell you before you pay if it doesn't qualify — send us the VIN if you're unsure.

Yes. You'll get email updates at each milestone — booking confirmed, in transit once the vessel sails (with tracking details), and arrival at the destination. You can also check status any time on our Track page using your carrier booking reference or Bill of Lading number (both are emailed to you when the shipment is booked). We monitor the carrier portals weekly and flag any delays proactively. If you can't find your reference, contact us and we'll look it up.

It depends on where your vehicle is in the process. Before it enters our Oakville warehouse: full refund of your deposit. After warehouse intake but before it's loaded onto the vessel: the deposit is retained to cover documentation, inspection, and unwinding the carrier booking. After the vehicle is loaded onto the vessel: non-refundable, because the ocean freight has been paid to the carrier on your behalf and can't be recovered. We always confirm the exact terms with you before charging the deposit.