corsia logo

RORO vs. container shipping

RORO vs. container shipping

Imagine you have been on the hunt for a very elusive classic vehicle. You have turned the entire US on its head, yet the gem is nowhere to be found. Then all of a sudden you spot a great deal. You are ready to get it right away when you notice it, but the car is an ocean away! Of course, you will not simply give up. You want that vehicle and you will do your best to get it. That requires you to figure out a way to ship it, of course.

Corsia Logistics transports vehicles overseas weekly.

For instance, this Lada Zhiguli traveled halfway across the globe with our help. Today, we will use our knowledge and expertise to tell you more about the different international car shipping options.

Three main international car shipping options

From the title of this article you can tell that we will mainly focus on RORO and container shipping. That being said, there is another option – air freight. We are not going to explore it much today though. As you can imagine, it is quite expensive, which makes it an unlikely pick for most people. Nevertheless, if you have a really high-end vehicle, it is definitely the fastest and safest option out there.

With the air freight option out of the way, we can focus on the other two alternatives. They are both basically freight transport by sea, which justifies the lengthier travel time and cheaper costs. However, they also have many differences between them. Understanding them better will help you decide which suits you more.

What is RORO shipping

First things first – RORO stands for “Roll On, Roll Off”. In the most basic terms, this is nothing more than just loading the vehicle on a vessel’s deck as is.

If you have ever seen a ferry loaded with cars, RORO is pretty much the same thing. Or in other words, a RORO vessel is a movable parking garage. This makes the service fairly cheap, as it does not include anything specific.

The RORO logistics are pretty simple too. You can get your vehicle to the ship by yourself, or get an auto transport company to handle it for you.

However, you should keep in mind that no one is going to inspect the car pre- or post-loading. That means only total loss insurance applies in this case unless you go out of your way to get the vehicle insured on your own.

When the car arrives at its destination, you will have to pick it up yourself or organize its transport. RORO only covers loading and unloading the vehicle when the vessel is docked.

You can see that the RORO shipping method is pretty barebones. That also makes it the cheapest option available. Before you decide to go with it though, you should understand container shipping too.

What is container shipping

As we have established already, container shipping is one of the two waterborne shipping methods. Compared to RORO it includes a few more steps during the process.

Firstly, your car has to be delivered not to the dock, but to your shipping company’s warehouse. This can be done by you or by a car transport company of your choice. Secondly, you need to decide the kind of container you want your vehicle to be shipped in.

You have two choices – a single-vehicle container or a multi-vehicle one. If you are looking for a cheaper option, the multi-vehicle container is the way to go. With it, you will share ocean freight costs, port charges and customs clearance with other people.

That being said, deliveries with this shipping method also tend to take longer. The reason is that enough people have to book up a spot on the multi-car container, which can take a while.

In light of all that, it is obvious that single-vehicle containers are better if you want faster shipping. On the other hand, that also means you have to take care of all the charges and costs for the container along the way. That makes it a premium option.

The pros and cons of each

Obviously, overseas transport is not as simple as shipping a car from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. You have to consider more variables along the way. In order to help you with this, we have compiled a quick reference list with all the pros and cons of both waterborne shipping methods.

The pros of RORO shipping:

  • It is the cheapest option available
  • It has fairly simple logistics
  • May be a suitable alternative when shipping to or from destinations where container shipping is either too expensive or not an option
  • Departure and arrival dates are usually fixed, making it more predictable

The cons of RORO shipping:

  • Your car is not insured against damages (only total loss)
  • There is no additional protection for the car (it is side by side with all other vehicles on board)
  • The vehicle is exposed to the elements before and after unloading
  • The car has to be driven by port workers in order to be loaded and unloaded
  • It is required that the car is in operable condition, otherwise, further charges will be applied, or it may not be possible to load it at all.

The pros of container shipping:

  • Your car is protected from the elements at all times
  • Dock workers will not be driving it
  • There is a much lower chance of damages during transit
  • The car can be insured for damages since it is inspected before and after transport
  • You can choose a single- or multi-car container, depending on your needs
  • The car is not required to be in operable condition

The cons of container shipping:

  • It costs more than RORO, and single-car containers are even more expensive
  • There are no fixed departure and arrival dates, due to the nature of container booking

Now you know the gist of international car shipping. Nevertheless, you may still be uncertain of which service you should pick. Perhaps you are wondering whether the extra money for container shipping is worth it. Furthermore, should you request a single-car container or not? Let us explore that in more detail below!

Which one suits you the best

Sometimes knowing a bunch of information does not mean you can make the best decision. You have to evaluate your situation properly. To do that we will look at two common overseas transport examples – shipping a daily driver vs shipping a classic car.

If you are moving to or from a different country, you may want to transport your everyday car. For many people, the value of the car is not high enough to justify the price of a single-car container. Additionally, a lot of folks prefer RORO, since it is cheaper and they do not care about damages all that much.

That being said, no one is pleased when their car arrives dinged or scratched (or worse). This is why we advise you to consider multi-car container shipping for your daily car. The difference in costs between it and RORO is not so significant to risk damages to your vehicle.

When it comes to shipping a luxury or a classic car, container transport is the only viable option. We would even say that single-car containers are the best because that way your car will not be dependent on other factors. Given the nature of such a vehicle, the increased price of that method is completely justified.

At this point, you should be able to decide between the available options. Whichever one you pick though, you also have to figure out the logistics. More on that below!

Figuring out your international car shipping situation

Choosing your international car shipping method is just one part of the equation. You have to find a way to execute it as well.

The easiest way to do it is by going with an experienced car shipping company. They will be able to walk you through everything and even consult you on your specific situation if necessary. The company will organize the entire shipping process for you – from your car’s current location right to your desired destination (even in-land).

Of course, you can also organize some things yourself. For example, you can pick one company to ship your car to the port (or container warehouse), and another to figure out overseas transport. Then you can look for a third company on the other side of the ocean to handle your car from there.

We believe that the additional headache of trying to organize everything on your own is not really worth it. It is much simpler to have one company take care of the process.

Do you need any help with international car shipping?

Transporting your car across the globe may seem like an impossible task at first. Many people even consider it easier to sell their car and buy another at their new destination. However, with a good auto transport company that is not necessary.

Here at Corsia Logistics, we are always open to helping you out with your car shipping needs. If you have any questions about international auto transport, you can contact us right away. Our staff will tell you everything you need to know, no strings attached. Whether you need to transport a rare classic or just your favorite everyday car, we are here for you!

Share our experience:
Are you ready to ship a car?
Recent posts
car shipping quote

Truckers Can Fight Sex Trafficking

If You See Something, Say Something! This is the slogan of the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking, the organization’s main goal is to have more

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping an electric vehicle like Rivian requires several considerations. Here we will share some key aspects to keep in mind when you need to ship

Read more

Corsia Logistics team works hard every day to ensure reliable expedited car shipping service. Our customer reviews prove that.

5-Star Rated Car Shipping Company

5/5
5/5
5/5

they trusted us

and here's what they say

Simon Moore
Great company
Read More
Looking for a logistics company, to ship my car, from California to Illinois,my first search, then Corsia showed up, skeptical. Call and a very friendly secretary: Elena. She guided me through, I scheduled and as she explained, all when smooth as scheduled Very happy I did the right choice. I'll recommend this great Company to anyone that is thinking to relocate a vehicle. Thanks Corsia logistics for your honesty and professionalism!
Elizabeth Woodward
High five's all around!
Read More
Corsia was highly recommended by a friend in the automobile industry. We needed to transport a cargo van from Seattle to Florida. We contacted Corsia who quickly arranged transport within just a few days. Communication was outstanding! Just a few email confirmations and we were all set. Mike was great and arrived right on time and delivered to Florida on schedule. Tip-avoid the hornets nest of auto brokers on line and just contact Corsia for a truly great experience!
Carrol Tiffany
Amazing
Read More
Corsia has been amazing. Their prices are really competitive but more importantly their customer service has been 5-Star. Elena followed up with me every step of the way, making sure there was no miscommunication between me & the driver. We are using them to ship a 2nd vehicle & would not hesitate to use them again!
Tony Boyd
Definitely recommend
Read More
I have recently used Corsia for long time family car with sentimental value that was moved I have recently used Corsia for shipment of my vehicle from Oregon to Arizona by recommendation from other family member who also used Corsia in the past. I am very pleased on the service and the communication throughout shipment. Ken was my direct contact and kept me informed along the move The car was picked up and delivered as communicated. I did use a enclosed mover and the driver was also clean cut professional and treated car as his own. I would definitely recommend Corsia again with the experience I have had. Thank you. T
JW
Top notch
Read More
Top notch Transport - Porsche 997 Top notch! As easy and efficient as one could possibly imagine. Great customer service.. thank you Luke. Great prices. Check. Timely communications. Check. Clean transport trailer. Check. Supremely careful driver. Check. Timely arrival. Check. Don't mess around elsewhere, just call Corsica and feel confident your transports needs are going to be exceeded. My Porsche 911 rode like a Queen in her enclosed chariot. I've never needed a transport company before, and I surely will use them every time. Do yourself a favor, seriously. Call now.
Geet Mp Haryana
Reliable, efficient
Read More
Corsia rep (Elena) was very proactive. Helped ship a car from CA to GA. She checked in with me via email quote and several phone calls to find me the best possible quote for the fastest available service. After several communications, Corsia was able to schedule a vehicle pickup the next day. The driver communicated well, and the vehicle arrived in final destination faster than we expected in perfect condition. I highly recommend using Corsia's reliable, efficient service.
Cay Liptak
Clean, efficient, wonderful
Read More
Thanks, Corsia! Pickup was so clean, efficient, and wonderful -- my only recommendation is to make sure you schedule it during the day so you can fully review the car in the daylight. Drop off was equally wonderful, and the whole trip went down without a hitch (pun intended!). Seriously, Corsia delivered my Jeep from CT to California with no issues or bumps in the road!
Csaba Kovesdy
Truly positive experience
Read More
Corsia Memphis to LA, mid-size SUV. I looked at 4 different companies amd Corsia was the most responsive of them. While being responsive, they were not unduly aggressive: when I indicated that I need to wait a month before making a decision they stopped contacting me and only came back with a reminder when I really needed it. Once I decided to engage Corsia they found me a transport within two days and the car was delivered (from Memphis to LA) in another two days. I had a truly positive experience.
Kelly Torres
Highly recommend
Read More
Working with Corsia Logistics was a great experience. Working with Corsia Logistics was wonderful. They were able to find a driver right away to transport our car. They were in constant communication as to when the car was getting picked up and dropped off. The driver also communicated with me as to when he would arrive. I would highly recommend Corsia Logistics.
Amy Nelson
Excellent Organization
Read More
Corsia was an excellent company to work with while I transferred my car across the US. A friend of mine suggested I use them as they had been very organized and trustworthy with her own car. I researched a few different place but decided to go with Corsia and I'm so glad I did! Any questions I had throughout the process they answered quickly and clearly. I would definitely use them again in the future and recommend them for others to use.
Previous
Next