Every car exported from Japan leaves on one of two kinds of vessel: a RO/RO ship that the vehicle is driven onto and off, or a container ship where the car is lashed inside a steel box. The choice affects what you pay, how long you wait, who can touch the car in transit, and in some markets whether you can import at all. Here is how to decide.
What RO/RO Means in Practice
RO/RO stands for roll-on/roll-off. The ship has internal decks connected by ramps, and your car is driven on at the Japanese port and driven off at yours. Because no container or packing is involved, RO/RO is usually the cheapest way to move one standard car, and it is the default for most of our exports.
The trade-off is exposure. A RO/RO vehicle sits on an open deck during the voyage, so it collects salt and grime, and it is handled by stevedores at both ends. It also cannot be shipped with personal effects or spare parts inside it — the shipping line prohibits it, and customs will treat loose items as undeclared cargo.
What Container Shipping Gives You
A container is loaded on a flat rack or in a standard box, and the vehicle is secured with straps and chocks. Your car is untouched from the moment it is packed to the moment the container is opened, which matters for high-value or highly original vehicles where every mark shows in the resale.
Containers are also the practical answer when you are shipping more than one vehicle, or when you want to send spare parts, a set of wheels or personal effects along with the car. Two smaller cars can sometimes share a 40-foot container, which brings the per-car cost close to RO/RO.
A Direct Comparison
- Cost: RO/RO is cheaper for a single standard vehicle. Container rates can beat it once you fill the box, and containers almost always win on high-value cars where damage would cost more than the freight saving.
- Transit time: Similar on the same route, though container sailings are often more frequent and RO/RO space can be tight in peak season, which delays the departure rather than the voyage.
- Condition on arrival: Container vehicles arrive as they left Japan. RO/RO vehicles arrive dirty and should be washed before inspection or photography.
- Access in transit: Nobody can open a container without breaking the seal. RO/RO vehicles are moved on and off by port staff, which is normal but adds handling.
- Cargo flexibility: Containers let you ship parts, spares and personal effects. RO/RO does not.
- Availability by market: Some destinations and some over-height or immobile vehicles can only travel one way — a non-running vehicle cannot be driven on and off a RO/RO ship.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose RO/RO if you are importing one ordinary car on a budget, it drives normally, and the destination port has regular RO/RO service. Choose a container if the vehicle is valuable, modified, non-running, over-height, or if you are shipping more than one unit or want parts included. When we quote a vehicle we price both where the route allows it, so you can see the difference rather than take our word for it.
One practical point on insurance: marine cover is priced differently for the two methods, and RO/RO policies often exclude cosmetic damage from handling. Whatever you choose, insure the vehicle for its landed value rather than only the FOB price.
Next Steps
See FOB and CIF pricing on our stock
Read the FOB vs CIF cost guide
Ask us for a RO/RO and container quote
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