Car Shipping Rates & Transit Times:
Real Numbers for B2B Dealers

Per-vehicle costs and door-to-door transit times across BETWEEN's core routes — Copart/IAAI to Bremerhaven, Dubai RoRo vs container, Rotterdam co-load. Based on shipments we handle regularly, not estimates.

Routes covered: USA, Dubai, Rotterdam

Data: 2026 averages

Audience: B2B dealers, auction buyers, freight forwarders

days avg. transit USA → Europe (door-to-door)

$2,500

per vehicle in shared container (2 cars)

30%

cheaper per vehicle with Rotterdam co-load

Daily

departures from US ports to Bremerhaven & Rotterdam

Car Shipping Rates at a Glance

All figures are door-to-door averages as of 2026. Taxes and import duties are never included — always quoted separately per destination country.

Route	Mode	Avg. transit (door-to-door)	Cost — 1 vehicle	Cost — 2 vehicles (shared container)	Departures
Copart/IAAI (USA) → Bremerhaven	Container	30 days	$2,200–$3,500	~$4,500 total (~$2,250/vehicle)	Daily
Copart/IAAI (USA) → Bremerhaven	RoRo	30 days	~$3,000	— (RoRo is single-vehicle)	Daily
USA → Rotterdam	Container	~30 days	$2,200–$3,500	~$4,500 total (~$2,250/vehicle)	Daily
Dubai (Jebel Ali) ↔ Europe	RoRo	30–35 days	$2,500–$3,500	—	Regular sailings
Dubai (Jebel Ali) ↔ Europe	Container	30–35 days	~$3,000	~$4,500 total (~$2,250/vehicle)	Regular sailings
Rotterdam co-load (consolidated)	Container	Same as base route	From 1 vehicle	~30% cheaper vs standalone container	Ongoing consolidation

* Figures vary by vehicle size, condition, and current freight rates. Import duties and taxes always quoted separately per destination country’s regulations.

RoRo vs Container: Which Saves You More?

The answer depends on vehicle count, condition, and value — not a blanket rule.

RoRo

Roll-on / Roll-off

~$3,000

per vehicle, USA → Europe

Simpler loading — no container required
Marginally faster on some sailings
Good for running, driveable vehicles
Vehicle must be driveable onto the vessel
Exposed to weather and handling on deck
Not available for non-running / salvage cars

Container

Recommended

~$2,250

per vehicle when 2 cars share one container

Best value for 2+ vehicles to same destination
Required for non-running and salvage vehicles
Enclosed — protects premium and luxury cars
Handles high-value cars where damage risk is critical
Available for all Copart/IAAI auction vehicles

Which Shipping Mode Fits Your Shipment

Four common dealer scenarios and the honest recommendation for each.

Scenario 1

One running vehicle, mid-range value

RoRo and a single-vehicle container land at roughly the same price (~$3,000). RoRo is sometimes marginally faster and simpler since there’s no container loading/unloading.

→ Either works. RoRo slightly simpler.

Scenario 2

Two or more vehicles, same destination

Container wins every time. Two vehicles sharing a 40ft container run about $4,500 total — roughly $2,250 per vehicle, well under either single-vehicle RoRo or solo container pricing.

→ Shared container. Always.

Scenario 3

Premium, luxury, or high-value vehicle

Container is the safer choice regardless of volume. It keeps the vehicle enclosed, away from weather and other cargo handling. Worth the marginal cost difference for a car where damage risk carries real financial weight.

→ Container only. No exceptions.

Scenario 4

Non-running or salvage (Copart/IAAI)

Container is typically required. RoRo needs the vehicle to be driveable onto the vessel under its own power — salvage and non-running vehicles cannot use RoRo.

→ Container only. RoRo not available.

Documentation, Customs & Insurance

These run in parallel with ocean transit — they rarely add to your headline delivery time.

Export & Import Documentation

Export documentation typically takes 1 business day to prepare; import clearance at destination takes another 1 business day. Both run in parallel with ocean transit on most routes, so they do not add to the headline transit figure above.

T1 transit documents (for moving vehicles within the EU customs area) and Carnet de Passages (for temporary import into UAE) are handled as part of this process.

Marine Cargo Insurance

Insurance is always quoted as a separate line item from the freight rate — it is not bundled into the per-vehicle shipping cost shown in the table above.

Typical marine cargo insurance runs around 0.3‰ (0.03%) of the vehicle’s declared value, adjustable based on vehicle type and route risk profile. For a $50,000 car, that is approximately $150 per shipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from dealers, auction buyers, and freight forwarders.

How long does car shipping from USA to Europe take?

Door-to-door transit from the USA (Copart/IAAI auction locations) to European ports (Bremerhaven or Rotterdam) averages 30 days. This includes vehicle collection, export documentation (1 business day), ocean transit, and import clearance at destination (1 business day). Documentation processing runs in parallel with ocean transit and does not add to the headline figure.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from USA to Germany?

The cheapest per-vehicle rate is achieved by sharing a 40ft container with one other vehicle heading to the same destination. Two vehicles in one container cost approximately $4,500 total — $2,250 per vehicle — which is significantly cheaper than a single-vehicle RoRo (~$3,000) or a solo container ($2,200–$3,500). If you regularly buy from Copart or IAAI, coordinate multiple purchases to the same destination to maximise container utilisation.

Is RoRo or container shipping better for Copart/IAAI vehicles?

For non-running and salvage vehicles from Copart or IAAI, container is the only option — RoRo requires the vehicle to be driveable onto the vessel under its own power. For running auction vehicles, both modes are available at similar price points (~$3,000 solo), but a shared container remains the most cost-effective choice if you have two or more vehicles.

How much does it cost to ship a car from Dubai to Europe?

Shipping a car from Dubai (Jebel Ali port) to Europe costs between $2,500–$3,500 via RoRo and approximately $3,000 via container for a single vehicle. Two vehicles sharing a 40ft container run approximately $4,500 total (~$2,250 per vehicle). Transit time is 30–35 days door-to-door. Taxes and import duties are not included in the freight rate and are always quoted separately.

What is Rotterdam co-load shipping and when does it make sense?

Rotterdam co-load (consolidated container shipping) means your vehicle shares container space with other cargo heading to the same destination, reducing your per-vehicle cost by approximately 30% compared to booking a standalone container. It makes sense when you have one or two vehicles and cannot fill a full container, and when your delivery timeline is flexible enough to wait for consolidation. BETWEEN runs ongoing consolidation from Rotterdam for major European and international routes.

Are import duties and taxes included in the shipping rate?

No. Import duties, VAT, and customs clearance fees at the destination country are never included in the per-vehicle freight rate. These vary significantly by destination country, vehicle age, engine size, and declared value. We always quote duties separately so you have a clear picture of the total landed cost before committing to a shipment.

Detailed information for each shipping lane and service type.

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Car Shipping Rates & Transit Times:Real Numbers for B2B Dealers