Shipping
Sealed in a box, halfway round the world
Collected from your door, loaded at Kwai Tsing, 3 to 6 weeks at sea, and unloaded by our own team in Derbyshire.
The route
Two ways round
- Through Suez, about 17,500 km (11,000 miles) by sea. Via South China Sea, Singapore, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and the English Channel.
- Round Africa, about 24,000 km (15,000 miles) by sea. Via South China Sea, Singapore, across the Indian Ocean, round the Cape of Good Hope, up the west coast of Africa and into the English Channel.
Through the Suez Canal is the shorter way. Round Africa by the Cape of Good Hope is longer, and since the trouble in the Red Sea began in late 2023 a lot of Asia to Europe sailings have gone that way. Some lines have since gone back through Suez.
Which way round is the shipping line's decision, not ours. We confirm the sailing and the UK port when it's booked, and the container comes from the port to our site in Castle Donington either way.
The lines follow the usual sea lanes but are drawn by us, so the distances are a rough guide. Real sailings call at other ports on the way. Map data from Natural Earth.
Two ways to travel
Shared or your own container
| Shared container | Dedicated 20ft | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your car shares a container with other customers' cars | The container is yours alone |
| Cost | Lower: the box is split between cars | Higher: you pay for the whole box |
| Best for | Most cars, most moves | Rare or valuable cars, or tight dates |
| Insurance and care | The same: strapped down, insured at sea, unloaded at our site | |
Unloaded by us, not by the port
A lot of container warehouses are paid by the box, so they unload in a hurry. Ours comes straight to our own facility, and our team takes the cars out with as much time and care as each one needs.
Because the customs entry is lodged before the ship docks, the container doesn't sit at the terminal waiting for paperwork. That keeps storage charges off your bill and days off the timeline.
- At sea
- 3 to 6 wks
- Insurance
- MarineTotal loss or major damage
- Tracking
- PortalEvery stage, online
- Unloading
- In-houseAt our site
Questions
About the voyage
Why a container and not roll-on roll-off?
A container keeps the car sealed, strapped down and out of the weather for the whole voyage, and it comes straight to our site to be unloaded. For a route this long we think it is the safest and most cost-effective way.
Can I put belongings in the car?
Ask us first. Personal effects in a car complicate customs, and some things cannot travel at all. In most cases it is simpler to send them with your household move.
Is the car insured at sea?
Yes. We arrange marine insurance for the voyage, covering total loss or significant damage.
Which UK port does it arrive at?
It depends on the shipping line and the sailing. We confirm it when the booking is made, and the container is brought from the port to our site either way.
Tell us about the car.
Make, model, year and where it is. A real person writes your quote, itemised line by line, usually the same working day.