Car Import Guide

RoRo vs Container Shipping: How Your Car Reaches Singapore

Published: 27 Aug 2026

Once your vehicle has been purchased overseas, it has to travel across the ocean before it can be registered in Singapore. There are two main ways to ship a car — roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) and container shipping — and the choice affects your cost, the level of protection your vehicle receives, and the insurance options available to you.

If you are still deciding where to buy from, our guides to buying a car from Japan and buying a car from the UK cover the purchasing stage in detail.

The Two Main Shipping Methods

Both methods can transport a vehicle safely to Singapore, but they work very differently and suit different budgets and vehicle types.

Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) Shipping

Your vehicle is driven onto a purpose-built car carrier, secured below or on deck, and then driven off at the destination port.

•Generally the more affordable shipping option
•Frequent sailings on popular routes such as Japan to Singapore
•Vehicles are stored in open decks and exposed to the marine environment
•Personal belongings generally cannot be shipped inside the car
•Marine insurance options tend to be more limited

Container Shipping

Your vehicle is loaded into a steel shipping container, braced and secured, and the container remains sealed until it arrives in Singapore.

•Full protection from weather, salt air and port handling
•Available as a sole container or shared with other vehicles to save cost
•Personal items can usually be packed inside the vehicle
•Typically the more expensive option
•Wider marine insurance coverage is usually available

Typical Transit Times to Singapore

Transit times depend on the origin port, the shipping line and the sailing schedule. As a general guide, vehicles shipped from Japan commonly take around two to four weeks at sea, while vehicles from the United Kingdom can take roughly four to six weeks or longer depending on the routing and transhipments.

These are sea transit times only — remember to leave room in your plans for export documentation, customs clearance, inspections and registration after arrival. Our import timeline guide breaks down how long each stage usually takes.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Use this comparison to weigh the two methods against what matters most for your vehicle.

Aspect	RoRo	Container
Cost	Lower	Higher
Protection	Exposed to weather and port handling	Sealed and protected
Personal items	Generally not permitted in the car	Usually permitted inside the vehicle
Insurance options	More limited	Wider coverage available
Loading method	Driven on and off the vessel	Loaded, braced and secured inside the container
Best suited for	Standard daily drivers on tighter budgets	Valuable, classic, modified or delicate vehicles

Which Shipping Method Should You Choose?

For a standard daily driver where budget is the priority, RoRo is often the practical choice — especially from Japan, where sailings are frequent. For valuable, classic, modified or delicate vehicles, the added protection of a container is usually worth the higher cost, both physically and for the insurance options it unlocks.

Whichever method you choose, photograph your vehicle thoroughly before it is handed over for shipping, and make sure the condition is documented. This makes any insurance claim far simpler if the vehicle arrives with unexpected damage. Our guide to insuring an imported car explains marine cover in more detail.

Planning Your Car Import?

Use our car import cost calculator to estimate the full landed cost of your vehicle, including shipping, taxes and registration fees. Our consultants can also help you choose the shipping method that best suits your vehicle and budget.