How We Ship Your Car from Japan

Today, we’d like to walk you through how international vehicle shipping from Japan actually works.
What shipping methods are available? What should you pay attention to? And which option is better for exclusive, high-value vehicles? Let’s break it all down clearly — step by step.

✈️ Two Main Export Routes: Air & Sea

Japan is an island country, so vehicles can only be exported in two ways: by air or by sea.

• Air freight — fast but extremely expensive; used mostly for urgent or ultra-rare vehicles.
  
• Ocean freight — the most common and cost-effective option. This is what we’ll focus on.
  

⚓ Ocean Shipping Methods: Container vs. RORO

🚢 Container Shipping

There are two main types of shipping containers used for vehicle export:

• 20ft Container (~6 meters in length): fits 1 vehicle (standard sedan or coupe).
  
• 40ft Container (~12 meters in length): fits 2–3 vehicles, depending on size.
  

Advantages:

• You can include spare parts, wheels, tires, and other accessories inside the container.
  
• Accepts non-running or damaged vehicles — no engine start required.
  
• Container is sealed and locked in Japan, and only opened at the destination port.
  
• No one drives your vehicle — it’s manually fixed into place with straps and blocks.
  

This makes it ideal for classic, luxury, and collector cars.

🚗 RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off)

With RORO shipping, the car must be fully driveable — it’s driven on and off the vessel via ramps.

Limitations:

• Absolutely no personal or loose items are allowed inside the car — not even a spare wiper blade.
  
• Vehicles must be fully functional — no flat batteries, no missing wheels, no mechanical issues.
  
• The car is moved and driven by port personnel, not by you or your shipping agent.
  

📊 Container vs. RORO – Comparison Table

Feature	Container Shipping	RORO Shipping
Enclosure	Fully sealed & locked container	Open deck loading
Security	Maximum — no one drives your car	Driven by port staff
Extra items (parts/tools)	Allowed	Not allowed
Non-running vehicle	Accepted	Not accepted
Speed	Slightly slower	Slightly faster
Price	Slightly higher	Slightly cheaper
Weather exposure	Fully protected	Partial exposure
Multiple cars per shipment	1 (20ft) or 2–3 (40ft)	1 vehicle only

 

First-time buyers often ask: What documents will I get with the car?
Here is the standard export documentation package:

• Export Certificate – Japanese deregistration title for customs (similar to a car title).
  
• Commercial Invoice – shows buyer, seller, and declared vehicle value.
  
• B/L (Bill of Lading) or Seaway Bill – the official shipping document used to release the vehicle at the destination port.
  

⚠️ Important Note:
Most major shipping lines (like Maersk) have phased out paper B/Ls with stamps.
Instead, they issue digital Seaway Bills, which are safer, trackable, and impossible to lose.
If a paper B/L is lost, it is almost impossible to reissue.

📌 Region-Specific Requirements

Some countries may require additional documents or inspections before customs clearance:

• JEVIC / EAA / QISJ inspections — required in some African and Pacific countries
  
• Engine number & engine photo
  
• Translated Export Certificate (English, Russian, Arabic, etc.)
  
• Certified or notarized translations — often required in Europe, the Middle East, or America
  
• For EU and US imports — you may need to declare a Consignee and Notify Party (usually a local customs broker or import agency)
  

🛡 Container Preparation & Vehicle Protection

Before loading, we ensure your vehicle is protected from any damage during transit:

• Nylon covers for steering wheel, gear shift, and seat
  
• Plastic edge guards for doors
  
• Rubber and foam pads for alloy wheels
  
• Wheel chocks and tie-downs for secure mounting
  
• Full photo and video documentation of the loading process
  

This documentation is also helpful in case you order a pre-shipment inspection.

🚢 Our Trusted Shipping Partners

We only work with top-tier international ocean carriers:

• Maersk
  
  
• MSC
  
  
• CMA CGM
  
  

These providers offer reliable schedules, accurate tracking, and global coverage.
We avoid unreliable low-cost carriers to minimize your risk.

📥 What Do You Need to Pick Up Your Car?

When your car arrives at the destination port, you or your broker will typically need:

• A copy of the Seaway Bill or release confirmation
  
• The Export Certificate (translated, if required)
  
• The Commercial Invoice
  

These documents are generally sufficient to complete customs clearance and registration in most countries.

💵 Shipping & Documentation Fees

• Container loading and documentation are already included in the price of vehicles listed on our website.
  
  
• You do not need to pay extra for export paperwork or container preparation.
  
  

Once your vehicle is shipped, the original documents will be sent to you via FedEx or DHL, depending on what’s most reliable in your country.

🤝 Ready to Ship?

We’ve handled hundreds of shipments to over 30 countries — from rare exotics to daily drivers.
Our team has the experience, partnerships, and knowledge to make sure your export runs smoothly.

Have questions? Need a quote?
Contact us — and we’ll take care of the rest.