Is shared container cheaper than RORO to Japan?

On a 40ft shared basis, yes - from £750 per vehicle space versus £850 for RORO. On a 20ft shared basis it is roughly £100 more than RORO but adds enclosed protection and lets you load personal effects.

Can I put belongings in the shared container?

Yes, up to a reasonable volume of personal effects can be loaded inside the vehicle. All items must be declared on the packing list for Japanese customs.

How do I track my vehicle in the shared container?

We issue a container number and bill of lading at loading. You can track the container live on the carrier website (NYK, MOL or K-Line) and we provide updates at each milestone.

Shared Container Shipping from UK to Japan

Split the cost of a sealed steel container with other shippers and save up to 40% over sole-use. Weekly UK to Yokohama and Tokyo consolidations.

Get a Free Quote Call +44 01495 320540 View Sailing Schedule

What Is Shared Container Shipping?

Shared container shipping - also called groupage or LCL (less than container load) - is a service in which one sealed 20ft or 40ft ocean container is filled with vehicles or cargo belonging to multiple unrelated shippers, who then split the cost in proportion to the floor space they use. It is the single most cost-effective way to ship one or two vehicles to Japan in a fully enclosed container, because the fixed cost of the box, the loading labour, the documentation and the ocean freight is divided rather than absorbed by a single customer. We have run weekly UK to Japan shared consolidations for over a decade, and the route is one of the most popular on our network. See our full shared container shipping service page for an overview of how it works.

20ft Shared Container to Japan

A 20ft shared container measures 5.9m long, 2.35m wide and 2.39m high internally, giving roughly 33 cubic metres of usable space. It will comfortably hold one full-size SUV plus a small saloon, two compact cars, or one classic car with a motorcycle alongside. Loading takes place at our consolidation warehouse near Tilbury, and arrival is at Yokohama or Tokyo. The shared 20ft option starts from £950 per vehicle and sails bi-weekly. Transit is 30 to 38 days. This is the right choice for a single vehicle owner who wants enclosed protection but does not need a sole-use box.

40ft Shared Container to Japan

A 40ft shared container is the workhorse of the UK to Japan groupage trade. Internal dimensions of 12.0m, 2.35m wide and 2.39m high give around 67 cubic metres, enough for three to four standard saloons loaded conventionally. With our R-Rak racking system installed, the same 40ft container will carry up to six vehicles by stacking. Because the cost of the larger box is split across more shippers, the per-vehicle price falls - a single car space in a 40ft shared container starts from just £750, our cheapest enclosed option to Japan. High-cube 40ft units (an extra 30cm of internal height) are available for taller SUVs and 4x4s on request.

What Vehicles Fit in a Shared Container?

A standard 40ft container will hold up to four saloon cars (Ford Focus, Golf, Civic size); three mid-size SUVs or 4x4s (RAV4, X3, Discovery); two pickup trucks (Hilux, Ranger); or one large 4x4 with a motorcycle and household effects alongside. Classic cars, vehicles below 14cm ground clearance, and any car with delicate paintwork are best loaded into a 20ft sole-use container or a padded 40ft shared with edge protection. Try our how much container space do I need tool to size your shipment precisely.

Shared Container vs RORO for Japan

RORO is cheaper on paper but exposes the vehicle to weather, salt spray and dock handling for the full duration of the voyage. A shared container costs marginally more (and sometimes less, on the 40ft option) and gives full enclosed protection, the ability to ship personal effects inside the car, and acceptance of non-runners. For anything older than 15 years, modified, or worth more than £20,000 we recommend container every time. See the dedicated comparison below.

Sailing Schedule UK to Japan

Departures from Tilbury sail bi-weekly on the Suez routing. Southampton offers weekly RORO sailings on the same trade lane. Estimated sailing time door-to-port is 30 to 38 days for container and 28 to 35 days for RORO. Live next-available sailing dates are published on our transit time calculator.

How to Book a Shared Container to Japan

Booking takes around five minutes. Send us the year, make, model and approximate dimensions of your vehicle, your preferred UK collection point and the Japanese arrival port. We confirm availability on the next sailing, send the booking confirmation and the export forms, and arrange collection or port drop-off. Payment is on confirmation and the bill of lading is issued once the container is loaded. Call our Japan desk on +44 01495 320540 or email info@shipcars.co.uk to start.

Preparing Your Vehicle for a Shared Container

Preparation is straightforward but matters. Wash the car so the photographic condition report is meaningful and any pre-existing damage is properly documented. Empty the boot and cabin of valuables, paperwork and aftermarket electronics. Reduce fuel to no more than a quarter tank because Japanese port regulations cap permitted fuel for inbound containers. Disconnect any aftermarket alarms that draw current and tape over the keyhole if you are leaving a spare key in the cabin. If you are loading personal effects alongside the vehicle, prepare a typed packing list with declared values for the Japanese customs broker. Tyres should be inflated to manufacturer specification for the long-term static load.

Insurance for Shared Container Shipments to Japan

Standard ocean freight contracts cover the vessel and crew but exclude your vehicle. We strongly recommend marine all-risks insurance for any shared container shipment - the premium is roughly 1.5 per cent of declared value and the policy covers physical loss or damage from collection through arrival at the Japanese port. Excess is typically 100 GBP. For high-value classics we can add named-peril extensions covering scratches and rub marks at loading. Policy documents are issued with the booking confirmation and the claim process is fully handled through our UK office. Without marine insurance you carry the full economic risk yourself, which on a fifty-thousand-pound classic is rarely sensible.

Sailing Ahead of Tokyo Auctions

If your shipment is destined for resale at a Tokyo auction house, time the sailing carefully. Major collector auctions publish their schedules six months in advance; budget at least sixty days from UK loading to auction-ready in Japan, which includes ocean transit, customs clearance, shaken inspection if older than three years, detailing and lot photography. Our Japan desk maintains a relationship with the major auction logistics teams and can coordinate direct delivery from Yokohama to the auction marshalling yard so your vehicle arrives clean, prepped and on time.

Feature	Shared Container	RORO
Cost	£750-£950	£850
Protection	Fully enclosed	Open deck
Personal items	Yes (limited)	No
Transit time	30-38 days	28-35 days
Classic cars	Recommended	Possible
Non-runners	Yes	No

Ready to ship to or from Japan?

Speak to a Japan trade specialist for live sailing schedules and a fixed all-in price.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A 20ft shared container holds one to two standard vehicles. A 40ft holds three to four loaded conventionally, or up to six with R-Rak racking.