Gift Icon
Get a 20% discount from our partners! Discount code will get added automatically when you submit the form.
Auto Transport Truck on Highway
4.7 Star Rating4.7 (67,926 reviews)
96.3% positive
No Surprises, Just Savings: Verified Carriers, Instant Quotes, and Best Price Guarantee!
You save 20% compared to other companies
Get quotes from trusted carriers, thoroughly vetted and fully insured. Enjoy trackable deliveries, fair pricing, and hassle-free transport from start to finish. Transport any type of vehicle and drive away worry-free.
Customer Images
7790 people shipped using A-1 Auto Transport last week
Scratch-Free Guarantee
Vetted Carriers
Transparent Costs
Customer Ratings By Feature
Value for Money ★★★★★ 4.9
Vehicle Care ★★★★★ 4.9
Fast Delivery ★★★★★ 4.9
Friendly Staff ★★★★★ 4.9
Globe
190+
Countries
Served
Car
2M+
Delivered
Services
Car
97%
Customer
Recommended
Dave loved the fast deliveryDave C.
★★★★★
Dave loved the fast delivery
My relocation to Chicago was fast, smooth and without any delay thanks to A1 Auto.
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidanceCourtney J.
★★★★★
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidance
Just what you need when trusting someone with your wheels! Kudos to this company!
Jeff enjoyed the fair priceJeff D.
★★★★★
Jeff enjoyed the fair price
Moved my ride hassle-free with these folks.Fair pricing, no surprises. Definitely recommend them!
Maria enjoyed the special care and safetyMaria L.
★★★★★
Maria enjoyed the special care and safety
Huge thanks to the movers – they were meticulous with my car. Love these guys.
Recently featured on USA Today

“A1 Auto Transport became synonymous with top-notch service delivery, unfailing punctuality and constantly preoccupied with customer satisfaction.

See Article— USA Today

Container Car Shipping FAQ And Answers

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. What Is A Car Shipping Container?
  2. Why Use Containerized Auto Transport?
  3. What Are There Options Besides Container Shipping?
  4. How Does Container Auto Transport Work?
  5. What Type Of Vehicles Can Be Shipped In A Container?
Vehicles Can Be Shipped In A Container

In this blog post, we address some of the common questions we hear from customers about the topic of containerized auto transport, or shipping a car inside a container. While it’s not the most common method of auto transport, use of a shipping container is still used from time to time, especially for overseas and international transport.

What Is A Car Shipping Container?

A shipping container, sometimes called an intermodal container, is a large, rectangular steel box that is used in the cargo transport industry. The term “intermodal” refers to the fact that the shipping containers can be moved from one type of transport to another: they can be moved by ship, rail, truck, or plane.

A car shipping container is specially designed to keep the vehicle secured during the transport process. Because car shipping containers can be moved from one mode of transport to another over the course of a long trip, it’s essential that the vehicle be firmly held in place and protected during shipping (see the “How Does It Work?” section below for more on this.)

A-1 Auto Transport Ships Worldwide.
Get a Free, No Obligation to Buy, Auto Shipping Quote.
Get my free quote now
or call us to do it for you:

Why Use Containerized Auto Transport?

Container car shipping is most frequently used for international and overseas auto transport. When overland shipping isn’t an option, transport by boat is really the only logical choice, unless you plan to spend a significant amount on air freight. Part of the reason that container shipping is a popular choice for international auto transport is that you can also ship personal belongings along with your vehicle. This aspect of containerized transport has some obvious benefits if you’re making a permanent or long-term move to another country. Standard modes of auto shipping require that personal items be removed from the car.

Shipping a car to another country? Use this map of the world’s sea ports to find the most convenient port location for where your vehicle is headed.

Container Car Shipping Faq And Answers

What Are There Options Besides Container Shipping?

The other option for car shipping by boat is a method called “roll on, roll off,” or RORO auto transport. This entails the vehicle being driven into a holding area under the ship, where it is then secured and delivered before being driven off the boat at the shipping port. For more information about RORO car shipping, you can read our informational page here.

How Does Container Auto Transport Work?

After choosing a company to work with and arranging the transport dates, they will pick up your car for transport to the nearest shipping port where it will be loaded into a car shipping container. During this process, the battery is disconnected and the vehicle is secured using industrial strength tie downs and blocking to keep it place. If you don’t need the full use of a 20’ or 40’ container, ask about a discount for a “Less than Container Load,” which allows the shipper to combine smaller shipments into one container at a reduced cost.

What Type Of Vehicles Can Be Shipped In A Container?

Shipping a car in a container does mean there are some limits to the space available, though it remains an option for most vehicle types. Car shipping containers are roughly 8 feet wide and 8 feet high, which means there’s plenty of space for most standard sized cars and trucks. Containers are either 20 feet or 40 feet long (car shipping containers are often the smaller of the two), which makes it easy to move multiple cars at once, if needed. An added benefit or using a container for overseas shipping is that personal items can be stored along with the vehicle since there is ample room.

Have other questions about containerized car shipping? Feel free to send us an email with your request or give us a call at 1-800-518-8708!

Options Besides Container Shipping
Share this content on social media for a chance to get up to 20% off your next shipment.
Copy link

Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

Email Me


Testimonial
Mylene Rutllant
It’s my number one pick in auto shipping to this day.
★★★★★

...my choice in terms of auto transport has to be A1 Auto Transport. It’s in the name, but also in the quality with which they do their jobs. I’ve never had a problem with this company.

Testimonial
Luis Rodriguez
You have my full support and recommendation!
★★★★★

A1 Auto Transport... From the get go, they were very different from my past options. Their website was very professional and up to date, full of useful information. I requested a quote using their online form, and I got an email response within an hour. Surprisingly fast!

Testimonial by Cristine Benoit
Cristine Benoit
I can safely say this is a legit company that will get the job done.
★★★★★

There are a lot of options for auto transport these days, which surprisingly makes it harder to find a good company. I received more than 10 offers to ship my car, but I couldn’t decide on any of them... Fortunately, I made the right choice with A1 Auto Transport.

Testimonial
David Osallo
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10!
★★★★★

We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10! We chose them to move our car from California to Vermont, since we needed professionals.

Visit our social, and see what our clients are saying about us:

Ship Your Vehicle With A-1 Auto Today
Get an instant free Quote Now

Or Call Us Today and Speak Directly to Our Sales Team:

Call Us 1-888-230-9116

Our Partners:

Better Business Bureau Accredited
FMCSA Member
INC. 500 Member
VeriSign Secured
AMSA Member

A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
Copyright © 1988-2024, A-1 Auto Transport - All Rights Reserved.