--- title: "Car Shipping From Dubai Overseas: RoRo vs Container Cost Guide" description: "Car shipping Dubai overseas: RoRo vs container cost breakdown, RTA export certificate, destination customs, and how to choose the right method." canonical: "https://samadubaimovers.com/blog/car-shipping-dubai-overseas-roro-container-guide" source: "https://samadubaimovers.com/blog/car-shipping-dubai-overseas-roro-container-guide" site: "SAMA Movers" author: "Omar Hassan, Operations Manager" category: "Cost Guides" published: "2026-04-21" tags: "car shipping, Dubai, overseas, export, Jebel Ali" --- # Car Shipping From Dubai Overseas: RoRo vs Container Cost Guide > RoRo is 40% cheaper than container shipping out of Jebel Ali but skips insurance. Here's the cost split by destination and when each method actually wins. A Toyota Land Cruiser from Dubai to Mombasa on RoRo costs AED 4,800. The same vehicle in a 20ft container costs AED 8,200. Same ship, same departure date, different methods — and which one you pick depends on a lot more than price. This is the breakdown for overseas car export from Dubai, specifically. For inter-emirate car transport (Dubai to Sharjah, Dubai to Ajman), our [inter-emirate car shifting guide](https://samadubaimovers.com/blog/car-shifting-dubai-sharjah-ajman-guide) covers that separately — it's a completely different service. ## RoRo vs Container — The Honest Difference ### RoRo (Roll-on / Roll-off) Your vehicle is driven onto a specialised car-carrier vessel and secured to the deck. It arrives drivable at the destination port. Faster processing, cheaper freight, but: - **No personal belongings allowed inside.** Customs worldwide reject RoRo shipments with items in the vehicle. - **Insurance is limited.** RoRo carriers offer basic liability only — AED 15,000-25,000 maximum coverage. For a vehicle worth AED 180K, that's a rounding error. - **Weather exposure.** Vehicles sit on open or semi-covered decks. Arrive-as-is, including any salt spray or wind damage. - **No classic or luxury cars.** Most RoRo operators exclude vehicles over AED 300K or with documented collector status. ### Container Shipping (20ft or 40ft) The vehicle is strapped inside a steel container, sealed at Jebel Ali, and only reopened at the destination. More expensive, more protected: - **Personal goods allowed alongside.** Up to 500kg typically — furniture, boxes, household items. The household goods must be listed on the bill of lading. - **Full declared-value insurance available.** Up to 100% of vehicle value at 0.8-1.5% premium. - **Fully protected from weather.** Sealed steel box — no salt, no wind, no exposure. - **Accepts all vehicle types.** Classic cars, luxury sedans, modified 4x4s. ## Destination Cost Table (Dubai Export) All prices are for mid-size sedans or SUVs (not supercars). Includes Jebel Ali handling, ocean freight, and basic destination port charges but excludes destination customs duties, inland delivery, and insurance. | Destination | RoRo | 20ft Container | Transit Time | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | India (Mumbai) | AED 3,200 - 4,200 | AED 6,500 - 8,500 | 12-18 days | | Kenya (Mombasa) | AED 4,500 - 5,500 | AED 7,500 - 9,500 | 14-20 days | | UK (Felixstowe) | AED 5,800 - 7,200 | AED 9,500 - 12,500 | 25-35 days | | Australia (Sydney) | AED 6,500 - 8,500 | AED 11,000 - 14,500 | 30-40 days | | South Africa (Durban) | AED 3,800 - 5,200 | AED 7,000 - 9,200 | 18-24 days | | Nigeria (Lagos) | AED 4,200 - 5,800 | AED 7,500 - 10,000 | 20-28 days | Add AED 2,000-4,500 for marine insurance on container shipments. RoRo insurance (if any) is typically AED 400-800 and covers only liability, not vehicle value. ## The RTA Export Certificate Process Before your car leaves Dubai, the RTA requires an export certificate. This is non-negotiable — no export certificate, no shipping approval. The process: - **Pay outstanding fines on the vehicle.** RTA won't issue an export certificate if any Salik, parking, or traffic fine is open. - **Cancel the insurance policy.** Must be cancelled before export, not after. - **Deregister at RTA vehicle registration centre.** Eligible RTA branches are Umm Ramool and Al Barsha. Allow a full morning. - **Obtain the export plate.** Temporary red export plates issued by RTA, valid for 30 days. - **Pay the export certificate fee.** AED 300-400 depending on vehicle type. - **Hand over ownership card.** RTA retains this; they issue an export certificate instead. This process takes 3-5 working days from start to finish. Shipping schedules at Jebel Ali run on weekly cycles — miss one window, wait another week. Budget 3-4 weeks from 'decision to ship' to 'car on the water.' ## Destination Customs — The Hidden Cost Jebel Ali export is the cheap part. Destination duties are the expensive part. Approximate import duties on used vehicles: - **India:** 125-165% of vehicle value (often prohibitive) - **Kenya:** 25% duty + 16% VAT + 2% import declaration + age-based depreciation - **UK:** 10% duty + 20% VAT on CIF value; personal effects relief possible if you're relocating - **Australia:** 5% duty + 10% GST + Luxury Car Tax if above threshold; strict asbestos compliance - **South Africa:** 25-36% duty + VAT; ITAC import permit required - **Nigeria:** 20% duty + 7.5% VAT + 5% ECOWAS levy; maximum age restrictions For a AED 180,000 Land Cruiser to Australia, destination duties alone can hit AED 50,000+. Factor this in before deciding to ship. Often, selling in Dubai and buying at destination is the better financial play. ## When to Pick Which Method **Pick RoRo when:** - Vehicle value is under AED 120K - You're shipping only the car (no personal effects) - Cost is the primary driver - Destination is India, Kenya, or other common RoRo routes - You're willing to accept limited insurance **Pick Container when:** - Vehicle value is above AED 150K - You want personal goods shipped alongside the car - Vehicle is classic, luxury, or modified - Destination is UK, Europe, US, or Australia (more regulatory scrutiny) - You want full declared-value insurance ## SAMA's Car Shipping Workflow We coordinate the full Jebel Ali export on your behalf — RTA deregistration, export certificate, shipping line booking, insurance, and destination agent handoff. Our [international movers service](https://samadubaimovers.com/blog/best-international-movers-dubai-fidi-guide) includes the end-to-end paperwork. For clients combining a car with household goods, we load both into one 40ft container, which is almost always cheaper than shipping them separately. See our [international relocation guide](https://samadubaimovers.com/blog/moving-from-dubai-international-guide) for the combined shipment structure. [Our Jebel Ali movers page](https://samadubaimovers.com/movers-in-dubai/jebel-ali) has port-specific logistics. [Request a car shipping quote](https://samadubaimovers.com/#estimate) with your destination and vehicle details and we'll return a full cost sheet within 48 hours. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How long does it take to ship a car from Dubai overseas? From booking to destination arrival: 4-7 weeks for most routes. RTA deregistration takes 3-5 days, Jebel Ali loading and departure another 3-10 days, ocean transit 12-40 days depending on destination, and destination customs clearance 3-14 days. Plan for at least 6 weeks total. ### Can I put household goods inside my car for RoRo shipping? No. RoRo shipments are rejected worldwide if personal items are inside the vehicle — this is a firm rule with no exceptions at destination customs. If you need to ship belongings with the car, use container shipping instead; most 20ft containers can hold the vehicle plus 500-800kg of boxes. ### Is RoRo safe for expensive cars? Not recommended for vehicles above AED 150K. RoRo insurance caps typically at AED 15-25K — a fraction of luxury vehicle value — and exposure to weather, salt spray, and minor handling damage is higher than container shipping. For any vehicle above AED 150K, containerise with full declared-value insurance. ### Do I need to be in the UAE for the RTA export process? Yes — the registered owner must appear in person at RTA for deregistration, or provide a notarised Power of Attorney to SAMA or another authorised agent. POA notarisation costs AED 250-400 and allows us to handle the full export on your behalf if you've already relocated. --- ## About SAMA Movers SAMA Movers is a licensed moving company serving Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman: villa and apartment moves, office relocation, packing, furniture moving, handyman work and storage. - Website: https://samadubaimovers.com - Phone: 054 552 0191 - Email: info@samadubaimovers.com - Address: Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, Dubai, UAE - Canonical HTML version of this page: https://samadubaimovers.com/blog/car-shipping-dubai-overseas-roro-container-guide