Selecting a shipping method when importing a JDM car requires careful consideration and evaluation of different shipping methods to ensure you pick the most suitable way to ship your prized possession. From selecting the best shipping methods to carefully evaluating the pros and cons of each, each step during evaluation can help streamline the shipping process and safeguard the car’s condition during shipping.
Key Takeaways
- RoRo and container shipping are key methods for transporting JDM cars.
- Understanding each method helps in selecting the most suitable option.
- The pros and cons of each method affect the choice for best results.
In this article, we cover the two methods of sea shipping for JDM cars, RoRo (roll on, roll off) and container shipping, the most widely used shipping methods for JDM cars. We’ll explain what each method entails, list the pros and cons, and give advice on the instances in which each method is best applicable.
What Is RoRo Shipping?
RoRo shipping (short for “roll on, roll off” shipping) is a shipping method mainly used to ship machinery and vehicles, in this case, JDM cars, from Japan to the United States. It’s the most commonly used shipping method for JDM cars due to its straightforwardness and cost-effectiveness, which comes in handy, especially with current JDM car prices requiring you to save every penny possible in the importation process.
How Does RoRo Shipping Work?
After you buy a JDM car and agree on shipping with your shipping agent or the JDM car dealership you purchased the car from, the car is driven to the nearest port of departure. It’s then driven onto a RoRo ship, which is purpose-built to accommodate wheeled cargo. After the car is parked, it’s secured onto the ship’s deck using straps, wheel chocks, or other means to prevent movement that might cause damage during transit.
Upon reaching your selected destination port, the JDM car is unloaded and driven off the ship using the same ramps used during loading. It’s then up to you to contact the port to notify them of the car’s arrival, and you’ll be contacted and informed when the vehicle will be available for pickup and the maximum amount of time it can stay in the port.
Pros of RoRo Shipping:
RoRo shipping is the cheapest and most straightforward method to ship a JDM car, but it has some disadvantages that outweigh the advantages depending on the JDM car you’re importing. So, what are the pros and cons of using RoRo shipping when importing a JDM car?
Cost Effective
Shipping a JDM car using RoRo shipping is more cost-effective than other methods. The reason why it’s cheaper is that it doesn’t require intensive labor, and RoRo ships are specifically designed to maximize loading space, reducing wasted cargo area and thus keeping shipping costs per vehicle relatively low. This is where the economies of scale come into play since shipping costs are spread across multiple vehicles, reducing the per-unit shipping cost.
The operation simplicity also helps lower the costs since no special equipment is required to load the cars onto the ship, unlike when shipping JDM cars through container shipping. This simplicity eliminates complexity, which can significantly increase shipping prices.
Simple and Quick Loading And Unloading
Quick loading and unloading during RoRo shipping mainly benefits the shipping company and your shipping agent. Still, it also helps lower shipping costs and reduces the chance of your JDM car getting damaged during loading and unloading. The only time the vehicle is at risk of getting damaged is when the ship is at sea, and we’ll explain how that might happen in a bit.
Fewer Vehicle Size Limitations
When using RoRo shipping to import a JDM car from Japan to the United States, you can import any vehicle size, be it a truck, SUV, or a Kei car. Special vehicles such as fire trucks can also be shipped using RoRo shipping since most ships don’t have vehicle size limitations. However, you incur more shipping costs depending on how much space the JDM car you’re shipping takes up on the deck.
Cons of RoRo Shipping:
A Slower Shipping Method
When importing a JDM car, the anxiety and excitement are cured when the vehicle finally lands at the port, and you collect it, so a quicker shipping method is the only remedy. However, when using RoRo shipping, you’ll have to wait for around three weeks to two months, depending on your location. RoRo ships take a while to fill, considering the number of vehicles and other equipment needed.
Another reason it might take a while for a JDM car to get to the United States through RoRo shipping is that most RoRo ships make several stops before getting to the final destination, which might be yours. Additionally, priority is given to new cars from major manufacturers, for example, Toyota and Nissan, who ship tons of cars at once, so it might take a while before your JDM car gets a shipping allocation.
Limited Vehicle Protection
RoRo shipping doesn’t offer the same level of vehicle protection as container shipping since vehicles are exposed to weather and handling damage. This is one of the reasons why JDM cars are often found with damp interiors, faded paint, scratched and dented body panels, and, in some cases, body panel damage, for example, cracked bumpers and doors.
Additional Items Limitations
Cars shipped on RoRo ships are cleaned out before being loaded onto the ship’s decks, removing anything not attached to the vehicle. If you have a JDM car with an extra set of wheels or aftermarket upgrades from Japan that are not installed, you’ll have to find alternative shipping methods for these parts or consider container shipping to import the car with the parts.
Insecure
It’s not once that JDM cars have disappeared during RoRo shipping, with most owners saying that vehicles didn’t get to the port or disappeared after getting there. Container shipping is safer since it’s harder for a container to get stolen or disappear than for a single car to go missing.
When Should You Use RoRo Shipping?
Importing a JDM car is a tricky affair, and choosing the proper shipping method is one of the significant factors you must prioritize. RoRo shipping is applicable for all kinds of JDM cars, but importing some vehicles, such as highly valuable JDM cars, through container shipping is better.
If you are importing an extremely clean or valuable JDM car, such as a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, it would be best to use container shipping to protect the car’s condition and keep it safe. Cheaper cars are the type of cars you should ship using RoRo shipping since a few scratches and minor damage that might occur during shipping are easy and inexpensive to fix.
Larger JDM cars, such as trucks, vans, and SUVs, are easier to ship using RoRo shipping as most are too broad and tall to fit in containers. If they fit in containers, some parts, such as the wheels, might need to be removed, and the risk of dents and scratches is high.
Check destination locations, as not all ports can support RoRo ships. RoRo ships require unique infrastructure to load and unload, but since unloading mainly affects you as the buyer, find a port near you that is equipped to handle RoRo ships.
What Is Container Shipping?
Container shipping is a relatively costly method of shipping a JDM car, but it has more advantages than RoRo shipping, making it a better shipping method. Instead of cars being loaded onto a ship’s deck, they are loaded into containers before being loaded onto a deck, which has far more advantages than RoRo shipping. Before we get to the pros and cons of container shipping, how does it work?
Depending on the container option, you could get a one-car or multiple-car container when shipping a car from Japan to the United States. A one-car container is the best option if you have a rare JDM car or one you’d love to keep safe and in good condition until it lands. Also, a one-car container is the best option if you have extra add-ons such as wheels, a wing, and some spares that come with the car.
How Does Container Shipping Work?
Cars are inspected before being loaded into containers and are secured mainly using tie-down straps and wheel chocks to prevent motion when at sea. In some cases, cars are loaded into containers at the port, but most are loaded at the collection depot or the shipping agency and then taken to the dock via road or rail.
At the port, the car is loaded onto a container ship and other cargo in containers using cranes to minimize accident risks. Upon arrival at its destination port, the container is unloaded and inspected by customs before it is transported to its final destination, where you or your shipping agent can unload the car.
Pros of Container Shipping:
Protection Against Weather Conditions and Damage
The container the car gets shipped in protects it against weather conditions and damage and increases the chances of getting it like it left the auction house in Japan. Also, the container loading process is done slowly and carefully to prevent scratching or denting the body panels, and the car gets strapped tight in the container to avoid damage causing movement during shipping.
More Secure Than RoRo Shipping
After a car gets loaded into a container, it’s locked and sealed and can only be opened and unsealed by customs at the port, then closed and resealed again before it gets unsealed for unloading. All this is to ensure the car and whatever else is in the container remain safe against theft and vandalism during shipping and transportation to the unloading location.
Allows You To Ship Other Items With the Vehicle
If the car comes with extras such as an extra set of wheels, a body kit, or replacement parts if it’s faulty, you can ship them with the car inside the container. This is common, especially for buyers who are buying cars not in their best condition and want to save on shipping costs since, in most cases, you won’t be charged extra to add a few extra things inside the container, especially if it’s a one-car container.
Quicker Shipping Method
Importing a JDM car and using container shipping to get it to the United States might not be quicker than shipping via air, but it’s faster than using RoRo shipping. Container ships are loaded with containers containing different items, so you don’t have to wait for them to fill up or be allocated a spot. On average, containers are shipped out weekly, so your car takes a shorter period to land at the destination port.
Cons of Container Shipping:
Costly Than RoRo Shipping
Container shipping requires a container to be leased or bought, thus increasing handling, shipping, and customs expenses more than when using RoRo shipping. The cost goes even higher when you choose to use a one-car or two-car container, usually a 40-ft container, but if you value your JDM car, it’s a small price to pay for the protection and security it gets.
Vehicle Size Limitations
JDM trucks, pickups, and vans are not commonly shipped in containers due to size limitations, so if you’re importing one of these, RoRo shipping is the best option. Containers are limited to height, length, and width, which might not be enough to accommodate these vehicles, especially in multicar containers. The cars are sometimes stored in decks or lifted inside the container to increase loading room, thus making containers unsuitable for larger cars.
When Should You Use Container Shipping?
Container shipping works best for valuable JDM cars that need extra protection from weather elements, vandalism, and damage that might occur during shipping. The container shields the vehicle from the said factors as it remains locked until it arrives at the destination port, where it’s opened for inspection before being closed again for transit to its final destination.
Non-running JDM cars can also be shipped through container shipping since the vehicle is only moved during loading and unloading. This is unlike RoRo shipping, where the vehicle has to be driven to be loaded, unloaded, and moved during shipping to clear the way for other vehicles.
Which is best for JDM Imports? RoRo Shipping or Container Shipping?
With its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and streamlined handling process, RORO shipping is a favorable option for JDM car owners seeking a straightforward and cheap shipping method. It offers efficiency in loading and unloading, catering well to standard-sized vehicles. Still, the car’s safety and condition might be compromised during shipping, making container shipping preferable, especially for high-end JDM cars.
Container shipping shines in its ability to safeguard valuable and non-running JDM cars. A container’s secure, weather-protected environment offers a shield against external elements, ensuring added protection and privacy, but at a potentially higher cost than when using RoRo shipping to import a JDM car.
Ultimately, when importing a JDM car, the choice between RoRo and container shipping hinges on several factors, mostly revolving around the car’s condition, value, and type. Personal preference also matters. You might want quick shipping, but you only have a budget that allows you to use RoRo shipping since container shipping, being the speedier method, is slightly more costly.
Deciding on the shipping method remains challenging for JDM car owners aiming to import their prized possessions. After waiting ages to get the car you dreamed of in the spec you want, you need to select a shipping method that works best for you and the vehicle, guaranteeing it arrives in the same condition you saw it leave Japan. Through this article, we’ve shed enough light on the two most commonly used shipping methods, highlighting the pros and cons of each, which should help you make an informed decision the next time you import a JDM car to the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the costs of RoRo and container shipping compare?
The cost of Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) shipping is generally lower than that of container shipping. With RoRo, vehicles are simply driven onto a ship and secured, which involves less handling and equipment. On the other hand, container shipping often includes fees for loading, unloading, and renting the container, which can add to the overall expense.
What are the main benefits of using RoRo shipping for vehicles?
RoRo shipping offers several advantages for transporting vehicles. Convenience is a major factor, as vehicles can be driven directly onto the ship without the need for loading cranes. Additionally, RoRo services are widely accessible at various ports, making it a viable option for many shippers.
What are some of the negative aspects of RoRo shipping?
Despite its benefits, RoRo shipping has some drawbacks. One potential issue is limited security, as vehicles are left on the deck, making them susceptible to environmental exposure and potential theft. Another concern is restricted cargo type, as RoRo is best suited for wheeled vehicles.
When is container shipping more advantageous than RoRo?
Container shipping is more beneficial in scenarios where security and protection are top priorities. Containers offer a sealed environment that shields vehicles from weather and unauthorized access. This option is also preferable when shipping high-value or sensitive items that need extra safety.
How does cargo safety differ between RoRo and container shipping?
Containers provide a higher level of security, offering protection from the elements and reducing the risk of theft. In contrast, RoRo shipping exposes vehicles to the open deck, making them more vulnerable to weather conditions and other risks during transport.
Which types of cargo are suited for RoRo shipping instead of container shipping?
RoRo shipping is ideal for wheeled vehicles like cars, trucks, and heavy machinery. These vehicles can be easily driven onto the ship, eliminating the need for extra lifting equipment. When it comes to larger vehicles or those with significant weight, RoRo is often the more practical choice.
