Ro-Ro Shipping from China: Complete Guide for Importers

If you import cars, trucks, buses, tractors or wheeled construction equipment from China, Ro-Ro is usually the cheapest and least damaging way to move them. The cargo drives on at one end and drives off at the other. Nothing gets dismantled, nothing gets stuffed into a steel box.

The trade-off is control: Ro-Ro sailings are far less frequent than container services, the cargo sits on open decks, and the carrier imposes strict rules on fuel, battery charge and what may be left inside the vehicle. This guide covers what importers actually need to know — what qualifies, what it costs, how long it takes, and where shipments get stuck.

Related: if your cargo is oversized but not self-propelled, Ro-Ro is the wrong answer — see our guide to special containers and out-of-gauge (OOG) cargo. If it fits in a box, start with FCL vs LCL.

1. What Cargo Actually Qualifies

The rule of thumb is simple: it rolls, or it can be put on something that rolls.

• Self-propelled vehicles — passenger cars, vans, trucks, buses, tractor units
• Wheeled machinery — wheel loaders, wheeled excavators, rollers, forklifts, boom lifts
• Tracked equipment — excavators, bulldozers, crawler cranes (mats and carrier approval usually required)
• Towable and non-self-propelled units — trailers, semi-trailers, motorhomes, and fixed equipment loaded onto Ro-Ro rolltrailers (Mafi)
• Volume vehicle orders — multi-unit shipments, where Ro-Ro per-unit economics beat stuffing containers one by one

It is not suitable for loose or palletised cargo, goods that need to be stacked, or static plant that can neither drive nor be practically placed on rolltrailers. Those belong in containers or on breakbulk vessels.

2. Ro-Ro vs Container: How to Decide

Short version: if it drives and you have volume, book Ro-Ro. If it must be craned and is oversized, use special containers or breakbulk. For anything in between, ask your forwarder to quote both options on a landed-cost basis — never compare just the ocean freight line.

3. The Shipping Process, Step by Step

1. Feasibility and quotation — send item name, number of units, dimensions (L × W × H) per unit, weight per unit, origin and destination port. Ro-Ro pricing is based on space and unit type, not container count.
2. Booking and space confirmation — Ro-Ro capacity is limited. Peak periods and EV shipments fill early. Booking must be secured well ahead of your planned departure date, with confirmed ports of call and cut-off times.
3. Delivery to port — units are driven or towed to the Ro-Ro terminal by the agreed cut-off. Fuel level, battery state of charge and contents inside the vehicle must already meet carrier rules (see section 5).
4. Export customs clearance in China — declared under the correct description and HS code, with contract, invoice, packing list and customs authorisation. Vehicles additionally require identification data and, depending on the case, export licences or conformity documents.
5. Loading — drivers load the vessel via ramps, or terminal operators use rolltrailers. Cargo is then secured for the voyage per the carrier's stowage plan.
6. Tracking — you receive the bill of lading, vessel and voyage details, and an ETA for the destination port.
7. Destination clearance and delivery — bill of lading release, import clearance, terminal pick-up and inland delivery. Check the destination country's vehicle import rules before you ship, not after.

4. Documents and Compliance

• Commercial invoice and packing list — listing each unit with model, quantity, unit value and total value; dimensions and weights must match what was declared for booking
• Vehicle identification — VIN, engine number and year of manufacture are typically required for both export declaration and destination clearance
• Export eligibility in China — used-vehicle export is a regulated activity that must be handled through qualified exporters; new vehicles move under ordinary trade rules. Rules change, so confirm current requirements
• Destination market access — age limits, emission standards, left- or right-hand drive, and type approval all differ by country. A shipment that fails these tests can be refused at destination even with perfect shipping documents
• Insurance — Ro-Ro cargo is exposed on open decks and during ramp handling. Insure at full commercial value rather than the minimum declared value

5. EVs and Lithium Battery Vehicles: Extra Rules

Pure electric and hybrid vehicles fall under dangerous goods Class 9 (UN3171 / UN3166). Carriers apply additional conditions, typically including:

• State of charge limits — the traction battery state of charge (SOC) must be limited to 30%; the exact figure is set by the carrier
• Dangerous goods declaration — MSDS, UN number and battery details, submitted and approved before loading
• Fuel and isolation requirements — combustion vehicles must be below the permitted fuel level; EVs may need to be placed in a specified transport mode or isolated
• No personal effects — nothing may be left inside the vehicle; destination customs inspect for this

Related: for battery compliance in general — UN38.3 testing, packaging and documentation — see our lithium battery shipping guide and battery import requirements.

6. Where the Money Goes

When you request a quote, always give dimensions, weight, unit count and whether each unit is self-propelled. A 20-tonne excavator and a 3-tonne excavator are both "one machine" — the freight is not comparable.

7. Mistakes That Cost Importers Money

1. Wrong fuel level or battery charge — cargo is refused or reworked at the terminal, risking the cut-off and rebooking costs
2. Inaccurate dimensions or weights — Ro-Ro stowage is planned by measurement; misdeclaration means rolled cargo or surcharges
3. No dangerous goods declaration for EVs — carriers can refuse to load
4. Items left inside vehicles — customs seizure, fines and delivery delays
5. Market access not checked in advance — the most expensive error. Discovering at destination that the vehicle cannot be imported leaves it stuck at port or needing re-export
6. Rate quoted, space not booked — a quotation is not a booking. Ro-Ro space is genuinely scarce; insist on confirmed space before you commit to a sailing date

FAQ: Ro-Ro Shipping from China

Is Ro-Ro cheaper than shipping in a container?

For volume vehicle and self-propelled machinery shipments, usually yes — you avoid stuffing, dismantling and internal lashing. If your cargo already fits a container without exceeding limits, container services may win on frequency and flexibility. Quote both and compare the landed cost.

Can non-self-propelled equipment ship by Ro-Ro?

Yes. It is placed on rolltrailers (Mafi) and towed on and off, which adds rolltrailer and securing charges. The handling method must be agreed with the carrier and terminal in advance.

Why are Ro-Ro sailings so infrequent?

Ro-Ro vessels call at fewer ports than container ships, so a given route may only offer a weekly or fortnightly sailing. Treat the sailing schedule as the primary planning constraint rather than fixing a shipping date first.

What do I need to know about exporting EVs?

Three things: battery charge limited to 30% as required by the carrier, a completed Class 9 dangerous goods declaration with supporting documents, and confirmed market access and type approval at destination. Miss any one and the unit either does not load or does not clear.

Can GO Logistics handle Ro-Ro shipments end to end?

Yes. We arrange Ro-Ro routing, space booking, China export clearance, rolltrailer and securing arrangements, and destination clearance and delivery — and we will quote a special container alternative alongside it so you can compare. Send dimensions, weights, unit count and destination port for a quote within 24 hours.