Vehicle shipping, import and export in Dubai

Container or roll-on roll-off

Vehicles move by sea either inside a container or on a roll-on roll-off vessel. Containerised shipping encloses the vehicle, which suits high-value, classic and non-running units, and allows one or more vehicles to be braced and secured inside a standard or high-cube container. It also permits the vehicle to be shipped alongside other cargo where that is accepted.

Roll-on roll-off carries running vehicles that are driven on and off the vessel. It can be economical for standard cars and commercial units, but the vehicle travels on an open deck rather than enclosed, and it must be in running condition to board.

Which is appropriate follows the vehicle, its value, its condition and the route available. Non-running units, vehicles with modifications, and anything where surface condition matters are usually better containerised.

Documents and customs treatment

Vehicle shipments are document-led. Customs treatment depends on the vehicle's status — new or used, personal or commercial, permanent import or temporary admission — and each of those needs a different file. The single most common cause of delay is a mismatch between the chassis number on the documents and the chassis number on the vehicle.

For imports into the UAE, the declaration must match the consignee and the intended use, and vehicles are frequently subject to inspection. For exports out of Dubai, the vehicle's UAE registration position has to be resolved before it can leave, including any outstanding obligations against it.

We confirm the document set and the customs route before the vehicle is collected, rather than discovering a gap once it is at the port.

Typically required for a vehicle shipment:

• Original title, registration or ownership document
• Commercial invoice or bill of sale showing the value
• Chassis or VIN number, make, model and year — matching the documents exactly
• Passport or trade licence of the consignee, according to whether it is personal or commercial
• Export or de-registration paperwork where the vehicle is leaving a country of registration
• Photographs of the vehicle and of the chassis plate

Preparing a vehicle for shipping

Vehicles are normally shipped with a minimal fuel level, with the battery secured, and with personal belongings removed. Loose items inside a vehicle are not covered as cargo, can shift in transit, and complicate any inspection at either end.

For roll-on roll-off the vehicle must start, drive and steer. For containerised shipping a non-running vehicle can usually be winched in, but that needs to be known at booking so the right equipment and labour are arranged.

Photographs taken at collection record the condition the vehicle left in, which is worth having if any damage claim arises later.

Commercial vehicles, machinery and fleets

Trucks, buses, plant, agricultural machinery and construction equipment are shipped by the same routes, with the choice between containerised, roll-on roll-off and flat-rack or breakbulk stowage decided by dimensions and weight rather than by category. Machinery above container height normally moves on flat-rack or as breakbulk.

Fleet and multi-unit movements are planned as a single project, with the sequence and equipment set out in advance. Where units are being exported from Dubai to several destinations, consolidating the documentation is usually where the time is saved.

Frequently asked questions