RoRo Vehicle Export: The Complete Documents Checklist

Exporting vehicles via Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) vessels is generally faster and cheaper than container shipping for standard cars, SUVs, and light trucks — but it lives and dies on paperwork. A single missing or incorrect document can hold a vehicle at port for weeks. Here's the full checklist.

Before you book

1. Clear, transferable title The vehicle's title (or equivalent ownership document) must be in the exporter's name, free of liens, and match the VIN exactly. Any discrepancy between the title and the physical VIN plate will flag the shipment at both origin and destination customs.

2. Bill of sale / commercial invoice States the purchase price and terms of sale — this is what customs uses to assess import duty at destination, so the declared value needs to be accurate and defensible.

3. Export declaration Most countries require a formal export declaration above a certain vehicle value (in the US, for example, this is filed through AES — the Automated Export System). Confirm your origin country's threshold before booking.

Documents required at the origin port

• Booking confirmation from the shipping line or forwarder, specifying vessel, sailing date, and RoRo terminal.
• Vehicle inspection/condition report, typically including timestamped photos of all four sides, odometer reading, and existing damage — this protects you if a damage claim is filed later.
• Certificate of title (original, not a copy) — most RoRo terminals will not load a vehicle without physically holding the original title until it's handed to the shipping line's agent.
• Power of attorney if a freight forwarder is filing export paperwork on your behalf.

Documents required at destination

• Bill of lading (the shipping line issues this once the vehicle is loaded — you'll need the original or a telex release to claim the vehicle at destination).
• Import declaration / customs entry, filed by your destination customs broker.
• Certificate of origin, if the destination country's trade agreement or duty rate depends on where the vehicle was manufactured.
• Roadworthiness / compliance certificate, required by many countries before a vehicle can be registered — this can include emissions testing, safety inspection, or conversion to meet local standards (e.g. lighting, speedometer units).
• Import permit, required in some countries before the vehicle even ships, not after arrival — check this early, since retroactively obtaining one can take months.

Country-specific traps to check before you book

• Age restrictions. A number of countries restrict or heavily tax the import of vehicles above a certain age (commonly 3, 5, or 8 years).
• Left-hand vs right-hand drive. Some countries prohibit importing a vehicle with the "wrong" steering configuration for their roads entirely — there's no conversion that satisfies the requirement.
• Emissions standards. Vehicles that don't meet the destination country's current emissions class can be refused registration even after successfully clearing customs.

The Country Database lists driving side, voltage, and general document requirements per destination as a starting point — but always confirm current rules with your destination customs broker before booking, since vehicle import rules change more frequently than general cargo rules.

Estimating cost

Vehicle dimensions and weight drive RoRo pricing more than declared value does. Run your vehicle's specs through the RoRo Calculator to get an indicative ocean freight, port charges, and documentation fee estimate before you commit to a booking.