Quick Answer: A standard 40ft container fits 2 cars floor-loaded or 4 cars with a racking system; a 20ft container fits 1 car, or 2 small cars racked. A 40ft high cube adds 1 foot of height for taller SUVs and pickups. Cost per car drops from about $2,400 to $950 as you add units.
- A 40ft standard container holds 2 cars floor-loaded and 3-4 cars with steel racking. A 20ft holds 1 car, or 2 compacts racked.
- Weight caps capacity before space does. A 40ft payload is about 26,500-28,600 kg, but road limits in Colombia and Peru often cut that to 18-20 tonnes.
- Cost per car on Miami→Cartagena falls from about $2,400 for one car to $950-$1,200 for four cars racked. Break-even against RoRo sits at 2 vehicles.
- EV and hybrid cars ship as IMDG Class 9 (UN3480/UN3481) and need a Dangerous Goods Declaration plus a 30-50% state-of-charge limit with most carriers.
Dealers and exporters rarely ship one car at a time. The real question is how many units you can legally stuff into a box before weight, door height, or destination road limits stop you — and this cars per container calculator guide answers that with the same math our operations desk runs on every booking.
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Use the calculator above →How many cars fit in a 40 foot shipping container?
Quick Answer: A 40ft standard container fits 2 cars parked nose-to-tail on the floor, or 3-4 cars using a steel racking system. A 40ft high cube gains 30 cm of interior height, which lets you rack a pickup or SUV over a sedan without folding suspension. Weight limits cap most loads at 4 units.
The internal dimensions decide everything. A 40ft GP measures 12.03 m long × 2.35 m wide × 2.39 m high, with a door opening of 2.34 m × 2.28 m. That door aperture — not the box interior — is what stops a lifted pickup at the threshold.
Floor-loaded, two sedans park nose-to-tail. You need 30-50 cm of lashing clearance at the front bumper and rear bumper. That clearance is not optional: lashing straps run at an angle to the corner castings and need room to work.
Racking changes the math. A steel frame lifts one or two vehicles onto an upper tier at a 15-25° angle. With a 40ft GP you typically get 3 cars — two on the floor, one elevated. With a 40HC at 2.69 m interior height, four sedans become realistic.
That extra 30 cm over a standard 40ft is the single deciding factor for stacking an SUV above a compact. Below 2.39 m, the upper tier only clears a low sedan.
Practical prep matters before the stuffing crew starts. Mirrors get folded or removed, antennas come off, and you leave 10 cm of side clearance per side. Roof racks and spoilers eat into the upper tier faster than most exporters expect.
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Use the calculator above →Can two cars fit in a 20 foot container?
Quick Answer: Yes, two compact cars fit in a 20ft container only with a racking system. Floor-loaded, a 20ft holds one vehicle up to about 5.5 m long. The 5.90 m internal length leaves no room for a second car nose-to-tail, and the 2.28 m door height blocks tall SUVs entirely.
A 20ft GP gives you 5.90 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m inside. Payload sits around 28,200 kg, which you will never reach with passenger cars. Volume runs out long before weight does in a 20ft.
Your realistic load options in a 20ft:
- One sedan or SUV up to 5.5 m bumper-to-bumper, floor-loaded with strap lashing
- One sedan plus one or two motorcycles crated in the nose space
- Two compacts racked at an angle — Corolla, Civic, Fiesta, Yaris class only
- One vehicle plus household goods or spare parts, boxed and separated by dunnage
The 2 cars in one container export configuration from a 20ft only works for sub-4.5 m vehicles. Anything longer and the angled upper tier collides with the door frame during stuffing.
Watch the economics too. A 20ft usually costs 70-80% of a 40ft on Miami→LatAm lanes. That makes it poor value per car unless you genuinely have only one vehicle. Run the numbers in our International Car Shipping Calculator: 2026 Rates before committing to a 20ft booking.
The door opening trap
Exporters measure the container interior and forget the door. A 20ft GP door aperture is 2.34 m wide × 2.28 m high. A RAV4 at 1.69 m clears easily. A Ford Transit high-roof van at 2.55 m does not — even though the box interior is 2.39 m. Always measure the door, not the ceiling.
How do I calculate how many cars fit in a container?
Quick Answer: Take the container's usable internal length, subtract 60-100 cm total for lashing and ramp clearance, then divide by each vehicle's bumper-to-bumper length. Check height separately: stacked cars need vehicle height plus 15-20 cm of rack steel. Then verify combined curb weight stays under the container payload.
Every cars per container calculator runs the same five checks. Here is the sequence our stuffing supervisors use at the Miami CFS.
- Calculate usable length. Internal length minus 0.6-1.0 m for lashing points and ramp clearance at the door end.
- Calculate usable height per tier. Internal height minus 15-20 cm for the rack frame steel above each vehicle.
- Calculate usable width. Internal width minus 20 cm total — 10 cm each side for folded mirrors and door swing during loading.
- Run the weight check. Sum all curb weights plus rack steel, compare against container payload and destination road limits.
- Verify the door opening. The aperture is always narrower and lower than the box interior. Measure the tallest vehicle at its roof peak.
Worked example: two Toyota Camrys in a 40ft GP
Start with 12.03 m internal length. Subtract 0.8 m for lashing and ramp clearance. That leaves 11.23 m of usable length.
A Toyota Camry measures 4.88 m long. Divide 11.23 by 4.88 and you get 2.3 — so two units floor-loaded, nose-to-tail. The leftover 1.4 m becomes buffer space, not a third car.
Add a rack tier and the picture changes. The Camry stands 1.45 m tall. Two tiers at 1.45 m plus 20 cm of rack steel equals 3.10 m — too tall for a 40ft GP at 2.39 m. Angle the upper car at 20° and effective height drops enough to clear in a 40HC at 2.69 m. That is why four-car loads almost always use high cubes.
Pro Tip: use the manufacturer spec, not the listing
Dealer listings round vehicle length. A "4.9 m" sedan may actually be 4.97 m with a tow hitch fitted. Pull the exact bumper-to-bumper figure from the manufacturer spec sheet, then add any aftermarket bumper, hitch, or roof box. Detailed dimension guidance is covered well by IncoDocs on how many cars fit in a shipping container.
Container dimensions, payload and cars per box compared
Quick Answer: Container choice drives both capacity and cost per car. A 20ft GP takes 1-2 vehicles, a 40ft GP takes 2-4, a 40ft HC takes 2-4 including taller SUVs, and a 45ft HC adds 1.5 m of length for a fifth compact. Payload ranges from 21,700 to 28,600 kg.
| Container | Internal L×W×H | Door opening | Tare | Payload | Cars floor-loaded | Cars racked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft GP | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 2.34 × 2.28 m | 2,250 kg | ~28,200 kg | 1 | 2 compacts |
| 40ft GP | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 2.34 × 2.28 m | 3,750 kg | ~26,700 kg | 2 | 3-4 |
| 40ft HC | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | 2.34 × 2.58 m | 3,900 kg | ~26,500 kg | 2 | 4 (SUVs OK) |
| 45ft HC | 13.55 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | 2.34 × 2.58 m | 4,800 kg | ~27,600 kg | 3 compacts | 4-5 |
The 40ft high cube is the workhorse of multi-car export. That 2.58 m door opening swallows an F-150 or a Ford Explorer without drama. The standard 40ft door at 2.28 m does not.
45HC availability is the catch. Equipment supply on Miami→Callao and Miami→Buenaventura services is restricted, and several carriers do not offer 45ft boxes on those rotations at all. Book a 40HC unless your forwarder confirms 45HC equipment in writing.
Cars per container by vehicle class: compact to pickup
Quick Answer: Vehicle class decides the count more than container size. Compacts under 4.4 m fit 4 per 40HC racked. Full-size pickups like the F-150 at 5.89 m fit only 2 per 40ft, and a crew-cab dually may fit just one. Motorcycles fill gaps at 8-12 units per 40ft.
| Vehicle class | Example | Typical L×W×H | Curb weight | Max per 20ft | Max per 40ft GP | Max per 40HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | Toyota Corolla | 4.63 × 1.78 × 1.44 m | 1,350 kg | 2 racked | 3-4 | 4 |
| Mid-size sedan | Toyota Camry | 4.88 × 1.84 × 1.45 m | 1,600 kg | 1 | 3 | 3-4 |
| Compact SUV | Toyota RAV4 | 4.60 × 1.86 × 1.69 m | 1,650 kg | 1 | 2 | 3 racked |
| Full-size SUV | Ford Explorer | 5.05 × 2.00 × 1.78 m | 2,100 kg | 1 | 2 | 2-3 |
| Pickup | Ford F-150 SuperCrew | 5.89 × 2.03 × 1.96 m | 2,180 kg | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Cargo van | Ford Transit LWB | 5.89 × 2.06 × 2.10 m | 2,300 kg | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Motorcycle (crated) | Honda CB500 | 2.10 × 0.80 × 1.10 m | 190 kg | 4-6 | 8-12 | 8-12 |
Pickups are the hardest class to consolidate. An F-150 SuperCrew at 5.89 m uses half the usable length on its own. Two fit floor-loaded in a 40ft, and the 1.96 m roof height usually blocks any rack tier above them.
EVs behave like SUVs on footprint. A Tesla Model Y measures 4.75 m × 1.92 m × 1.62 m at about 1,995 kg. Space-wise it racks fine over a compact. The battery paperwork is what changes, not the loading plan.
Motorcycles are the best filler cargo in the business. Crated bikes slide into the nose gap behind a pair of sedans and add revenue without adding meaningful weight.
Pro Tip: mix classes deliberately
The strongest 40HC loads pair tall with short. Put a RAV4 and an Explorer on the floor, then rack two Corollas above them at an angle. Four identical SUVs almost never fit; two SUVs plus two compacts nearly always do.
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Use the calculator above →When does weight — not space — cap your car count?
Quick Answer: Weight caps capacity whenever you load pickups, EVs or armored vehicles. A 40ft container has about 26,500 kg of payload, but destination road limits are stricter. Colombia and Peru commonly restrict a loaded 40ft to 18-20 tonnes gross on the drayage leg, which trims four heavy SUVs down to three.
Payload is simple arithmetic: max gross weight minus tare equals payload. A 40HC has a tare of about 3,900 kg and an MGW of 30,480 kg. That leaves roughly 26,500 kg of cargo capacity.
Four mid-size sedans at 1,500 kg each total 6,000 kg. Add 400-600 kg of rack steel and you are at 6,600 kg — nowhere near the limit. For ordinary cars, volume is the binding constraint, not weight.
Heavy loads flip that. Four full-size EVs at 2,100 kg each equals 8,400 kg. Add four F-150s instead and you are at 8,720 kg before racking. Still under container payload — but the road leg is a different story.
- Colombia: INVIAS road weight rules and DIAN inspection routing often cap a loaded 40ft at 18-20 tonnes gross on the Cartagena–Bogotá corridor
- Peru: MTC axle limits and SUNAT depot handling similarly restrict the Callao drayage leg
- Mexico: SAT and SCT weight enforcement is tight on the Manzanillo and Veracruz inland routes
- United States: chassis and axle limits can force a heavy box onto a tri-axle at extra cost out of PortMiami
VGM is the other trap. Under SOLAS, the Verified Gross Mass must be declared before the port cut-off — not before the vessel ETD. Those are two different deadlines, usually 48-72 hours apart. Miss the VGM cut-off and the box rolls to the next sailing.
Overweight boxes get rejected at the gate
PortMiami terminals weigh on entry. An overweight 40ft gets turned away, and you pay the trucker for a wasted turn. At destination, an overweight container triggers chassis split fees, special permits, or a partial de-stuff at the bonded CFS. Budget your weight at 90% of the road limit, not 100%.
Racking, floor-loading or stacking: which method fits?
Quick Answer: A car racking system is a bolt-in steel frame that lifts one vehicle above another inside the container, roughly doubling capacity. Floor-loading is cheaper and faster but limits you to two cars per 40ft. Racking costs $350-$700 per container and adds 400-600 kg of steel to the payload.
Floor-loading
Vehicles park nose-to-tail on the container floor. Wheel straps, chocks and ratchet lashings secure each unit to the D-rings. It costs nothing extra beyond labor and takes about 90 minutes per box. It works with non-running vehicles pushed or winched in. The trade-off: two cars per 40ft, maximum.
Steel racking
A reusable or one-way frame with adjustable posts and wheel cradles lifts vehicles onto an upper tier at 15-25°. It roughly doubles capacity and costs $350-$700 per container. Upper-tier cars normally need to drive on or be winched. Stuffing takes 3-4 hours with a trained crew.
Wooden cribbing is the third option. It is cheaper than steel racking but carries a higher damage risk. Several carriers on the Miami–LatAm corridor refuse cribbed loads outright, and insurers price them harder.
The break-even on racking is clear. With two cars, racking rarely pays — you are adding $350-$700 to save nothing. The third vehicle is where racking recovers its cost, and the fourth is pure margin. Safe loading and securing practice is covered in this car shipping containers safety and efficiency guide.
High-value and collector vehicles are a separate conversation. Single-car enclosed handling, soft-strap lashing and photo documentation apply there — see our Classic Car Shipping Calculator: 2026 Rates from $1,850 for that handling tier.
Is it cheaper to ship a car by container or RoRo?
Quick Answer: RoRo is cheaper for one car; container wins from two vehicles up. Miami→Cartagena RoRo runs about $1,150-$1,500 per unit. A 40ft container at $2,300-$3,100 total drops to $1,150-$1,550 per car at two units and $800-$950 at four cars racked.
| Factor | Container (40HC) | RoRo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per car (1 unit) | $2,300–$3,100 | $1,150–$1,500 |
| Cost per car (2 units) | $1,150–$1,550 | $1,150–$1,500 |
| Cost per car (4 units racked) | $850–$1,150 | $1,150–$1,500 |
| Miami→Cartagena transit | 4–7 days | 7–14 days |
| Sailing frequency | Weekly | Every 2–4 weeks |
| Non-running vehicles | Accepted | Rejected |
| Spare parts inside | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Personal effects | Allowed (declared) | Prohibited |
| Security | Sealed, high | Open deck, moderate |
| Marine insurance rate | 1.5%–2.5% of value | 2.0%–3.5% of value |
RoRo has hard rules. The vehicle must run, drive, brake and steer. It must be empty of parts and personal items. Port staff drive it on and off, so keys stay with the terminal.
Container shipping removes all of that. Non-runners get winched in. Spare parts, tires and engine components ride alongside the car. The seal stays intact until customs breaks it — which matters at Buenaventura and Callao, where open-deck theft exposure is real.
Frequency is the quiet advantage. Container services to Cartagena and Callao sail weekly from PortMiami. RoRo calls are less frequent, which can add a week or more of waiting before your car even loads. For lane-specific pricing, see our Car Shipping Calculator: Miami to Colombia Rates & Costs 2026.
Break-even sits at 2 vehicles on most Miami→LatAm lanes. When racking is billed separately, it moves to 3 vehicles. A good international car shipping cost calculator guide walks through the same per-unit logic.
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Use the calculator above →How much does it cost to ship four cars in one container?
Quick Answer: Four cars in a 40ft high cube from PortMiami costs $3,400-$4,600 all-in to Cartagena, or $850-$1,150 per vehicle, racking included. Miami→Callao runs $4,200-$5,400 and Miami→Santo Domingo $2,900-$3,800. Duties, VAT and destination handling are billed separately by the importer's broker.
| Route | 40HC total (racked) | Per car @ 2 units | Per car @ 4 units | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami → Cartagena (COCTA) | $3,400–$4,600 | $1,200–$1,600 | $850–$1,150 | 4–7 days |
| Miami → Santo Domingo (DOHAI) | $2,900–$3,800 | $1,050–$1,400 | $725–$950 | 3–5 days |
| Miami → Callao (PECLL) | $4,200–$5,400 | $1,500–$1,950 | $1,050–$1,350 | 10–14 days |
| Miami → Manzanillo (MXZLO) | $4,000–$5,200 | $1,450–$1,850 | $1,000–$1,300 | 12–16 days |
| Miami → Valparaíso (CLVAP) | $4,600–$6,000 | $1,650–$2,100 | $1,150–$1,500 | 16–21 days |
Miami(USMIA)
Cartagena(COCTA)
Miami(USMIA)
Santo Domingo(DOHAI)
Miami(USMIA)
Callao(PECLL)
On Miami→Cartagena, per-unit cost falls from about $2,400 for a single car to roughly $875 at four racked units. That is the entire economic case for consolidation.
What is shared container car shipping cost?
Consolidation lets you buy slots instead of a whole box. AB Group loads mixed 40HCs weekly out of Miami. You pay for 1 or 2 vehicle positions rather than the full container.
Typical shared container car shipping cost on Miami→Cartagena runs $1,250-$1,700 per vehicle slot. That undercuts a dedicated 20ft and beats RoRo on security. The trade-off is schedule: you sail when the box fills.
All-in versus itemized quotes
An "all-in" number hides moving parts. A true landed quote breaks out these line items:
- Ocean freight (base rate per box)
- Origin THC at PortMiami
- Racking and lashing labor ($350-$700)
- BAF and CAF bunker/currency adjustments
- ISPS security surcharge
- Destination THC (DTHC) — often billed to the consignee
- Destination drayage and chassis
Free time at destination is typically 5-7 days before demurrage starts. Cartagena runs tighter than most — plan customs clearance before the vessel arrives. Country-specific figures are broken out in our Car Shipping to Costa Rica Calculator: 2026 Rates and Car Shipping El Salvador Calculator: Rates 2026.
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The calculator on this page is pre-set for vehicle counts 1-4. Pick your route and units.
Use the calculator above →Documents, EV battery rules and Incoterms for multi-car loads
Quick Answer: US exports require an AES/ITN filing at least 72 hours before vessel departure, plus the original title for each VIN delivered to CBP. EVs and hybrids ship as IMDG Class 9 (UN3480/UN3481) with a 30-50% state-of-charge cap. Incoterms decide who pays for racking and stuffing.
US export paperwork per vehicle
According to CBP regulations, every exported vehicle needs its original title or a certified copy. Documents must be presented to CBP at the port of export at least 72 hours before loading. Four cars means four title packages, not one.
- Original Certificate of Title per VIN, or certified copy with lien release
- AES/ITN number filed on the Electronic Export Information — one ITN covers the shipment
- Bill of Lading listing every VIN, make, model and year
- Commercial invoice for each unit, or a bill of sale
- Photo ID or company documents for the USPPI
EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7 apply when importing vehicles into the US. They are not required on export. Exporters confuse this constantly.
EV and hybrid battery compliance
Lithium batteries make a car load a dangerous goods load. An installed traction battery classifies as UN3481, IMDG Class 9. A loose battery shipped separately is UN3480 and far harder to book.
Carrier requirements across the Miami–LatAm corridor as of 2026:
- State of charge held between 30% and 50% at stuffing
- Dangerous Goods Declaration signed by the shipper
- Booking approval 5-7 days before the port cut-off
- Class 9 placarding on the container doors
- Battery casing inspected for damage — recalled or damaged packs are refused
Mixing an EV with combustion vehicles in one box is allowed on most Miami–LatAm services. Get the DG approval in writing before you stuff.
Destination documents and Incoterms
Import paperwork varies by country. Colombia through DIAN needs the Factura Comercial, Certificado de Origen, the importer's NIT or RUT, and the Manifiesto de Carga. Peru's SUNAT and Mexico's SAT run similar document sets under different names.
Incoterms 2020 decide who absorbs the racking and stuffing bill:
| Incoterm | Who pays racking/stuffing | Who clears import | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Buyer | Buyer | Buyers with a US forwarder |
| FOB | Seller | Buyer | Most dealer exports |
| CIF | Seller | Buyer | Buyers wanting one freight number |
| DAP | Seller | Buyer pays duty | Door delivery, buyer handles duty |
| DDP | Seller | Seller pays duty | Rarely advisable on vehicles |
DDP looks clean on a quote sheet. It is not. On vehicles, DDP exposes the seller to import-side duty, VAT and valuation disputes in a jurisdiction where the seller has no legal standing. FOB or CIF is the safer default for multi-car loads.
One wrong VIN digit stops the whole container
The VIN on the Bill of Lading must match the title character for character. A single transposed digit triggers a DIAN or SUNAT hold, and the hold applies to the entire container — not just the mismatched car. Three clean vehicles sit in demurrage because of one typo. Proofread VINs twice before the B/L is released. For duty classification under HS heading 8703, consult a licensed customs broker.
Run your numbers before you book the box
Quick Answer: Confirm three things before booking: total vehicle length against usable container length, tallest vehicle height against the door opening, and combined weight against destination road limits. Then compare per-car cost at 1, 2 and 4 units. Consolidation almost always wins from the second vehicle onward.
With thousands of vehicle shipments processed across the Miami–LatAm corridor, the pattern holds: exporters overestimate how many cars fit and underestimate how much the door opening matters. Measure the door. Check the road limit. Then price it.
The cars per container calculator embedded on this page is pre-set for vehicle counts of 1 to 4. Pick your route — Cartagena, Santo Domingo, Callao, Manzanillo or Valparaíso — enter your vehicle count, and see real per-car pricing in seconds. Use the calculator above to compare container versus RoRo for your exact load, with no email required and no follow-up calls.
Price your multi-car container now
1, 2, 3 or 4 vehicles — racked or floor-loaded. Real rates, instantly.
Use the calculator above →Two cars fit floor-loaded nose-to-tail in a 40ft standard container, and 3-4 cars fit with a steel racking system. A 40ft high cube adds 30 cm of interior height, which allows an SUV or small pickup on the upper tier. Combined curb weight must stay under about 26,500 kg.
Yes, but only two compact cars and only with a racking frame. The 5.90 m internal length fits just one vehicle floor-loaded, so a second car has to be elevated and angled. Full-size sedans, SUVs and pickups will not pair in a 20ft.
RoRo is cheaper for a single vehicle, at about $1,150-$1,500 per car from Miami to Cartagena. Container shipping becomes cheaper from two vehicles onward and drops to roughly $850-$1,150 per car at four units. Container also lets you ship spare parts and non-running vehicles.
Four cars in a 40ft high cube from PortMiami to Cartagena costs $3,400-$4,600 total, or about $850-$1,150 per vehicle with racking included. Miami to Callao runs $4,200-$5,400 and Miami to Santo Domingo $2,900-$3,800. Import duties and destination broker fees are separate.
Yes, but EVs and hybrids are classified as IMDG Class 9 dangerous goods under UN3481 when the battery is installed. Most carriers require a state of charge between 30% and 50%, a Dangerous Goods Declaration, and booking approval 5-7 days before the port cut-off. Mixing an EV with combustion vehicles is allowed on most Miami-LatAm services.