Shipping cars to Ireland and Scandinavia: ferry logistics
Shipping cars to Ireland and Scandinavia: direct ferry and ro-ro routes, trailer vs ro-ro, timing, customs for Norway and the UK land bridge, landed cost.
· 7 min read
Shipping cars to Ireland from continental Europe now mostly means direct ferries from France or ro-ro freight from Belgian and Dutch ports to Dublin, because the old route through Britain involves customs transit since Brexit. Scandinavia is reached by road over the Danish bridges or by ferry from northern Germany and the Baltic. Either way, the sea leg adds cost, a fixed sailing schedule and paperwork that belong in your landed cost before you buy.
Shipping cars to Ireland from continental Europe
Cars reach Ireland from the continent in three main ways:
- On a car transporter on a direct ferry, typically from Cherbourg or Dunkirk to Rosslare, or from Cherbourg to Dublin. The truck drives on and off, and the cars never leave the trailer.
- As ro-ro freight on freight ferries from Rotterdam or Zeebrugge to Dublin, either on a trailer shipped unaccompanied or driven on and off the ship by stevedores.
- Through Britain (the land bridge): a truck crosses to England, drives across Britain and takes a ferry from Wales to Ireland.
The land bridge used to be the fastest route. Since Brexit, goods crossing Britain between two EU countries leave the EU customs territory and must travel under a transit procedure, with declarations at both ends and guarantees. Many carriers have moved Irish car traffic to direct sailings to avoid that. If your carrier still uses the land bridge, ask who handles the transit documents and what happens if a declaration is wrong, because a car stuck at Holyhead earns nothing.
What to plan for Ireland
- Sailings: direct continental routes run a few times a week, not hourly, and crossings take most of a day or a night. A missed sailing can cost days.
- Price: the sea leg is a significant share of the transport price for a single car; full transporter loads are far cheaper per car.
- VRT: every imported car must be registered with Revenue and pay Vehicle Registration Tax, with short deadlines after arrival. See our guide to VRT in Ireland.
- Left or right: Ireland drives on the left, so right-hand-drive stock is what Irish buyers want. Left-hand-drive cars sell at a discount.
Is ro-ro or a closed trailer better for shipping cars?
A closed trailer is better for valuable or low cars; ro-ro is cheaper for ordinary stock. The choice depends on the car and how much handling you accept:
| Option | How it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open transporter on ferry | Truck with 6–9 cars drives on and off | Volume stock | Weather, stone chips, salt spray on deck |
| Closed trailer on ferry | Enclosed truck or trailer | Premium, classic and low cars | Higher price, fewer slots |
| Unaccompanied trailer (ro-ro freight) | Trailer shipped without driver, collected at the port | Regular volume on fixed routes | Collection logistics at destination |
| Car driven on and off by port staff | Each car handled individually | Cheap per car on established routes | More handling, more risk of scuffs and mileage added |
Whatever the mode, the carrier's liability under the CMR Convention applies to the road part of an international journey, and the CMR also covers a sea leg where the vehicle carrying the goods is itself shipped without the goods being unloaded. Record the condition of each car on the consignment note at pick-up; see our guide to car transport damage claims.
For car dealers
Know your margin before you buy
MyCarDealer compares any car from an auction or listing with the market in your country and shows the net margin after VAT, transport and costs – and the maximum bid.
Request accessShipping cars to Scandinavia
Scandinavia is partly reachable by road. Cars on a transporter can drive from Germany through Denmark and over the Great Belt and Øresund bridges into Sweden, which avoids the ferry altogether for southern Sweden. For other destinations, ferries shorten the route:
- Puttgarden–Rødby for Denmark and onwards to Sweden.
- Rostock or Travemünde–Trelleborg for southern Sweden.
- Kiel–Gothenburg for western Sweden and Norway's south-east.
- Kiel–Oslo and Hirtshals–Norway routes for Norway.
- Travemünde–Helsinki, or the road through the Baltic states and Tallinn–Helsinki, for Finland.
How long does shipping a car to Scandinavia take?
Expect roughly two to five working days from collection in Germany to delivery in southern Sweden or Denmark, and about a week to central Norway or Finland. Collection lead time, sailing schedules and customs for Norway add to that. These are planning figures, not guarantees; ask your carrier for current transit times on your route.
Norway is outside the EU: customs matter
Norway is in the EEA but outside the EU customs union and VAT area, so cars going to or from Norway cross a customs border.
- Exporting a car to Norway: the EU seller declares the export, zero-rates the sale with proof of export, and the Norwegian buyer pays Norwegian VAT and the one-off registration tax on import. See import car to Norway.
- Buying a car in Norway: the car must be declared for export in Norway and imported into the EU, with EU import VAT and customs formalities at the border. Where Norway refunds part of the one-off tax on export, that can make Norwegian cars cheaper to buy; check the current refund rules.
Norway's large used EV market makes it a source of electric cars. According to listings tracked by MyCarDealer in October 2026, the median asking price for a 2020–2023 Tesla Model 3 was €24,114 in Norway (207 listings), against €28,000 in Germany (243) and €26,652 in Sweden (192).
Where Scandinavian price gaps are
Price levels differ across the Nordics, which decides the direction of trade. For 2018–2021 Volvo XC60s, listings tracked by MyCarDealer in October 2026 showed median asking prices of €24,999 in Germany (120 listings), €26,390 in Finland (61), €27,796 in Sweden (437) and €32,931 in Norway (113). For 2021–2024 Tesla Model Ys, the medians were close together: €34,144 in Norway, €34,400 in Germany, €34,401 in Sweden and €35,900 in Finland.
Before acting on a gap, subtract the destination's registration tax, the sea leg and the time. Finland's car tax, for example, is charged on imported used cars and can absorb most of a headline difference; see Finnish car tax on imports. Sweden has no one-off registration tax but requires an origin check and registration inspection.
Which documents are needed for cars on ferries and ro-ro?
For cars shipped by a carrier, the documents are the same as for road transport, plus whatever customs needs:
- CMR consignment note listing each car by VIN.
- Vehicle documents: registration certificates or copies, depending on whether the car is still registered, and the keys.
- Invoice or purchase contract, especially for customs and VAT proof.
- Export declaration for Norway and other non-EU destinations, and transit documents for any route through Britain.
- For electric cars: some ferry operators have rules on battery charge levels or require advance notice for EVs and damaged vehicles; check with the carrier.
Put the sea leg into your landed cost
Sea transport changes the economics of a deal more than road distance does. A car that leaves a €1,200 margin when delivered by road to Hamburg may leave very little when shipped to Dublin or Helsinki. MyCarDealer calculates the margin per car including transport, so you can see before bidding whether a car still works after the ferry; dealers can request access.
Frequently asked questions
How are cars shipped to Ireland from continental Europe?
Mostly on car transporters using direct ferries from France to Rosslare or Dublin, or as ro-ro freight from Rotterdam or Zeebrugge to Dublin. The route through Britain is still possible but needs customs transit documents since Brexit.
Is ro-ro or a closed trailer better for shipping cars?
A closed trailer suits premium, classic and low cars because it protects against weather and handling. Ro-ro and open transporters are cheaper and fine for ordinary stock, but involve more exposure and handling.
How long does shipping a car to Scandinavia take?
As a planning figure, about two to five working days from Germany to Denmark or southern Sweden, and around a week to central Norway or Finland, depending on collection, sailing schedules and customs.
Which documents are needed for cars on ferries and ro-ro?
A CMR consignment note listing each VIN, the vehicle documents and keys, the invoice, and for Norway or routes through Britain the export and transit declarations. Electric cars may need advance notice to the ferry operator.
Do I pay customs when shipping a car to Norway?
Yes. Norway is outside the EU customs union, so the car is exported from the EU and imported into Norway, where the buyer pays Norwegian VAT and the one-off registration tax.