Best ways and companies to ship an electric car from China (2026)

Guazi lists cars at FOB prices in USD. The FOB price covers the car, the export handling fee and the platform service fee. Certifications, translations and battery documents cost extra. It offers Incoterms 2020 terms from EXW to CIF (How to Buy, auction guide).

Its stock filter showed 37,217 EV and hybrid listings and 7,029 BYDs on 5 November 2026. One used 2025 BYD Seal 650 with 13,700 km and 92% battery health was USD 27,057 FOB (Guazi).

USD 300 reserves a car. You then pay 30% within 7 days (10 days for private sellers). You lose the USD 300 if you cancel. You pay online or by wire transfer (return policy).

Guazi ships within 10 days of full payment and documents. Under CIF it picks the forwarder, and transit is normally 30 to 45 days. You must collect the car within 7 days of arrival (shipping policy).

Its 2026 China-to-Algeria guide gives ro-ro at about USD 1,200 to 2,000 per car and a 40 ft container at about USD 2,700 to 6,050. Guazi calls these June 2026 reference figures, not booked rates (Guazi).

Skip it if: you want a warranty or time to inspect the car after it lands: quality objections close 3 working days after the car reaches the Chinese port.

What we saw: From a US address, listings, FOB prices and battery health were visible without an account, and sign-up needed only an email and a 6-digit code.

Goodhope Logistics has worked since 2012 from Shenzhen with a Shanghai branch, and shows NVOCC licence number GD20230925153335 on its site. It offers ro-ro, full containers for one to four vehicles, and breakbulk (Goodhope).

Its July 2026 reference rates for West Africa: ro-ro sedans about USD 900 to 1,300 per unit, SUVs USD 1,400 to 2,000, and a 40HQ container with 2 to 3 sedans USD 2,300 to 3,000. These exclude origin drayage, customs fees and destination clearance (Goodhope).

Under IMDG 42-24, lithium-ion BEVs are UN 3556, lithium-metal UN 3557 and sodium-ion UN 3558, all class 9. Hybrids are UN 3166. Goodhope says most ro-ro operators want 30% to 50% charge, but the carrier's own limit governs. Carrier approval for these bookings normally takes 2 to 3 weeks (Goodhope).

There is no online quote form or customer portal. You ask by email or WhatsApp and it promises a reply within one business day (quote page). Its Africa page names a different company, Shenzhen Weihang Yunda, so ask who issues the bill of lading.

Skip it if: you want a firm per-car price outside West Africa: everything else is by email or WhatsApp quote.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen runs about 125 vessels on 15 trade routes. From Shanghai it lists 3 to 4 sailings a month to Australia (Brisbane 11 to 16 days), 2 to 3 a month to Europe (Southampton 28 to 33 days) and monthly sailings to the US East Coast (WW trade maps).

It takes no bookings from private individuals. Freight for private vehicles is prepaid, and port local charges, a Bunker Adjustment Factor and a Sulphur Regulation Charge come on top (WW).

Its January 2026 rules: battery EVs ship at 10% to 50% charge, 30% recommended; plug-in hybrids at 1% to 50%. "Loading of used BEV is NOT accepted" until further notice. Used hybrids need an OBD report and photos of all sides (AFV guidelines).

A "new" car must never have been registered except by the maker or its partners, have under 500 km, and be under 1 year from production. A Chinese "zero-kilometre" BEV registered before export counts as used, so WW refuses it.

Skip it if: you are a private buyer, your EV is a used battery EV, or your car was registered in China before export, which WW counts as used.

What we saw: Choosing 'Private person' on its rate form showed a notice to use a licensed forwarder instead.

Maersk's 19 October 2026 advisory covers new, used and damaged vehicles. Used vehicles go under commodity code 004608, so a used BEV can travel by container. Lithium-ion BEVs are UN 3556 class 9 and go as dangerous goods. Hybrids are UN 3166 and may go as non-DG under SP 961 until IMDG 43-26 ends that (voluntary Jan 2027, mandatory Jan 2028) (Maersk).

It refuses damaged or defective batteries, flood damage, leaks, cars in reefers and cars touching each other. The 12V battery must be disconnected, nothing may travel in the car, and the shipper secures it to the CTU Code. Maersk recommends 30% charge or less for BEVs and plug-in hybrids.

There are three ways to buy: Maersk Spot (instant fixed price online after a free sign-up), Ocean Contract, and an Ocean quote request (Maersk). Spot's loading-guarantee compensation covers only dry non-hazardous cargo, so an EV does not get it (Maersk).

Skip it if: the car has battery, flood or collision damage, you want to pack goods in the car, or you need the Spot loading-guarantee payout.

What we saw: Clicking 'Check prices' on Maersk Spot led to a login page, so no price shows without a free account.

From China, Höegh loads at Taicang, Tianjin Xingang and Lianyungang for 14 European ports; at Tianjin Xingang for Durban, Maputo, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa; and at Taicang for the US East and Gulf coasts (Höegh trade routes).

Quotes come from a freight inquiry form, are valid 30 days and are not binding. Freight is billed on dimensions measured at the terminal, which may cost more than quoted (Höegh).

Its May 2024 Cargo Acceptance Requirements: new BEVs at 50% charge or less, used BEVs not accepted, used hybrids and PHEVs accepted. A new BEV not shipped by the carmaker or its partner needs a declaration that it is new, unmodified and under nine months from production (requirements).

Its Aurora class ships carry up to 9,100 CEU and take EVs on all 14 decks (Höegh).

Skip it if: your EV is a used battery EV, or you are not the carmaker and cannot sign that the BEV is new, unmodified and under nine months from production.

What we saw: Its freight inquiry form requires a company name and asks for cargo type, with a 'Hazardous cargo' tick box.

Its 22 April 2026 cost guide lists ro-ro at USD 1,000 to 1,800 per car (25 to 40 days), a 20 ft container at USD 2,100 to 3,200 and a 40 ft at USD 3,600 to 5,000 (25 to 45 days) (Welltrans).

Its China to Australia page, posted August 2025, puts ro-ro at USD 1,500 to 3,000 for a standard car, 15 to 25 days. Its June 2025 car guide gives USD 1,800 to 3,800 for Australia (Welltrans, car guide).

Its car guide asks only for an MSDS for EVs and hybrids. It does not mention UN 3556 or charge limits, and its prep advice (1/4 tank, disconnect the battery) is generic. Its home page shows NVOCC number MOC-NV09845, the same number Winsail Logistics shows, so ask for its licence certificate (Welltrans).

Skip it if: you want a forwarder that shows it knows the 2026 EV dangerous-goods rules: its guides mention only an MSDS.

COSCO's own fleet list shows 10 pure car carriers; 5 were built in 2024. It also lists offices or agents in Japan, Korea, Dubai, Singapore, India, Rotterdam, the US, Sao Paulo, Johannesburg and Australia (COSCO fleet, network).

In September 2026 it shipped its first cars in flat-rack containers to Chancay, Peru. On 14 October 2026 the Yu Heng Xian Feng sailed with nearly 2,000 Chongqing-built vehicles (COSCO news).

There are no public rates, rate form or booking. You email the car-carrier desk, PureCarCarrier.cssc@coscoshipping.com. It signed a strategic cooperation agreement with SAIC Anji Logistics in July 2025 (Anji).

Skip it if: you are shipping one car or need published EV rules: there are no rates, no booking for individuals and no EV cargo rules.

Anji says it has a fleet of 42 ro-ro ships, ocean capacity of 600,000 vehicles a year and 6 international liner routes. Its 9,500-car Anji Changsheng first called at Ferrol, Spain on 9 July 2026 after 39 days at sea (Anji, Jul 2026).

Its client page lists NIO, MG, IM Motors, Chery and many foreign makers. It has overseas companies in the US, Mexico, the UK, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Thailand and Australia (clients, about).

Anji works with COSCO rather than only against it: a strategic agreement with COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers in July 2025 and one with COSCO's Jinling Supply Chain in Sydney in June 2026 (Anji).

Skip it if: you are a dealer or private buyer shipping a few cars: there are no rates, no quote form and no EV rules.