Car shipping to Mexico may seem complicated, but it’s more common than you might think. Reliable car shipping companies like Latin American Cargo — our top pick — can help you navigate the process of transporting your vehicle from America to Mexico using a cargo ship, whether for short-term needs or a long-term stay.
Shipping via RORO (roll-on roll-off) is the cheapest option (often less than $1,000) and is the easiest choice, since you can simply drive your vehicle on and off the cargo ship. Other methods of shipping your car to Mexico can range from $1,700–$3,000, depending on your vehicle, distance, and other factors.
We'll cover all of the car shipping options to Mexico and break down what each of the top car shipping companies to Mexico offer to help you decide which one is best for you.
Top 6 Best Car Shipping Companies to Mexico
Why You Can Trust FreightWaves Checkpoint
Our mission at FreightWaves Checkpoint is to provide readers with data-driven, unbiased car shipping information and company reviews.
Using our own unique rating system, we evaluated 2,400 car shipping companies nationwide based on key factors like pricing, services, availability, and customer satisfaction. We also dig deep into online consumer reviews to pinpoint what real people have to say about each company and identify recurring pain points and areas of praise.
Our in-house team of experts fully fact-checks all content to ensure our content is up-to-date, accurate, and relevant to what you want and need to know.
Comparing the Best Car Shipping Companies to Mexico
| Company | Superlative | Services | Tracking? | Shipment Options | BBB Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latin American Cargo | Best Overall Transport Solutions | Car, bus, boat, RV, motorcycle shipping | Via website | RORO, LOLO, container, flat rack | A+ |
| Easy Auto Ship | Best Port Access | Car, motorcycle, RV, boat, heavy equipment shipping | Via Website | Varies by partner | A+ |
| uShip | Best for Quick Quotes | Car, motorcycle, RV, boat, trailer shipping | Varies | Varies based on provider | A+ |
| Easy Haul | Most Budget-Friendly | Car, motorcycle, RV, boat shipping | Text and email notifications | RORO, container | A+ |
| A1 Auto Transport | Best Flexible Solutions | Car, motorcycle, RV, boat, heavy equipment shipping | With tracking code | RORO, LOLO, container, flat rack | B+ |
| SGT Auto Transport | Best Scheduling Options | Car and motorcycle shipping | No | Varies by partner | B |
Best for Overall Transport Solutions: Latin American Cargo
As one of the most highly rated car transport companies for shipping cars to Mexico, Latin American Cargo (LAC) specializes in logistics and shipping for all types of vehicles. From motorbikes to luxury cars or motorhomes, they are well known for handling all transport reliably and professionally.
LAC offers door-to-door and port-to-port shipping for shipments to Mexico, making it easy to find a solution that meets your needs. The company has a reputation for fast, responsive, and reliable service to four of Mexico’s largest ports — Lazaro Cardenas, Veracruz, Manzanillo, and Altamira — so they’re a worthwhile choice for shipping to different parts of the country.
Customer reviews consistently praise the company’s high level of service, even for complicated shipments that other carriers couldn’t help with.
Pros:
- Delivers to four Mexican ports
- Positive reviews cite excellent customer service and the ability to book shipments quickly
- Ships large vehicles like buses, as well as boats and heavy equipment
Cons:
- Shipments can take up to 21 days to arrive at the destination
- Doesn’t ship to countries outside of the Americas
Best for Port Access: Easy Auto Ship
Easy Auto Ship can facilitate international shipments from any port in the United States, making it easy to start the process of shipping your car to Mexico. Easy Auto Ship doesn’t handle international shipments itself. Instead, the company will deliver your vehicle to the best port for your shipment and partners with international carriers at ports to finish getting your car to Mexico.
The company can help transport all types of vehicles, from cars and motorcycles to RVs and heavy equipment. Easy Auto Ship is praised in online reviews for its affordable, straightforward rates with no hidden fees. However, its website is often glitchy and customers often report issues with online tracking.
Pros:
- Delivers vehicles for shipping to every U.S. port
- Can ship RVs, boats, motorcycles, and heavy equipment
- Affordable pricing with no hidden fees
Cons:
- Website can be difficult to navigate
- Customers report issues using shipment tracking numbers
Best for Quick Quotes: uShip
As an online marketplace, uShip allows you to create a shipment listing for all of your needs (not just your vehicle), and get competitive bids in a matter of minutes.
uShip offers a comprehensive set of tools and a vast network of reliable transporters for smooth car shipping to Mexico. Their comprehensive support system empowers you to transport your car to Mexico with confidence by allowing you to compare instant quotes from interested carriers that meet your requirements.
While uShip doesn’t vet its transporters, this online marketplace features a transparent system listing customer reviews and carrier qualifications so you can evaluate a carrier’s capabilities. You can also evaluate whether they offer the specific services — like GPS tracking or container shipping — that you want.
Pros:
- Self-service options allow you to get multiple quotes in minutes
- Vets drivers based on transparent profile information
- Can be used to organize other parts of an international move
Cons:
- Quotes are not guaranteed
- Must create a profile to get quotes
Most Budget-Friendly: Easy Haul
Easy Haul offers affordable and reliable international vehicle shipping services for all vehicle types. The company also provides dedicated managers for each customer to help you navigate shipping your car to Mexico, giving you a little more bang for your buck.
In addition to its affordable prices for international car shipping, Easy Haul can help you find a customs agent to work with for the import process. They offer up to 30 days of free storage for container shipments. However, they only deliver to two ports in Mexico, and customers often complain of significant delivery delays.
Pros:
- Dedicated managers for every customer
- Some of the most affordable prices for international shipments
- Helps you find a customs agent for imports to Mexico
- Up to 30 days of free storage for container shipments
Cons:
- Many customer reviews note shipment delays
- Only ships to Altamira and Veracruz
Best for Flexible Solutions: A1 Auto Transport
No matter what you need to ship to Mexico or how you want to ship it, A1 Auto Transport can help. Based in California, the company has delivered more than two million vehicles to 190 countries.
A1 Auto Transport can handle all types of vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, RVs, and heavy equipment (even vehicles like asphalt pavers and excavators).
A1 Auto Transport can ship vehicles to Mexico via RORO, LOLO, container, or flat rack shipping, with an average delivery time of seven to 10 days. The company also has terminals located throughout the country if you are unable to drop your vehicle off at a port.
Despite offering a wide range of car transport solutions, there are some customer complaints of inaccurate online quotes and A1’s prices tend to be higher than many of its competitors. The company’s website can also be somewhat confusing, with unclear information regarding their services.
Pros:
- Has terminals located nationwide if you can’t drive to a port
- Quick delivery to Mexico (seven to 10 days)
- Can ship cars, motorcycles, heavy machinery, and boats
Cons:
- Can give inaccurate internet quotes, according to online reviews
- Prices are typically higher than other car transport companies
Best Scheduling Options: SGT Auto Transport
If you need to ship your vehicle to Mexico on a very specific time frame, SGT Auto Transport is our recommendation. As part of its door-to-port services, the company gives you the option to select an exact pickup date for transporting your vehicle. Express shipping options are also available.
To help streamline the shipping process, SGT provides a personalized shipping advisor to walk you through the process and help you find the best option.
It’s important to note, however, that SGT partners with other international carriers for shipments to Mexico. As such, available shipping options can vary. They also only ship cars and motorcycles.
Pros:
- Door-to-port delivery for international shipments
- All taxes and fees are included in your quote (no hidden fees)
- Can book exact pickup date or expedited shipping
Cons:
- Only ships cars and motorcycles
- Final payment must be made with money order or cashier’s check
How We Chose the Best Car Shipping Companies
We requested quotes from dozens of car shipping companies, read thousands of customer reviews, evaluated service offerings, and more before we landed on the best car shipping companies to get your vehicle from Hawaii.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what we did:
- Vetted licenses: We evaluated each company to ensure they had valid USDOT numbers and all FMCSA licenses.
- Investigated customer satisfaction: We read customer reviews across several review sites and assessed Better Business Bureau ratings to more fully understand each company’s reputation in the auto transport industry.
- Compared shipping options: We looked at how many shipping services each company offered and how easy it was to customize your package.
- Analyzed pricing: We requested quotes, assessed each company’s price transparency, and compared it to other Hawaii car shipping companies.
How Much Does Car Shipping to Mexico Cost?
Due to the unique challenges that come with international shipments, shipping rates to Mexico are generally more expensive than shipping a car within the United States. On average, car shipments to Mexico typically cost between $1,200 and $1,700. In addition to your shipping quote, you will likely also need to pay import taxes and fees.
In some cases, depending on your vehicle type, distance, and shipping methods, car shipping costs could reach as high as $3,000.
Factors That Affect Car Shipping Costs
The following factors will have a direct influence on the cost of car shipping services to Mexico:
- Distance: As with domestic shipments, the greater the distance of your shipment, the more expensive it will be to ship your car to Mexico.
- Port drop-off and pickup: Car shipments to Mexico are often delivered via sea ports. If you can drop off and pick up your vehicle at a port near you, you can save money. Otherwise, you may also need to pay for ground shipping to and from the ports. Major ports tend to be less expensive than smaller ports, since more shipments regularly travel to these areas.
- Vehicle size and type: Larger, heavier vehicles cost more to ship than smaller vehicles when using ground transportation to get your vehicle to a port. You may also need to pay more to ship classic or exotic cars.
- Shipping options: Roll-on roll-off shipping — in which your car is simply driven up a ramp onto the ship alongside other vehicles — is less expensive than shipping your vehicle inside a container. Services such as expedited shipping will also increase your costs.
- Additional fees: Car shipments to Mexico are often subject to import fees and taxes (particularly for permanent imports), which can make transportation more expensive than what you’d pay when shipping within the United States.
- Time of year: During times of peak travel to Mexico (December through April and June through August), rates for car shipping typically increase due to the higher demand.
How To Ship a Car to Mexico
The best way to ship a car to Mexico will depend on the type of vehicle, condition, and your requested shipping time. Here are the four most common methods used to ship vehicles to Mexico.
Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO)
RORO shipping is a type of cargo transport in which the vehicle is driven up a ramp and onto the transport boat. This is usually the cheapest and fastest way to transport your vehicle to Mexico. Your car is typically stored below the deck of the ship alongside other vehicles.
Vehicles of any size can be sent by RORO shipping. This shipment method can even be used for heavy equipment like agricultural or construction equipment. You can take a car to Mexico with RORO shipping in as few as six days.
Lift-On Lift-Off (LOLO)
LOLO is the shipping option most commonly used for inoperable or extra larged vehicles. With LOLO, vehicles are lifted onto the vessel using a crane.
LOLO vessels usually have a larger container capacity than RORO vessels. This allows space for yachts, sizable vehicles, and heavy equipment that couldn’t be loaded using a standard trailer. However, the more complicated logistics of loading and unloading mean that LOLO shipping usually takes longer than RORO.
Containers
With container shipping, the vehicle is transported inside an enclosed container. This is the most common shipping method for luxury vehicles or if you want to transport additional belongings. It is also the most common alternative to RORO shipping, thanks to the added protection the container provides during transportation.
The limitation of container consolidation is the size. The vehicle must fit into ocean containers that are eight feet wide by eight feet high and either 20 or 40 feet long.
Some shippers also allow customers to pack household goods, furniture, or personal property inside the container along with the vehicle.
Flat Racks
Flat racks are open platforms placed on top of a water vessel. With flat-rack shipping, the vehicle is safely secured to this metal frame, which ranges from 20 to 40 feet long. However, cars shipped on flat racks are more exposed to the elements since they are kept on the deck of the ship.
This is the most practical shipping solution to Mexico for industrial vehicles or heavy machinery. Ship a car to Mexico this way if it is large, bulky, or cannot be sent by RORO shipping.
What To Know About Car Shipping to Mexico
While there are a number of excellent professional shippers to send your car to Mexico, you’ll still need to meet legal import guidelines. Importing a car to Mexico requires some paperwork and fees.
Import Regulations
Import regulations vary by region within Mexico. They can also be complex to understand.
For this reason, we recommend hiring a customs broker — called an agente aduanal — to help you with the import process. If the car is being transported for short-term use, this may not be necessary, but for long-term stays, you are actually legally required to work with a broker.
Customs brokers can help you work through import considerations like fees and paperwork for both individuals and businesses. Taxes, fees, and import duties all depend on the region of import along with the vehicle’s age and value.
Expect to pay 16% value added tax (VAT), a general import payment (IGI), vehicle acquisition tax (ISAN), and a customs paperwork fee (DTA). There are also currently restrictions on importing luxury cars and vehicles that do not work into Mexico.
To ensure customs clearance, you’ll need several important documents, including:
- Vehicle title and registration
- Passport and visa
- Bill of lading
- Driver’s license (American and Canadian IDs are valid in Mexico)
- Residence permit (if applicable)
Length of Stay
For short-term stays of less than 180 days, the customs broker may be able to help you through a simpler import process to obtain a temporary import permit. However, for long-term stays, it is essential to work with a customs broker to meet all legal import requirements. You are required by law to hire a customs broker to handle the process for you.
Taxes and Fees
As mentioned above, taxes and fees will impact the total cost of shipping your vehicle to Mexico. These fees are charged by the Mexican government and will be the same regardless of the shipping company you choose.
However, the exact amount of taxes and fees you must pay will be based on your vehicle’s make, model, and age. You will be responsible for paying customs duties — along with applicable taxes and fees — when your vehicle arrives in the country.
Our Take
Shipping to Mexico doesn’t have to be complicated. With a professional, experienced shipping company and a competent customs broker, your vehicle could be delivered in as few as six days. Whether you’re moving to Mexico or only staying for a few months, shipping is a practical, cost-effective way to the comfort of your vehicle wherever you go in Mexico.
With the help of quality providers like Latin American Cargo, Easy Auto Ship, and Easy Haul, you can have confidence that your international shipment to Mexico will be handled with care.
FAQ
What are international car shipping services?
International car shipping services specialize in transporting vehicles to destinations outside the contiguous United States, most often via cargo ships but also by air (although that is the more expensive method).
How much is it to ship a vehicle to Mexico?
The average cost to ship a car to Mexico is between $1,200 and $3,000, depending on your vehicle, shipping option, and the ports you use. In addition to the base shipping costs, you will need to pay import taxes and customs fees, which can add to your total import costs.
Can I take my car to Mexico permanently?
Yes, American vehicles can be permanently imported to Mexico. You must work with a customs agent (agente aduanal) to facilitate this process. Vehicles must be in working condition with a clean title and not have any liens. Other restrictions may apply.
What is the process for shipping a car from Mexico to the United States?
Start by researching vehicle transport services that ship cars to Mexico. Based on your budget and vehicle, you will generally choose between RORO or container shipping. You can save money by driving your vehicle to the port yourself, or you can arrange for ground transportation for your car.
Upon arrival in Mexico, you will need to pay all applicable customs and import fees. For permanent imports, you must work with a customs agent to complete the importation process.
What documents are needed to ship a car to Mexico?
To ship your car to Mexico, you’ll need your:
- Vehicle title
- Vehicle registration
- Passport
- Visa
- Bill of lading
- Driver’s license
For permanent imports, you’ll also need a residence permit.
How can I find local car shipping company reviews?
Check out our reviews of local car shipping companies by state.
