Rolling Headlines: What’s Hot in Car Shipping?

1. UK Ports Becoming Thieves’ Paradise

In the UK, ports like Felixstowe are a favorite for organized car thieves. With only one officer overseeing container checks and fewer than five inspections per 100,000 shipments, stolen luxury cars are slipping through—sometimes hidden among scrap, or even shipped within 24 hours of theft. Insurance premiums have shot up by 45% in five years, and in affluent areas of London, insuring a five-year-old Porsche SUV can now set you back over £5,000 annually WC ShippingThe Times.

2. BYD’s Own Fleet — Car Shipping, BYD Style

Imagine Elon Musk’s jaw dropping. BYD is doing just that by building its own fleet of massive roll-on/roll-off carriers—six vessels already in service as of mid‑August 2025. This bold move lets BYD bypass shipping delays and empowers it to dominate EV export markets like Europe, Brazil, and Mexico. The price tag? A cool half‑billion dollars—but autonomy in delivery is a sweet (if expensive) reward.Business Insider

3. US Ports Hit with New Fees

The U.S. has introduced a controversial new fee—starting at $150 per vehicle for non-U.S.–built ships entering American ports, slated for October. Industry insiders warn the fee could cost operators up to $1.8 billion annually and ultimately hike consumer prices. The flip side: a shift to $14 per net tonne may result in hefty bills—potentially $600,000 per ship. Critics argue these fees are hypocritical given U.S. shipbuilding capacity is nearly nonexistent.Financial Times+1

4. Hello, Smart Ships!

In a Sci-Fi‑meets‑cargo world, Hyundai Glovis is retrofitting seven large car carriers with AI-powered autonomy (Level‑2 MASS systems), aiming to launch by mid‑2026. One of the stars? The “Sunrise,” a 230-meter (750-foot) monster capable of carrying 7,000 vehicles—it might just be the smartest ship on the high seas.TechRadar

5. Georgia’s Brunswick Port Surpasses Baltimore

Move over Charm City, Brunswick, Georgia has overtaken Baltimore to become America’s busiest automobile port in 2024. Thanks to a $262 million investment, it handled 841,000 vehicles (a 13% year-over-year bump). Plans are in place to boost capacity further with a new dock and rail yard.AP News

Must-Know Essentials for Car-Shipping Customers (a.k.a. What You Can’t Afford to Miss)

A. Book Early & Budget Smart

  • Want to ship internationally? Book 4–8 weeks ahead especially if you’re moving an EV or high-value ride. Port fees, customs charges, and handling can tack on an extra $200–$600 per vehicle, even before paying for ocean freight.TCI Ships
  • For EVs, expect $500–$1,000 extra due to hazardous cargo regulations (those lithium batteries are high-maintenance).TCI Ships

B. Pick the Right Shipping Method

  • Budget sedan? Go with Ro‑Ro or shared container.
  • Luxury, EVs, or classics? You’ll want dedicated container shipping and beefed-up insurance.TCI Ships+2Transrak Blog+2
  • Want greener, smarter shipping? Container methods are gaining ground, especially as ports and vessels get eco‑friendly upgrades and overcapacity in 2025 may lower costs.TCI Ships+3Transrak Blog+3tradewindsnews.com+3

C. Track It Like a FedEx Pro

  • Real-time GPS updates are becoming standard. Expect smooth ride updates, proactive alerts, and transparency from pick-up to delivery.

D. Regulations, Fraud Prevention & Peace of Mind

E. EVs & Heavier Vehicles Require TLC

If you’re relying on brokers, make sure they’re legit. Since January 2025, the FMCSA ditched MC numbers and now requires USDOT numbers plus facial scanning for carrier registration to combat fraud and “double-brokering.

  • Towering EVs (those batteries!) require special handling and load planning due to their weight and safety needs. Carriers are adapting by optimizing their fleets

F. Market Trends Might Impact Your Timing

  • Demand is surging—door-to-door auto transport services are feeling the pinch from more online car sales and increased mobility, causing capacity constraints and rate hikes.

G. Know Your Carrier Options

The Punchline (With Extra Wit)

  • Thieves love a lazy port—if you’re shipping from the UK, your posh ride might just go “poof” before customs checks have had their coffee.
  • Half a billion dollars in boats? Seriously, BYD? Yep. They’re betting that owning your own fleet is cheaper than chartering and better than hoping for external schedules.
  • AI ships coming soon—your car might soon disembark from a vessel that auto-steers itself while listening to Daft Punk.

Leave a comment