Will A Car Fit In A Shipping Container?

Last updated on March 20th, 2023 at 12:51 pm

Whether you’re looking for storage options or you need to ship a car a great distance, a shipping container can be a good option.

However, before you decide to rent or purchase a shipping container, it’s important to make sure that your vehicle will fit.

Will a car fit in a shipping container?

Whether a car will fit in a shipping container or not depends almost entirely on the size of the car.

A standard shipping container is about 8 and a half feet tall and 8 feet wide, and it has a length of just under 20 feet on the inside.

The door opening of the container is a bit smaller, at 7 and a half feet tall and a little more than 7 and a half feet wide.

This means that your car must be both short enough and narrow enough to fit into the container.

Whatever vehicle you want to park in the shipping container also needs to be less than 20 feet in length.

On average, a car is about 5.8 feet wide and 14.7 feet long, and they’re generally between 4.9 and 6.2 feet tall. This means that most cars, particularly sedans and compact cars, will easily fit in a standard shipping container. In fact, a standard shipping container is almost the same size as a standard parking spot, so if your vehicle can fit into a parking spot at the mall or the grocery store, it can probably fit into a shipping container.

It is important, however, to remember that many vans, mini-vans, and trucks can be taller than 8 feet, so it’s a good idea to double-check before deciding on a container.

Length is rarely an issue when fitting a car into a shipping container. Sedans and compact cars tend to be much shorter than the average vehicle length, and even pickup trucks are usually around 18 feet long at the very most.

Also, there are larger shipping container sizes available. Standard shipping containers are either 20 feet long or 40 feet long, so if your vehicle is much larger, you still have options.

How do I get the car into the container?

The easiest way to get a car into a shipping container is to use a sturdy ramp and simply drive the car in.

However, remember that, if the container is narrow, you may not be able to open the car door enough once the car is inside. In this case, you’ll want to drive the car up the ramp and then push the car the rest of the way into the container.

Once the car is in the container, if the container is going to be moved, it’s essential that the car is secured so it doesn’t roll around during transit.

You’ll want to use either wooden or metal blocks behind the car’s tires to stop the wheels from moving. These blocks should be secured to the container’s floor.

It’s also a good idea to use straps anywhere you think is necessary, including around each axle. It’s even important to secure the top of the car.

If the car is going on a long journey, particularly by boat, the container could move from side to side, which could cause the car to tip, so securing the car so that no damage occurs is crucial.

How many cars can fit in a shipping container?

How many cars you can fit in the container depends on how big the cars are, how long the container is, and how the cars are placed in the container. Some container companies can help you put up to four cars in a 20-foot container.

This is achieved by elevating two of the cars. However, if this isn’t an option, you can generally fit two sedans, parked lengthwise, in a standard container. Longer containers can, of course, hold more cars.

Can you use a shipping container as a garage?

Because they’re sturdy, durable, are already constructed, and are built to withstand the harshest weather, shipping containers are becoming a popular choice for safe, secure car storage.

Many people opt for a shipping container when choosing a garage, and most of these shipping container garages are designed to hold up to two cars.

Shipping container garages are also a good option for motorcycle, boat, or ATV storage.

If you decide to use a shipping container as a garage, it’s important to place the container on a solid concrete foundation.

Both the shipping container and the vehicles inside are incredibly heavy, and this weight can cause the container to sink into the ground over time if it’s not placed on a concrete slab.

It’s also a good idea to insulate and weatherproof the container. Most shipping containers are designed to withstand rain, snow, and harsh wind, but if you’ve purchased a used container, it doesn’t hurt to check for any weak areas, holes, or spaces that need to be repaired.

Adding insulation to the shipping container can help to control moisture, which can in turn help to protect your car.