If you're importing vehicles, you've likely faced the dilemma: ship the vehicle whole, or ship it in parts? For many importers, the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) method offers a powerful alternative that can significantly reduce costs and logistics headaches.

What is CKD Service?

CKD stands for Completely Knocked Down. It means a vehicle is fully disassembled into hundreds of individual components like engine, transmission, body panels, chassis, wiring harnesses, and all other parts before being packed into a shipping container. Once the container arrives at its destination, the vehicle is reassembled locally.

Think of it like shipping a giant, complex puzzle instead of the finished picture.

The Container Advantage: Why CKD Makes Sense

1. Lower Shipping Costs, Especially for Big Trucks

Shipping a fully assembled truck is expensive. Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) shipping calculates costs based on CBM (Cubic Meters), which can skyrocket the price for large vehicles.

By dismantling trucks, you can fit 4-6 trucks in a single 40ft High Cube container — a massive saving compared to Ro-Ro shipping where the volume (CBM) drives the price up.

2. Avoid Age Restrictions and High Customs Duties

Some countries have strict age regulations for imported vehicles — they simply won't allow older cars or trucks in. Others impose extremely high customs duties on complete vehicles to protect local assembly industries.

With CKD, you can:

• Bypass age restrictions: parts don't have the same age limits as complete vehicles
• Pay lower duties: import taxes on parts are significantly lower than on fully assembled vehicles
• Comply with local regulations: some countries restrict or outright ban the import of fully assembled used vehicles

3. Customise Your Container, Pack Only What You Need

One of the biggest advantages of CKD is flexibility. You don't have to ship the entire vehicle. You can customise the container to your exact needs:

• Ship only valuable parts: engines, transmissions, axles, electronics
• Mix and match: add other parts like engines, half cuts, or spare parts for wholesale importers
• Combine different vehicles: pack parts from multiple vehicles in one container
• Maximize value per container: fill every inch with the most valuable components

This makes CKD ideal for wholesale importers, buyers amd businesses who only need specific components.

4. Too Large for a Container? CKD is Your Only Option

Some trucks and heavy vehicles are simply too large to fit in a standard container. Even oversized containers can't accommodate them. In such cases, CKD is not a choice it's a necessity. Dismantling the vehicle allows oversized components to be packed efficiently alongside other parts, enabling containerization of vehicles that would otherwise need costly breakbulk or Ro-Ro shipping.

5. Global Auto Manufacturers Use CKD

CKD isn't just for small importers. Global auto manufacturers like:

• Toyota
• Isuzu
• Mitsubishi
• BMW
• Hyundai
• Volvo

…all use CKD to avoid tariffs and establish manufacturing in other countries like Thailand, India, Vietnam, and the US. By shipping parts and assembling locally, they bypass import duties and meet local content requirements.

6. Damaged Vehicles, Ship What's Valuable

Some clients prefer to order slightly damaged vehicles from Japanese auctions. These vehicles often sell for a fraction of the price of a clean unit.

Instead of shipping the whole damaged vehicle (which may not be allowed or insurable by Ro-Ro shipping lines), you can:

• Dismantle the vehicle and extract only the valuable parts
• Ship engines, transmissions, axles, and electronics
• Maximize profit by selling high-value components separately

This is especially popular for engines, transmissions, and body parts like doors, bumpers, and nose cuts.

7. Our Team is Experts in Dismantling and Vanning

With years of experience in dismantling and exporting vehicles, our team knows how to:

• Select good cars from auctions
• Strip them efficiently removing and labeling every part
• Pack containers for safe shipping and maximizing space while protecting components

We handle the entire process, just tell us what you need.

Summary: Is CKD Right for You?

iGetAuto CKD Service

At iGetAuto, we specialize in CKD shipping for trucks and cars. We can dismantle, pack, and ship your vehicles in FCL container, handling everything from disassembly to documentation.

Last Updated: August 2026 | iGetAuto CKD Service