Shipping electric and hybrid vehicles
Battery-powered cargo is regulated cargo. Lithium batteries are classed as dangerous goods in transport, and the rules decide whether a unit is accepted at the terminal at all. Under the IMDG Code 2024 edition (Amendment 42-24, mandatory since 1 January 2026), a lithium-ion battery vehicle ships as UN3556. We handle the classification and the documents as part of the booking.
Lithium-ionUN38.3 testedCarrier-approved
Classification
Regulatory Classification
| UN number | Covers | Typical cargo |
|---|---|---|
| UN3556 | Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered | Electric cars, e-buses, e-trucks, e-motorcycles, electric handling equipment |
| UN3557 | Vehicle, lithium metal battery powered | Specialist vehicles with lithium-metal battery packs |
| UN3558 | Vehicle, sodium ion battery powered | Sodium-ion battery vehicles (newer models) |
| UN3166 | Vehicle powered by an internal-combustion engine or fuel cell | Hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars and vans |
| UN3171 | Battery-powered vehicle — wet batteries only | Forklifts and utility vehicles with lead-acid or sodium batteries |
| UN3480 | Lithium-ion cells or batteries alone | Loose battery packs, replacement or spare battery units |
| UN3481 | Batteries contained in or packed with equipment | Battery inside the machine, or packed beside it in the same consignment |
Until 31 December 2025, lithium-battery vehicles travelled as UN3171. IMDG Amendment 42-24 — mandatory since 1 January 2026 — moved them to UN3556 (lithium-ion), UN3557 (lithium-metal) and UN3558 (sodium-ion), and hybrids with a combustion engine to UN3166. A booking quoting UN3171 for a lithium vehicle is now returned at review, and the unit is refused at the terminal. We confirm the correct UN number before booking.
Before Loading
Carrier Acceptance Requirements
- UN38.3 test summary for the exact battery model (Section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria)
- A valid MSDS (material safety data sheet) for the cell chemistry
- State of charge within the carrier limit — commonly 30% or less, confirmed per sailing
- A written battery condition and state-of-charge attestation: capacity, percentage, verification method, date and signature
- Short-circuit protection on exposed terminals; the battery secured against damage and accidental activation
- Battery capacity in kWh on the commercial invoice and packing list
- Packaging, marking and stowage meeting the applicable packing instruction — P912 for vehicles, with the Class 9A lithium battery label where the vehicle is enclosed
- A dangerous goods declaration for the correct UN entry, signed by the shipper or a DG-certified forwarder where required
- Damaged, flooded or recalled battery units — refused by most carriers, so they are flagged at booking
Preparation
State of Charge and Packaging
State of Charge (SOC)
Carriers limit the charge level of lithium batteries in transport to reduce the energy available in an incident, and 30% is the common cap. The IMDG Code sets no universal figure — it is a carrier requirement, so we confirm the current limit for your service and record the SOC at handover. Air transport is stricter: IATA rules make 30% mandatory for vehicle batteries above 100 Wh.
Packaging and Stowage
Whole vehicles generally travel as the vehicle, with the battery secured and terminals protected. Loose batteries travel under their own packing instruction, separated from heat and damage. The exact method is agreed with the carrier before the unit moves — and units with damaged, flooded or recalled batteries are refused by most carriers, so they are flagged at booking rather than at the terminal.
Paperwork
Required Documentation
- UN38.3 test summary for the exact battery model (not the vehicle brand)
- MSDS for the battery chemistry
- Dangerous goods declaration for the correct UN entry where the consignment requires one
- Battery specification sheet: chemistry, capacity, voltage, weight
- Written battery condition and SOC confirmation at handover
- China export licence where applicable — pure-electric passenger cars have required an export licence since 1 January 2026 (MOFCOM et al., Announcement No. 54 of 2025), and lithium batteries of 300 Wh/kg or more fall under dual-use export control (Announcement No. 58 of 2025, with implementation periodically adjusted — we confirm the current status per shipment)
- Any destination-specific battery or EV import permit — for the EU, the Battery Regulation (2023/1542) phases in a digital battery passport for EV batteries from 18 February 2027, and carbon-footprint documentation is already being checked at EU ports
Rules for lithium batteries change and differ by carrier, mode and destination. This page is a preparation checklist, not a compliance guarantee — the carrier and the consignee’s broker confirm what applies to your shipment.
Related pages
- Shipping documents — UN38.3, MSDS and dangerous goods declarations
- Cars in containers — where electric units usually load
Shipping an EV or Loose Batteries? Provide the Specification
Battery chemistry, capacity and whether the battery powers the unit determine the class. Provide the specification and we will confirm the booking requirements.
Request a QuoteQuestions we get asked often
Can you ship a fully built electric car?
Yes. A complete battery-electric car ships as UN3556 (Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered) under the IMDG Code 2024 edition, travelling as the vehicle with its battery secured and the SOC within the carrier limit. We confirm the UN number and the documents before booking.
What is the SOC limit for transport?
Carriers commonly require 30% state of charge or less, and many now ask for the figure in writing. It is a carrier requirement rather than a universal IMDG rule, so confirm the current figure for your service — it is recorded at handover. Air transport is stricter: 30% is mandatory for vehicle batteries above 100 Wh.
Do you need the UN38.3 test summary?
Yes — for battery-powered vehicles (the traction battery must have passed UN38.3 testing) and for loose batteries. It must cover the exact battery model, and carriers often ask for a summary dated within the last five years.
Can loose spare batteries travel with the vehicle?
They travel under UN3481 (packed with equipment) when beside the unit, subject to the carrier packing instruction. Note that several carriers decline loose or spare batteries in the same container as a vehicle entirely — we confirm the method before the unit is booked.
Does this apply to hybrid vehicles too?
Yes, with a different entry: hybrids and plug-in hybrids with an internal-combustion engine ship as UN3166, because the fuel system governs, while pure battery-electric vehicles are UN3556. Either way they are Class 9, and we confirm the entry and the documents before booking.
What changed for EV shipping in 2026?
Two things. IMDG Amendment 42-24 became mandatory on 1 January 2026, moving lithium-battery vehicles from UN3171 to UN3556, UN3557 and UN3558; and pure-electric passenger cars exported from China have required an export licence since the same date. Older checklists quoting UN3171 no longer match what carriers accept.