Short answer: yes. Carrier liability under the Hague-Visby rules is capped at roughly 2 SDR per kilo — for a 1,600 kg car that is a few thousand dollars, far below its value. Marine cargo insurance covers the gap.
What the clauses mean - Institute Cargo Clauses (A): all-risks cover, the standard choice for vehicles. Covers physical loss or damage from any external cause except listed exclusions. - Clauses (B) and (C): named-perils only. (C) is very narrow — fire, stranding, collision, general average. Handling damage and theft are not covered. - Add war and strikes clauses for routes touching high-risk waters such as the Red Sea.
Cost Typical premium is 0.15%-0.6% of CIF value plus 10% (insurers usually cover CIF + 10% to include expected profit and duty exposure). For a USD 15,000 car expect roughly USD 40-120. That is cheap relative to a total loss.
RoRo vs container RoRo is cheaper but the car is driven on and off, exposed to handling scratches and interior theft. Container shipping costs more but the vehicle is sealed and lashed; personal items and spare parts can travel inside. If your car is high value or new, container plus Clauses (A) is the safer combination.
Who buys the policy - Under CIF the seller arranges insurance and hands you the certificate. Check the cover level — some sellers buy the cheapest (C) cover. - Under FOB or CFR the risk passes to you at the loading port, so buy the policy yourself before the vessel sails.
Filing a claim 1. Note the damage on the delivery receipt or equipment interchange report before signing. 2. Photograph the car in the terminal, before it leaves the port. 3. Notify the insurer and carrier in writing within the policy deadline, usually 3 days. 4. Request a surveyor inspection; do not repair the car first. 5. Submit the insurance certificate, B/L, commercial invoice, survey report and repair quotation.
General average is the one clause buyers forget: if the vessel suffers a casualty, every cargo owner contributes proportionally, and cargo is not released until you post a bond. Insured shipments have that bond handled by the insurer; uninsured buyers pay cash.
CarSourceHub can quote CIF including Institute Cargo Clauses (A) to your discharge port so cover starts before the car leaves the yard.