Guides Hub · Updated for 2026
Everything you need to know before shipping your vehicle overseas from the UK — costs, methods, ports, customs and more.
Guide Hub Overview
Shipping a car overseas from the UK involves more than just booking a vessel. You need to understand the right shipping method for your destination, know the current costs, prepare the correct documents, and understand what happens at the port on both ends.
This guide hub covers every aspect of UK vehicle export — from choosing between RoRo and container shipping, to understanding import duties at your destination port, to avoiding the most common mistakes that delay or damage shipments.
Whether you are shipping a family car to Australia, a classic car to the USA, a pickup truck to Nigeria, or a luxury 4x4 to Dubai — every answer you need is here.
All guides are written by UK vehicle shipping specialists and updated regularly with 2026 rates, port schedules, and import regulation changes.
Topic Clusters
RoRo vs container vs shared container — understand every option before you book.
Explore shipping methodsCurrent 2026 price ranges for every major destination from the UK.
Explore shipping costsCountry-by-country import rules, duties, and port information.
Explore destination guidesEvery document you need to export a vehicle legally from the UK.
Explore customs & documentsUK departure ports and international arrival ports explained in detail.
Explore port guidesClassic cars, EVs, motorcycles, motorhomes — specialist advice for every vehicle.
Explore vehicle type guidesReader Favourites
The complete 2026 price breakdown by destination, method and vehicle size.
Side-by-side comparison of cost, security, transit time and suitability by destination.
Step-by-step checklist covering documentation, fuel level, personal items and inspection.
Full list of required export documents including V5C, bill of lading, customs declaration and more.
Transit times for every major route from the UK with current 2026 sailing schedules.
What happens after your vehicle arrives — port collection process, storage fees and customs.
The most common fraud patterns targeting UK vehicle exporters and how to protect yourself.
Destination Guides
Select your destination country for full import rules, current costs, port information and the step-by-step shipping process.
Methods Explained
Not sure which method suits your vehicle and destination? Call our team on +44 7882 764210 and we will advise you in under 5 minutes.
Your vehicle is driven onto a specialist car carrier vessel and secured on a vehicle deck. No container is used. This is the most popular and cost-effective method for standard vehicles shipping to most major destinations.
Your vehicle is loaded into a dedicated 20ft or 40ft steel shipping container. Offers maximum protection and the ability to pack personal belongings around the vehicle.
Your vehicle shares a container with other vehicles heading to the same destination. Costs are split between shippers, making this significantly cheaper than a dedicated container while offering more protection than RoRo.
2026 Rate Overview
Prices vary based on vehicle size, shipping method and destination. The table below shows approximate RoRo and container rates for a standard saloon car.
| Destination | RoRo From | Container From | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai / UAE | £650 | £1,100 | 18–22 days |
| Australia | £850 | £1,400 | 28–35 days |
| USA (East Coast) | £750 | £1,200 | 14–18 days |
| Nigeria (Lagos) | £550 | £950 | 20–25 days |
| Kenya (Mombasa) | £600 | £1,000 | 22–28 days |
| Ghana (Tema) | £520 | £900 | 18–24 days |
| South Africa | £700 | £1,150 | 25–30 days |
| Jamaica | £780 | £1,250 | 16–20 days |
| Canada | £720 | £1,180 | 14–18 days |
| New Zealand | £950 | £1,500 | 35–42 days |
| Pakistan (Karachi) | £580 | £980 | 20–26 days |
| Cyprus | £420 | £780 | 8–12 days |
Note: prices shown are estimates for a standard saloon. Final price depends on vehicle dimensions, weight, port of loading and current fuel surcharges.
The Process
Questions at any stage? Call +44 7882 764210 — we are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm UK time.
Contact our team with your vehicle details, collection location and destination port. We confirm the best method, cost and next available sailing date.
Pay a deposit to secure your booking. We handle all port bookings, vessel reservations and documentation preparation.
We collect your vehicle from your address or you drop it at your nearest UK port. Pre-export inspection is completed and documented.
We submit your vehicle's export declaration to HMRC through the Customs Declaration Service. Your V5C is endorsed for export.
Your vehicle is loaded onto the vessel and departs on the confirmed sailing date. You receive tracking updates throughout transit.
On arrival at the destination port, import customs clearance is completed. Duties and taxes are paid by the consignee.
Your vehicle is released from the port for collection or onward delivery to your address.
E-E-A-T
Written by active UK vehicle shipping specialists with hands-on experience of RoRo, container and shared container shipments to 60+ countries.
Every guide on this site is connected to a live shipping service. When you are ready to book, you are one click away from an exact quote with confirmed sailing dates.
This is not a comparison site. We are the shipper. That means the advice here reflects what actually happens when your vehicle goes through the process — not what we think might happen.
FAQ
Get an instant quote from the UK’s trusted vehicle export specialists.
