Algeria is just across the Mediterranean, yet it rarely comes up when people talk about shipping a car to the UK. That makes it feel harder than it is. The car goes by sea, out through the Strait of Gibraltar and up to the UK, and from the moment it lands the job is the same as from anywhere else.
Algeria does not have its own guide on the My Car Import site yet. We ship from far more countries than we have written up, though, and this page sets out what we know for certain about the route.
- Port
- Algiers, or another Algerian port
- Guide shipping price
- From £3,575
- Transit time
- Usually 4 to 8 weeks
- Steering
- Left-hand drive
- Import tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty
Which port the car leaves from
Our route from Algeria is drawn from the Port of Algiers, on the Bay of Algiers. It is run by the Entreprise Portuaire d'Alger (EPAL), and its main container terminal, DP World Djazair, has been operated by DP World since 2009.
The detail worth knowing is that Algiers is not always where cars go. In 2009 most RoRo vehicle traffic was moved from Algiers to the ports of Mostaganem, Djen Djen and Ghazaouet to ease congestion. So a car shipped by RoRo may well leave from one of those instead. We confirm the port with the shipping method. There is more on our Algiers port page.
Container or RoRo
We collect from your address or dealer and take the car to the port. Depending on its value, we will quote for open or enclosed transport to the port, and if you want enclosed, just say so on the quote form.
The car then travels in a shared container, a container of its own or by RoRo. Transit is usually 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the sailing. A container keeps the car sealed in for the voyage, and a shared one spreads the cost. Our guides to container, RoRo or air and shared or sole container explain the trade-offs.
The Algerian side
The car will need clearing for export, and the owner will need to deal with its Algerian registration. We have not found a current official English source on those steps, so we will not set them out here as fact. We go through them with you when we quote, and anything you can get from the authority where the car is registered helps.
If you are buying in Algeria rather than bringing your own car, check the seller owns it outright and that the papers match the car. Our guide to buying a car abroad safely covers what to look at.
Import tax from Algeria
A car bought in Algeria pays 20% import VAT and 10% import duty. Both are worked out on the price of the car plus the transport, with VAT charged on top of the duty. If the invoice is more than 3 months old, a recent valuation is used instead. The UK has no trade agreement with Algeria on the government's current list, so these are the rates to plan around.
A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. A car that was registered in the UK before may come back tax free with its UK purchase invoice and old V5C. The import tax calculator gives a quick figure, and our worked tax examples put the rates into pounds.
Moving to the UK
If you are moving here after more than 12 months abroad, and have owned the car for more than 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no import tax at all. Apply online with HMRC before the car arrives. The reference number goes on the customs declaration when the car lands.
Customs and NOVA
We clear the car through UK customs ourselves as HMRC CDS authorised agents. HMRC also has to be told within 14 days that the car has arrived, through the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA), and the DVLA will not register the car without it. We submit it as part of clearance. Our guide to what happens when your car arrives walks through it.
Making it UK road legal
Algerian cars are left-hand drive and set up for driving on the right. The usual changes are:
- Headlights adjusted or replaced for driving on the left
- A speedometer reading in mph
- A rear fog light where needed
We do all of it on our own site. See speedometer and headlight conversions for how, and left-hand drive cars in the UK for living with one.
Testing and registration
- Under 10 years old: an IVA test
- Over 10 years old: an MOT, with changes generally coming down to the rear fog light
- Over 40 years old: no MOT needed, and the car can be delivered before registration
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain and test on site every week. Every car and manufacturer is different, so if yours is unusual, ask us before it ships. Once it passes, our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days. The IVA test explained guide covers the test.
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Before it sails
Collection and export
We collect the car, take it to the port and get it loaded, by container or RoRo.
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4 to 8 weeks
At sea
The car sails west through the Strait of Gibraltar and up to the UK.
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Arrival
Customs and NOVA
We make the customs entry ourselves and tell HMRC the car has arrived.
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At our site
Changes and testing
Our team makes the changes the car needs, then tests it on our own IVA or MOT lane.
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Within 10 working days
Registration
Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car and fit your UK plates.
Your Algeria paperwork
0 of 5 done
What it costs
Algeria falls under our rest-of-world guide. As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping starts from around £3,575. That is shipping only. It excludes registration, other services, import tax and any remedial work. Your quote prices your actual car, port and method.
See our shipping costs page for how the figures are built, or the Algeria country page.
Questions people ask
Do you ship cars from Algeria to the UK?
Yes. Algeria has no guide of its own on the My Car Import site yet, but we ship from far more countries than we have written up. Send us the car details and we will price the route.
Which port do cars ship from in Algeria?
Our route is drawn from Algiers, whose main container terminal is DP World Djazair. Most RoRo vehicle traffic was moved to Mostaganem, Djen Djen and Ghazaouet in 2009, so a RoRo car may leave from one of those. We confirm the port when we quote.
How long does it take to ship a car from Algeria?
Transit is usually 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the sailing. Collection, customs, changes, testing and registration come on top.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Algeria?
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from the rest of the world starts from around £3,575. That excludes registration, other services, import tax and any remedial work.
Do I pay import tax on a car from Algeria?
Usually 20% import VAT plus 10% duty. Cars over 30 years old pay 5% VAT and no duty, and Transfer of Residence can make it tax free if you are moving here.
Send us the car's details on the quote form and we will price the whole job, from Algeria to your drive.
