What it costs to ship a car to the UK
It depends almost entirely on where the car is starting from. These guide prices come from a year of real jobs.
£1,450 to £4,000 by sea, depending on which side of the world the car is on.
The further the car, the bigger the number
Guide prices by region, shipping only.
Shipping only. Registration, other services, import tax and remedial fees are not included.
Motorbikes come in cheaper than any car route because they travel in shared containers. Australia and New Zealand are shown together because that is how the route is priced, and "rest of world" covers every origin without a figure of its own.
Europe is left out because those cars come by road, not sea, and we price them per job.
See every figure as a table
| Where the car ships from | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | from £4,000 |
| Rest of world | from £3,575 |
| Australia / New Zealand | from £3,200 |
| Singapore | from £3,175 |
| Hong Kong | from £2,425 |
| Canada | from £2,175 |
| UAE / Middle East | from £2,150 |
| South Africa | from £1,975 |
| Cyprus | from £1,850 |
| Malta | from £1,725 |
| USA | from £1,450 |
| Motorbikes, from anywhere | from £1,250 |
Add the tax and see the whole number
Shipping is only part of it. Put in what the car cost and we will add the import duty and VAT you are likely to pay when it lands.
Your car will not be the guide price
The port, the size of the car, whether it shares a container and how quickly you need it all move the number. Ask and we will price the actual route.
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Where it starts
The biggest factor by far. The further the car is from the UK, the bigger the number, and some ports cost more to ship from than others.
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Shared or dedicated
A space in a shared container is the cheapest way to ship. A container of your own costs more, but it sails when you are ready.
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The car
Size matters, and so does condition. If a car has to be pushed or needs work to start it, that adds time and money at both ends.
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How quickly you need it
Shipping lines charge more when they are busy, and a tight deadline narrows the options. Air freight is fastest, and priced to match.
And the import tax?
Moving to the UK
Lived outside the UK for more than 12 months and owned the car for more than 6? Transfer of Residence makes it tax and duty free. You apply to HMRC, and our customers get guides to help.
Bought in the EU
20% import VAT, on the purchase price plus the transport costs to bring it here.
Bought outside the EU
20% import VAT and 10% duty, on the purchase price plus transport.
Over 30 years old
Classics pay 5% import VAT and no duty.
Coming home
A car that used to be UK-registered may come back tax free, with its UK purchase invoice and old V5C logbook.
How it is worked out
VAT is based on your purchase invoice, or a recent valuation if the invoice is more than 3 months old.
Get the real number for your car
Where it is, what it is and when you need it here. We will come back with a price for the whole job, not just the boat.
Rather talk it through? Call 01332 810442
