America sells cars, trucks and bikes that were never offered in the UK, and plenty of them make the trip to our yard. The worry with any American car is usually the same: will a left-hand drive car with American lights ever pass here. It will, with the right changes, and the USA has our lowest guide shipping price of any sea route. These are the vehicles that come up again and again, all of them ones that have come through our yard.
- Steering
- Left-hand drive
- Time at sea
- Around 2 to 4 weeks
- Main ports
- New York, Savannah, Houston, Oakland
- Guide shipping price
- From £1,450, shipping only
- Import tax
- 10% duty + 20% VAT
Ford Mustang
The Mustang is the car most people picture when they think of importing from America, from the first-generation classics to the latest V8. My Car Import brings in hundreds of Fords a year, from Mustangs to F100 pickups.
Classic Mustangs over 30 years old pay the reduced rate of tax. Modern ones compete with right-hand drive cars Ford sells here, so people usually import one for a particular spec. Our Ford Mustang import guide goes through every generation.
Dodge Challenger and Charger
The Challenger R/T is one we have had through our yard, and the Charger is its four-door sibling. Neither was sold new in the UK, which is the whole point. Big V8s, wide bodies and American lighting that needs changing. Our Challenger and Charger guide covers what to check.
Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro
Corvettes come to us in every condition, including classics that need a full restoration. The Camaro is the Mustang's old rival, and people ask about both. See our Corvette and Camaro guides for the details.
Pickup trucks
Full-size American trucks are some of the most distinctive vehicles we import. We have handled everything from the Ford F-150 Raptor to the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, as well as plenty of modified trucks.
The big thing to know is weight. The heavy-duty trucks can go over 3,500kg gross vehicle weight, which changes the approval route, the yearly test and the licence you need. Check before you buy. Our guide to importing a pickup truck explains the line and what sits either side of it.
Jeep Wrangler
The Wrangler Rubicon has come through our yard too. It appeals to people who want a proper off-roader with a removable roof, and many have lift kits and bigger tyres fitted. Our Jeep Wrangler import guide covers modifications and testing.
Big American SUVs
The Cadillac Escalade is a good example of the full-size American SUV: huge, comfortable and very rarely seen here. Size is the thing to think about. Measure your drive and garage, and give us the exact model when you ask for a quote, because a big SUV takes more space on the ship.
Classic cars
We import a lot of classic cars from America, and not only Mustangs and Corvettes. Older American cars can be simpler to bring in than newer ones, because they skip the IVA test. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, and one over 40 that has not been substantially changed does not need an MOT. Our guide to importing a classic car covers shipping and registration.
Vans, motorhomes and motorbikes
It is not only cars. My Car Import has brought hundreds of vans over from America, and American motorhomes come over too. Motorbikes from the US are usually Harleys, and they are cheaper to ship than cars because they share container space. We have guides to importing a van, importing an American motorhome and importing a motorbike.
Before you buy any of them
Worth checking first
0 of 6 done
The title matters most. A UK registration really needs a clean title to go smoothly, so a cheap car with a branded title may not be the bargain it looks. Buying at auction? Read our guide to buying a car from a US auction first, and US export rules for the paperwork at the US end.
Shipping from the USA
We collect from anywhere in the USA, whether that is a dealer, an auction yard or a private driveway, and truck the car to the port. We ship mainly from New York, Savannah, Houston and Oakland. East Coast sailings take around 2 weeks and West Coast around 4, with about 2 weeks before that for paperwork and loading.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping a car from the USA starts from £1,450. That is shipping only, and excludes registration, other services, import tax and any work the car needs. A big truck or SUV will come in above that. Our guide to the cost of shipping a car from the USA explains what moves the price.
A vehicle under 30 years old pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price plus shipping. One over 30 pays 5% VAT and no duty. If you are moving to the UK and qualify for Transfer of Residence, it can come in with no tax at all.
Making it UK road legal
American vehicles are left-hand drive, and that is fine: the DVLA registers them without asking for the steering to be moved. The work is mostly lighting.
- Amber rear indicators, because North American cars usually flash red at the back
- Side markers at the front of the doors
- A rear fog light
- Headlights adjusted or replaced for driving on the left
Then a vehicle under 10 years old takes an IVA test, one between 10 and 40 takes an MOT, and one over 40 needs neither. Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and we run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so testing happens on our own site in Castle Donington. Our guide to converting an American car for UK roads goes through each change.
Questions people ask
What are the most common cars shipped from the USA to the UK?
Vehicles that come through our yard include Ford Mustangs, Dodge Challengers, Jeep Wranglers, full-size pickups such as the F-150 and Silverado, Cadillac Escalades, Corvettes and classic American cars, along with vans, motorhomes and Harleys.
Can American cars be registered in the UK?
Yes. Left-hand drive cars can be registered without converting the steering. They usually need lighting changes, such as amber rear indicators, side markers, a rear fog light and headlights set for driving on the left.
How much does it cost to ship a car from the USA?
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from the USA starts from £1,450, shipping only. Big trucks and SUVs cost more because they take more space.
Can I import a big American pickup?
Yes, but check its gross vehicle weight first. Over 3,500kg it is treated as a heavy goods vehicle, with a different approval route, yearly test and licence.
How long does shipping from the USA take?
Around 2 weeks at sea from the East Coast and around 4 from the West, with about 2 weeks before sailing for paperwork and loading.
Found something in the States? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the whole job, from the US address to your drive.
