Shipping Your Car to the UK? Car Shipping from the USA to the UK starts at a cost of $849 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 14-28 days, depending on the make and model of the vehicle, the port of origin, and the method of shipment. Below, we explore everything you need to know about shipping your car to the UK.
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Request a free online quote – Quotes are available online with a guaranteed response within 24 hours for car shipping and moving services to the UK.
Please do not hesitate to call or email us anytime with any questions about international car shipping services. Contact our shipping experts for more information. We are always just a phone call away!
Want more information on international car shipping services to the UK from USA?
Read on below for our US to UK Vehicle Shipping Checklist, Vehicle Import Options, US to UK Car Shipping Costs & Time Frame, US to UK Vehicle Shipping Options, Ports Served in the US & the UK, and other details for car shipping services from the USA to the UK.
Upon arrival of your vehicle import to the United Kingdom, the vehicle must be declared in Customs.
You’ll need the following documentation:
Things to Consider
Using a baseline of a compact car being shipped using the roll-on/roll-off method from the Port of Los Angeles to the Port of Felixstowe, our estimate for shipping a car from the USA to the United Kingdom starts at a cost of $849 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 14 – 28 days.
However, the cost to ship a car to the UK can vary according to factors such as the model and make of your vehicle, your current location, the nearest departure port in the USA, your shipping method of choice, availability of your chosen services, and your final destination. Additionally, you’ll need to consider costs you incur when you ship cars, such as storage, cleaning, other vendor fees, and UK taxes & duties.
UK Vehicle Import Taxes
- Import Duty: 10%
- VAT: 20%
- Import Duty for Collector’s Vehicles: 5% VAT with no import duty
Instances Requiring VAT and Vehicle Tax:
Car Shipping USA to UK Options – Methods for Shipping Cars
Car shipping services from the USA to the UK can be performed using a shared container, a sole container or a roll-on/roll-off service.
Roll-On/Roll-Off – With this method to ship vehicles, cars are driven into a ship with a cargo area like a sizeable parking garage. This option tends to be more inexpensive, as only customs clearance charges, port charges, and shipping charges are payable. Your car will need to be in working condition to ship via this method, as it will have to be driven onto a shipping vessel.
Shared Container Service – Your vehicle will be shipped together with multiple others in one container. With container shipping, there will be a wider range of fees payable than with roll-on/roll-off shipping, which are to be shared between all the people using the container, such as a terminal handling charge, trucking charge, charge for unloading the vehicles at a bonded warehouse and customs clearance charge.
One of the downsides of the shared container shipping service is having to wait a longer time for shipping, as the container can only depart when it has a full load.
Full Container Load – This method to ship a car resembles the shared container shipping service, except that your vehicle will be the only one in the container. In terms of the shipping cost, similar fees to those charged for the shared container load are collected, however, these are borne by only one client rather than divided between several.
This shipping method tends to result in quicker transits since weekly departures are possible. With ro-ro services, departures are often not as frequent, meaning longer turnaround times for shipping cars overseas.
Instead of wood ramps which other companies use, we rely on a steel loading system, which is more effective at preventing loss and damage, ideal for transporting classic cars.
Additional Car Shipping Services
Sourcing Vehicles – Our many car buyer contacts make it easy for us to find and buy vehicles on behalf of overseas clients at a commission or additional fee to be paid to the car buyer.
Other Services – Some of the auto transport services we offer in overseas territories include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the USA and a full vehicle inspection report.
Cleaning Your Vehicle’s Undercarriage
Before shipping your vehicle to the UK, the undercarriage must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods.
TD Freight can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement. We do not recommend washing the interior of the vehicle as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient.
Plating Your Vehicle in UK
You must register any vehicle you bring into the UK permanently. You can’t register before you do all the following:
- Tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) you imported the vehicle and get confirmation that your NOVA application is processed.
- Pay VAT and duty if HMRC tells you to.
- Get proof of vehicle approval.