Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to Jamaica in 2026

Vehicles ship RORO or container from Southampton to Kingston, Jamaica's principal port, typically transhipping via a hub port in the Caribbean or through a direct Atlantic crossing depending on the carrier's schedule. Transit time runs 21-30 days. RORO is widely used for standard saloons and SUVs, while container shipping is preferred for higher-value cars or when consolidating with household goods for a relocation move.

RORO freight to Kingston costs £950-£1,350 for a standard car and £1,150-£1,600 for larger SUVs and pickups. A shared container slot runs roughly £1,050-£1,500 per vehicle. Kingston Wharves charges terminal handling and wharfage fees typically totalling £150-£280 on top of ocean freight.

Jamaica restricts imports of used passenger vehicles to a maximum age of 4 years from the date of manufacture for most private cars, with slightly different limits for commercial vehicles and pickups (up to 5 years in some categories). This is stricter than many comparable markets, so always confirm the exact chassis build date against Jamaica Customs' current rules before purchasing a car for export, since an over-age vehicle will be refused entry outright rather than merely taxed at a penalty rate.

Jamaica calculates import duty using a Customs Value based on CIF plus a Jamaica-specific vehicle valuation system that references age and engine size, with combined import duty, Standard Compliance Fee, Environmental Levy and General Consumption Tax (GCT) often totalling 40-70% of the customs value depending on engine capacity — larger-engined vehicles above 2000cc attract markedly higher combined rates than smaller cars. A well-chosen 1.5-2.0 litre UK-sourced car under 4 years old typically lands far more cost-effectively than a larger-engined equivalent.

Required paperwork includes the V5C or export certificate, commercial invoice, bill of lading, and a Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) import entry filed through a licensed customs broker. Since Jamaica drives on the left, UK right-hand-drive cars register without conversion, which combined with strong diaspora demand for UK-sourced vehicles keeps this one of the more established Caribbean import routes. Get a route-specific landed cost estimate through our quote form.