How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from the USA to the UK in 2026?

As a typical guide, ocean freight from the US East Coast to the UK costs roughly £900–£1,400 and from the West Coast roughly £1,600–£2,400, depending on RoRo or container, the port and the vehicle size. These are typical ranges, not fixed prices — we give a fixed quote for your car. On top of freight, you pay UK import duty of 10% (or 0% for qualifying historic vehicles), 20% import VAT (5% for qualifying historic vehicles), NOVA notification, any IVA test or modifications, and DVLA registration.

US inland transport: from the seller to the port. Short hops are cheap; cross-country moves cost more.

Ocean freight: RoRo is usually cheapest for running cars; a sole or shared container gives more protection and lets you ship spare parts.

Marine insurance: usually a small percentage of the car's value.

UK port and handling charges: unloading, terminal and documentation fees.

UK import duty: 10% of the customs value (price paid plus freight and insurance), or 0% for qualifying historic vehicles.

Import VAT: 20% of the customs value plus duty, or 5% for qualifying historic vehicles over 30 years old.

NOVA: a free online notification to HMRC within 14 days of arrival.

Approval: IVA for cars under 10 years old, plus lighting and speedometer changes for US-spec cars.

Registration: DVLA first registration fee, MOT (if needed) and number plates.

Imagine you buy a car in New Jersey for the equivalent of £20,000 and ship it by RoRo, with freight and insurance of about £1,200. The customs value is about £21,200. Duty at 10% adds about £2,120. VAT at 20% is charged on £23,320, adding about £4,664. Before approval, registration and local transport, the total is therefore around £28,000.

Now imagine a 1972 classic that qualifies as a historic vehicle, bought for £20,000. With 0% duty and 5% VAT, the VAT is about £1,060, making the total landed cost far lower. This is why classic American cars are such a popular import.

HMRC's reduced rates apply to vehicles that are over 30 years old, in original condition without substantial changes, and of a model no longer produced. If your car qualifies, you pay 0% duty and 5% import VAT. Keep evidence of the car's age and originality, as HMRC may ask for it.

Most American cars need some work to be registered in the UK. Common items are amber rear indicators (many US cars use red), headlamp beam pattern, rear fog lamp, and a speedometer showing mph (most do) with km/h if required for approval. Newer cars going through IVA may need further changes. Budget a few hundred to a couple of thousand pounds depending on the car.

RoRo is typically the cheapest way to ship a running car from East Coast ports such as Baltimore, New York/New Jersey or Jacksonville. Container shipping is better for classics, high-value cars, non-runners and anyone shipping spares. From the West Coast, container shipping is often more practical. Shared containers can reduce costs if you are flexible on timing.

Buy close to an East Coast port to reduce inland transport. Check whether your car qualifies as a historic vehicle. Use a shared container if you have spares to bring. If you are moving to the UK permanently and have owned and used the car abroad for at least six months, Transfer of Residence relief may remove duty and VAT altogether.

Forgetting to include freight and insurance when calculating VAT, which leaves people underbudgeting by hundreds of pounds. Assuming every old car qualifies for historic rates, when HMRC requires the car to be original and over 30 years old. Buying a car with an unclear title, which can stop it leaving the US. Leaving the car in the UK port without customs clearance ready, which triggers storage fees. Not budgeting for lighting conversions and IVA on newer cars. A fixed quote and a quick call with us before you buy helps avoid all of these.

After customs clearance and NOVA, the car needs to pass the right approval route (IVA for newer cars, or be exempt if old enough), then an MOT if it is over three years old. Apply to DVLA with form V55/5, the proof of approval, MOT, insurance, and import documents. Classic cars can apply for an age-related number plate with dating evidence from a club or manufacturer. Once registered, you can tax and drive the car on UK roads.

East Coast: Baltimore, New York/New Jersey, Jacksonville, Savannah and Charleston are common RoRo and container ports with regular sailings to Southampton and other UK ports. Transit is usually around two to three weeks at sea.

Gulf Coast: Houston and Galveston serve Texas and the southern states.

West Coast: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma. These routes are longer, usually via the Panama Canal, and container shipping is often the practical choice.

Choosing a port close to the seller can save hundreds of pounds in US inland transport.

Check the vehicle's title is clean and in the seller's name, and that there is no outstanding loan. Run a history report to check accident, flood and mileage records. Use a secure payment method, and never pay a stranger by untraceable transfer. If possible, have an independent inspection before you buy. The US exporter must present the title to US Customs before the car can sail, usually at least 72 hours before departure, so make sure you have the original.

For UK arrival you will need the bill of lading, the title or proof of ownership, the purchase invoice and your ID. We help with the UK customs declaration, NOVA and advice on approval and registration.

Send us the car's make, model, year, location and whether it runs. We will give you a fixed shipping quote and explain the UK charges so you know the full landed cost before you buy.

The Ship Cars works with Ascope Shipping Services LTD, our official vehicle shipping agent in Hull, rated 4.7/5 from 710 Trustpilot reviews. You get one point of contact for UK collection, export paperwork, RoRo or container freight and advice for arrival. Every quote is fixed and based on our published country rates where they apply, so there are no surprises on the port-to-port price. We can arrange the whole journey, from the US port to your door in the UK.