Shipping a Motorhome or Campervan from the UK: What You Need to Know

Standard RoRo car decks have height clearances typically around 1.6–1.8 metres, which most motorhomes and larger campervans exceed. High-and-heavy RoRo decks or dedicated 'high line' vessel sections are required, and not every port or carrier offers this capacity, so booking lead times are longer than for a standard car — often 6–8 weeks in advance rather than 2–3.

Most motorhomes ship via RoRo where high-line capacity exists, as container shipping a vehicle of this size is impractical or impossible for anything beyond a small campervan conversion. Compact campervans built on a standard van chassis (such as a VW Transporter) can sometimes fit in a container if height permits, offering better protection for a higher price, but full-size motorhomes and coachbuilt units are RoRo-only in almost all cases.

Freight pricing for motorhomes is calculated differently from standard cars, typically on a cubic metre or linear metre basis rather than a flat per-vehicle rate, since length and height both affect how much deck space the vehicle occupies. Expect surcharges of 40–100% above standard car freight rates depending on dimensions, and always provide exact height, length, and width measurements when requesting a quote to avoid recalculation delays at the port.

Motorhomes often travel with fitted furniture, appliances, and stored personal items, which raises specific considerations around personal effects inside a shipped vehicle. Gas cylinders must typically be disconnected and, in some cases, removed entirely before shipping due to maritime safety regulations, and fridges should be defrosted and left ajar to avoid mould developing during transit.

Countries popular with UK motorhome exporters — including Australia, New Zealand, and various EU touring destinations — apply their own import duty and, in some cases, specific 'recreational vehicle' classification rules that differ from standard passenger car duty rates. Always confirm the correct HS (Harmonized System) commodity code classification for motorhomes with your destination customs authority, as misclassification can lead to incorrect duty assessment and clearance delays.

Budget significantly more than standard car freight — a typical coachbuilt motorhome shipped from Southampton to Australia can cost £3,500–£6,000 depending on dimensions and route, compared with £1,200–£1,800 for a standard saloon on the same lane. Always request measurements-based quotes from at least two carriers, since high-line RoRo capacity and pricing vary considerably between operators.