Shipping a BMW 5 Series from the UK to Pakistan: Duties, Ports and Process

Pakistan enforces some of the tightest vehicle age restrictions in the world for used car imports: under the current Import Policy Order, most used vehicles including the BMW 5 Series must be no more than three years old at the time of shipment for general commercial import, with exceptions under specific schemes such as the Personal Baggage, Transfer of Residence, or Gift schemes used by overseas Pakistanis, which allow slightly older vehicles under defined conditions. Before booking shipment, always confirm your 5 Series's registration date falls within the current allowable window, as this changes periodically with government policy updates.

We ship BMW 5 Series saloons and Touring estates to Pakistan primarily via shared or dedicated container from Southampton to Port Qasim near Karachi, the country's main vehicle-handling port. Container shipping is strongly preferred over RORO for this route due to the additional protection during the roughly 25–32 day transit and because container cargo is processed under Pakistan's established used-vehicle import procedures more predictably than RORO cargo on this corridor.

Pakistan calculates duty and taxes on used vehicles using a fixed dutiable value schedule based on engine capacity rather than the actual purchase price, updated periodically by the Federal Board of Revenue. For a BMW 5 Series with a 2.0-litre engine, total duty and taxes (customs duty, sales tax, additional customs duty, and income tax combined) typically fall in the region of 100–150% of the assessed value under standard commercial import, though overseas Pakistanis using the Transfer of Residence scheme benefit from significantly reduced rates, often calculated as a flat duty package. We recommend confirming current rates with a Pakistani clearing agent before shipping given how frequently these schedules are revised.

Shared container shipping for a 5 Series from Southampton to Port Qasim typically costs £1,100–£1,600, with dedicated container options from £2,200–£2,800 for customers wanting a fixed sailing date. Add Pakistani port handling, clearing agent fees and duty on arrival, which are payable locally. Total door-to-door timelines including customs clearance in Karachi typically run 5–7 weeks. Use our cost calculator for a UK-side estimate.

You'll need the original V5C logbook, a bill of sale, an export certificate, and if shipping under a Transfer of Residence or Personal Baggage scheme, proof of overseas residency and passport/NICOP documentation. We strongly advise appointing a licensed clearing agent in Karachi before the vessel departs, since Pakistani customs frequently request additional supporting documents once the container is manifested, and delays at Port Qasim can incur demurrage of roughly $25–$50 per day.