International Car Shipping Costs 2026
Real rates. No fluff. Every cost you need to know before shipping your vehicle overseas from the UK — including port freight, collection, duties, and what to watch out for.
Important: All prices are indicative port-to-port freight rates for a standard saloon car unless stated. 4x4 / SUV rates are shown separately in the table below where published. Quotes are valid for 30 days. Duties, destination port fees, and UK collection are additional. Use our cost calculator for a tailored estimate or check live RORO sailing dates.
Estimate your car shipping cost in 30 seconds
Prefilled with our most-quoted route — a saloon car from Southampton to UAE / Dubai by RORO. Adjust any field to recalculate instantly, or open the full cost calculator.
What affects your shipping cost?
No two shipments cost the same. These are the main factors that move the price up or down.
Vehicle Size & Height
Saloon rates up to 1.6m height. 4x4 / SUV rates up to 2.0m. Anything taller costs more.
Destination & Route
Popular routes (Australia, USA, Europe) have more sailings and better rates than niche destinations.
Shipping Method
RORO is cheapest for running vehicles. Container protects classics, EVs, and non-runners.
Fuel Surcharges
Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) fluctuates with oil prices and can shift rates by 15–30%.
Currency
GBP/USD and GBP/EUR movements affect USD-denominated freight invoiced in sterling.
Seasonal Demand
Q1 and Q3 often see rate spikes. Book 2–4 weeks ahead of your preferred sailing date.
RORO vs Container pricing — Which is right for you?
Side-by-side comparison of the two main shipping methods, with typical 2026 starting prices for a standard saloon from UK ports.
- Vehicle driven directly onto the vessel
- Exposed deck — open to sea air and weather
- Cheapest option for working vehicles
- Must be roadworthy with 15% minimum fuel
- No personal belongings inside
- EVs cannot use RORO
- Transit: 11–22 days UK to USA East Coast
- Sealed steel container — full weather protection
- Best for classics, EVs, luxury, and non-runners
- Shared container (groupage) lowers cost
- Dedicated 20ft / 40ft for single vehicles
- Limited personal effects allowed (check destination)
- Typically 10–20% more than RORO
RORO vs Container at a glance — 2026 starting prices (saloon, port-to-port)
| Region | RORO from | Shared container from | Dedicated 20ft from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe (Spain £535, Italy £650, Greece £630) | £535 | Enquire | £1,040 (Albania) |
| Middle East (Dubai / Jebel Ali, Israel) | £675 | Enquire | Enquire |
| Canada (Halifax) | £850 | Enquire | Enquire |
| Africa (Ghana £815, Senegal £825, Nigeria £950) | £815 | Enquire | Enquire |
| Australia & New Zealand | £1,795 | Enquire | Enquire |
| Asia (Hong Kong £625, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore) | £625 | £760 (Malaysia) | £895 (Thailand) |
Container prices include shared 40ft groupage and sole-use 20ft. Use the cost calculator for an exact figure for your vehicle and route.
Typical transit time ranges — UK to worldwide
Port-to-port sailing times for vehicles loading at Southampton, Tilbury, Bristol or Felixstowe. Add 2–4 days for UK collection and 5–14 days for destination customs and onward delivery.
Europe (short-sea)
Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland
Mediterranean
Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey
Middle East
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain
West Africa
Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire
East Africa
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda (via Mombasa)
Southern Africa
South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique
USA & Canada — East
Baltimore, NY, Halifax, Jacksonville
USA & Canada — West
LA, Long Beach, Tacoma, Vancouver
Caribbean & Latin America
Jamaica, Dom Rep, Mexico, Brazil, Chile
Asia (South & East)
Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sri Lanka
Australia & NZ
Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland
Pacific Islands
Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands (transhipped)
Live sailing dates are published on our RORO sailing schedule. For door-to-door planning see how long does car shipping take.
The 4 cost layers — don't miss any of them
Every international shipment has four distinct cost categories. Miss one and your budget will fall short.
Ocean freight
The core port-to-port shipping cost. Varies by vehicle size, route and method (RORO vs container).
UK-side costs
Collection from your door, port handling (THC), export documentation and shipping note. UK collection typically £95–£250.
Destination port fees & import duties
Terminal handling, port storage, customs broker fees and import duty/VAT. Paid locally on arrival.
Inland delivery (optional)
Transporting from arrival port to final address. US metro typically $200–$600; remote states cost more.
Car shipping costs from UK by destination — 2026 rates
Published port-to-port prices for a standard saloon and a 4x4 / SUV via RORO, plus container prices where fixed. Vans and larger vehicles are quoted on enquiry. Prices exclude UK collection, destination port charges and import duty.
We can arrange shipping of your car, van, bus, truck or container to the following popular destinations: Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Ghana, Cyprus, Malta, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, Liberia, Gambia, Guinea, Togo, Gabon, Cameroon, Angola, Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritius, Slovenia, Turkey, Greece, Sweden, Israel, Brazil, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Burundi, Rwanda, Mexico, Lebanon, Jordan, Suriname, Venezuela, Yemen, Oman, Mauritania and many more…
| Destination | RORO — saloon | RORO — 4x4 / SUV | Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇱AlbaniaDurres | Enquire | Enquire | £1,040 (20ft container) |
| 🇦🇴AngolaLuanda, Lobito | £1,120 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇦🇷ArgentinaZarate | £995 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇦🇺AustraliaBrisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney | £1,795 | £2,525 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇧🇸BahamasNassau | £1,340 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇧🇧BarbadosBridgetown | £1,760 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇧🇯BeninCotonou | £915 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇧🇼BotswanaGaborone | £1,670 | £1,950 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇨🇲CameroonDouala | £1,005 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇨🇦CanadaHalifax | £850 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇨🇱ChileIquique | £1,690 | £2,110 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇨🇬CongoPointe Noire | £1,210 | £1,350 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇨🇾CyprusLimassol | £870 | £1,235 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇩🇲DominicaRoseau | £1,775 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇦🇪UAE / DubaiJebel Ali | £1,150 | £1,260 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇪🇬EgyptAlexandria | £1,170 | £1,295 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇬🇶Equatorial GuineaMalabo, Bata | £1,165 | £1,260 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇬🇦GabonLibreville | £1,150 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇬🇲GambiaBanjul | £1,010 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇬🇭GhanaTema | £815 | £995 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇬🇷GreecePiraeus | £630 | £745 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇬🇩GrenadaSt Georges | £2,285 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇬🇳GuineaConakry | £1,055 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇬🇾GuyanaGeorgetown | £2,380 | £2,400 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇭🇰Hong KongHK International Terminal | £625 | £730 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇮🇱IsraelAshdod | £675 | £795 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇮🇹ItalySavona | £650 | £730 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇨🇮Ivory CoastAbidjan | £945 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇯🇲JamaicaKingston | £1,040 | £1,245 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇯🇵JapanYokohama | £1,565 | £1,860 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇰🇪KenyaMombasa | £1,340 | £1,495 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇱🇸LesothoMaseru | £1,770 | £2,095 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇱🇷LiberiaMonrovia | £870 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇱🇾LibyaMisurata, Al Khums, Tripoli | £1,365 | £1,495 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇲🇾MalaysiaPort Klang | Enquire | Enquire | £760 (Shared container) |
| 🇲🇹MaltaValletta, Freeport | £1,085 | £1,240 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇲🇺MauritiusPort Louis | £1,775 | £2,200 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇲🇦MoroccoCasablanca | £885 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇲🇿MozambiqueMaputo, Beira | £1,210 | £1,290 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇳🇦NamibiaWalvis Bay | £1,020 | £1,135 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇳🇿New ZealandAuckland | £2,230 | £2,970 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇳🇬NigeriaTin Can Island, Apapa | £950 | £1,230 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇰🇳Saint Kitts and NevisBasseterre | £1,590 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇱🇨Saint LuciaVieux Fort, Castries | £2,120 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇻🇨Saint Vincent & the GrenadinesKingstown | £2,220 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇸🇳SenegalDakar | £825 | £1,060 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇸🇱Sierra LeoneFreetown | £1,070 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇸🇬SingaporeSingapore | N/A | N/A | £960 (20ft container) |
| 🇿🇦South AfricaDurban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town | £890 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇪🇸SpainValencia | £535 | £575 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇸🇿Eswatini (Swaziland)Matsapa, Manzini | £1,670 | £1,950 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇸🇪SwedenGothenburg | £775 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇹🇿TanzaniaDar-es-Salaam | £1,340 | £1,495 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇹🇭ThailandLaem Chabang | Enquire | Enquire | £895 (20ft container) |
| 🇹🇬TogoLome | £905 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇹🇹Trinidad and TobagoPort of Spain | £1,080 | £1,295 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇹🇳TunisiaTunis La Goulette | £1,120 | £1,240 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇹🇷TurkeyAutoport, Izmir, Mersin | £735 | £850 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇺🇾UruguayMontevideo | £920 | Enquire | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇿🇲ZambiaLusaka, Kazungula border | £2,200 | £2,245 | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 🇿🇼ZimbabweBeitbridge, Plumtree, Harare | £1,670 | £1,950 | Enquire (20ft container) |
UK to USA 2026 — port-to-port freight rates
Confirmed 2026 port-to-port RORO rates for a standard saloon from Southampton or Tilbury. UK vehicles benefit from the preferential 10% tariff under the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (within the 100,000-vehicle annual quota). Destination port fees (THC, broker) typically add $200–$400.
| US destination port | RORO — saloon | Transit time |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | £986 | 11–16 days |
| Jacksonville, FL | £987 | 8–20 days |
| Charleston, SC | £1,182 | 11–22 days |
| Galveston, TX | £1,240 | 15–39 days |
| New York / NJ | £1,327 | 12–20 days |
| Port Hueneme, CA | £1,477 | 22–36 days |
| Tacoma, WA | £1,818 | 28–36 days |
Additional costs to budget for
UK vehicle collection
Trade plate driver or transporter. London → Southampton ~£145. North England ~£200–£300. 48hr turnaround typical.
Export documentation
Shipping note, V5C, proof of ownership. We handle all paperwork. Port access denied without a valid shipping note.
Marine insurance
Strongly recommended. Typically 1–2% of vehicle value. See our insurance guide for cover types.
Import duty & VAT
Varies by country. India 100%+, EU 6.5%, USA 10% (2026 quota), Australia 5%. Always check destination rules.
Terminal handling (THC)
Charged at both origin and destination ports. UK origin THC usually included; destination THC typically $200–$400 in the US.
Destination delivery
From arrival port to final address. US metro $200–$600; remote states significantly more.
4x4, SUV and larger vehicle rates
The key cost driver for larger vehicles is height. RORO freight is calculated on cubic metres (length × width × height) of the vehicle on the vessel deck.
| Vehicle type | Height bracket | Premium over saloon rate |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Saloon / Hatchback | Up to 1.60m | Base rate |
| Estate / MPV | 1.60m – 1.80m | +£100 – £180 |
| SUV / 4x4 (standard) | 1.80m – 2.00m | +£250 – £350 |
| High-roof 4x4 / Lifted vehicles | 2.00m – 2.20m | +£350 – £500+ |
| Minibus / Large Van / Motorhome | 2.20m+ | Quote required |
Modified vehicles with roof racks, snorkels or lifted suspensions may fall into a higher bracket. Always measure before requesting a quote.
UK vehicle collection costs
We collect from anywhere in the UK via car transporter or fully insured trade plate driver. Trade plate is the more cost-effective option and can typically be arranged within 48 hours.
| Collection route (to port) | Approx. cost | Method |
|---|---|---|
| London to Southampton | ~£145 | Trade plate driver |
| Midlands (Birmingham / Coventry) to Southampton | ~£180 | Trade plate driver |
| North West (Manchester / Liverpool) to Tilbury / Southampton | ~£220 – £260 | Trade plate or transporter |
| Scotland to Teesport / Sheerness | ~£280 – £350 | Car transporter recommended |
| Self delivery to port | £0 (you drive) | Shipping note required in advance |
Drivers attending UK ports must wear hi-vis jackets and steel toe cap boots. Photo ID required. Ensure enough fuel in the vehicle.
Car shipping cost FAQs
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK in 2026?+
Our published port-to-port RORO rates for a saloon range from £535 to Spain (Valencia) up to £2,380 to Guyana (Georgetown). Popular routes include £630 Greece, £815 Ghana, £850 Canada, £890 South Africa, £1,040 Jamaica, £1,340 Kenya and £1,795 Australia. Container prices are fixed on some routes — £760 shared to Malaysia, £895 to Thailand, £960 to Singapore and £1,040 (20ft) to Albania. UK collection, marine insurance, destination port fees and import duties are additional.
Is RORO or container shipping cheaper?+
RORO is cheaper for roadworthy saloons and SUVs. Container shipping costs 10–20% more but accepts non-runners, EVs, classics and personal effects.
Are these shipping rates fixed?+
Rates are indicative and valid for 30 days. Final price depends on vehicle dimensions, sailing date, fuel surcharge (BAF) and your UK collection postcode.
Do quotes include UK collection and import duty?+
No. Indicative rates are port-to-port freight only. Collection from your door, destination port handling, customs clearance and import duty are quoted separately.
Related guides, tools and services
Get your confirmed quote in 2 minutes
Indicative rates above. Your final cost depends on your vehicle dimensions, your chosen port and current carrier availability. Request a tailored online quote for confirmed pricing.
Disclaimer: All prices shown are indicative port-to-port freight rates for a standard saloon car, sourced from current carrier schedules as of May 2026. Rates are subject to change based on fuel surcharges, vessel availability, currency fluctuations and seasonal demand. Import duties, destination port fees, THC charges, insurance and UK collection costs are not included unless stated. Quotes are valid for 30 days from issue. Always confirm the final total cost with your shipping agent before booking. Red Sea / Yemen conflict may affect some routes and transit times.