Car Shipping to China
from the United Kingdom
China accepts vehicle imports with significant duties but only through authorised dealers or special permit holders. The Ship Cars provides container shipping to Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to China from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to China is priced per vehicle and route — request a free quote for a fixed price. 30–40 days to Shanghai from Southampton. Vehicles are shipped by container to Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou. The Ship Cars, the vehicle shipping agent of Ascope Shipping Services LTD, handles UK collection, export paperwork and customs documentation end to end.
Shipping to China: cars, trucks, machinery and import rules
Information reviewed September 2026. Always confirm final rules with the official authority before shipping.
Car shipping from the UK to China
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou in about 30–40 days to Shanghai from Southampton. Prices depend on vehicle size and method — see our car shipping costs.
This route is served mainly by container shipping for extra protection and personal effects. Specialist options include classic car shipping and electric vehicle shipping.
Estimate your price with the cost calculator or check upcoming departures on the RORO sailing schedule.
Truck and commercial vehicle shipping to China
Quick answer: Trucks usually ship on flat-rack or open-top containers to Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, priced by dimensions and weight. Transit is about 30–40 days to Shanghai from Southampton.
- Exact length, width, height and gross weight required for a quote
- Running and non-running trucks accepted (towing / crane loading arranged)
- Tanks drained, loose items removed, V5C and export declaration needed
- Check China age and emissions limits for commercial vehicles before buying
Read more: truck shipping service, commercial vehicle shipping and our guide to shipping a truck from the UK.
Machinery and plant shipping to China
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship on flat-rack containers or as break-bulk to Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou. Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including China, inspect for biosecurity.
- Tracked machines loaded on MAFI trailers or flat-racks
- Professional washing and fumigation certificates where required
- Dimensions and weight drive the price — oversize cargo quoted individually
- Commercial invoice and proof of ownership needed for customs
See our heavy machinery shipping service and customs clearance support.
China vehicle import rules (September 2026)
- Import duty 15–25%.
- VAT 13%.
- Consumption tax 1–40% based on engine size.
- Left-hand drive required.
- CCC certification and import licence required.
Documents required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- CCC certificate
- Import licence
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official China & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Shipping a vehicle to China?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for China, usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options
Methods
Container
Transit Time
30–40 days to Shanghai
Ports
Shanghai, Tianjin +1
Starting From
£2,500
Overview
China accepts vehicle imports with significant duties but only through authorised dealers or special permit holders. The Ship Cars provides container shipping to Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou.
Shipping Methods
Container shipping to major Chinese ports.
Transit Time
30–40 days to Shanghai from Southampton.
Import Regulations
Import duty 15–25%. VAT 13%. Consumption tax 1–40% based on engine size. Left-hand drive required. CCC certification and import licence required.
Documents Required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- CCC certificate
- Import licence
Costs & Fees
Container from £2,500–£4,000. Import duty 15–25%. VAT 13%. Consumption tax 1–40%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can individuals import a car to China?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to China?
Which UK ports do you ship from to China?
What documents do I need to ship a car to China?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to China?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to China?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to China from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to China every month. Routing into Asia typically tranships through Singapore or Port Klang, with sealed 40ft containers used for everything except a handful of RORO-served deepwater ports. Carnet de Passage, Euro 4–6 emission proofs and chassis verification are the recurring compliance themes. Typical clients on this lane include Carnet-holding overlanders, alongside private owners relocating to China and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-China corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with China customs.
Vehicles depart from Liverpool, Tilbury, Immingham and arrive at Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou via Suez transit transhipping at Singapore or Port Klang. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 30–40 days to shanghai from southampton, supported by marine all-risks insurance, GPS-tracked UK collection and bonded warehousing where required. For an instant indication of cost, use our car shipping cost calculator or request a tailored quote on our quote page.
How UK to China car shipping works
Every shipment to China follows the same six-step pipeline: free quotation, UK collection or self-drop at Liverpool, bonded UK warehousing and pre-shipment photos, HMRC NOVA / C88 export clearance handled by our UK customs clearance team, ocean transit to Shanghai (and onward feeder to Tianjin where required), and destination customs handover. You choose the shipping mode that best matches the vehicle profile and budget — see the full breakdown on our car shipping costs page or compare live RORO sailing dates to China.
RORO to China
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for China. Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Shanghai. RORO shipping to China — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to China
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Tianjin. Dedicated container shipping to China.
China ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for China are typically routed through Shanghai as the lead discharge port, with Tianjin, Guangzhou available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to China and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Shanghai
- Port of Tianjin
- Port of Guangzhou
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
China import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into China is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest China customs schedule before quoting.
- Strict homologation and emission standards (Euro 4–6)
- Carnet de Passage in selected markets
- Right-hand-drive advantage for South and East Asia
- Container shipping via Singapore, Port Klang and Hong Kong
Document checklist for China
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- CCC certificate
- Import licence
For full country-specific customs rules, see our China import guides and articles, our UK and China customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Shanghai.
Who ships to China
- • Returning China residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to China
- • Asia car dealers and China re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to China
- • Saloons, hatchbacks and family cars
- • SUVs, 4x4s and pickups (Land Rover, Range Rover, Toyota, Nissan)
- • Luxury and executive vehicles (Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi)
- • Performance and supercars (McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari)
- • Classic and historic vehicles (pre-1990 with HMRC NOVA exemption)
- • Motorbikes, scooters and quad bikes
- • Vans, light commercials and motorhomes
- • Electric and hybrid vehicles (EV battery documentation supported)
Why exporters choose The Ship Cars for China
• Specialist UK-to-China corridor with weekly capacity
• Marine all-risks insurance and bonded UK warehousing
• HMRC NOVA, C88, EORI and DVLA V5C export handled in-house
• Transparent UK to China pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Shanghai agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
Related services and tools for shipping to China
Shipping methods
Pricing & schedules
Guides & comparisons
Other Asia destinations from the UK
We ship to 8+ other Asia countries from the UK on the same trade lanes as China. Many customers shipping to China also enquire about Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to China
Our China corridor team responds through the online quote form with port pairing, container availability and indicative duty in a single reply.