Car Shipping to India
from the United Kingdom
India has restrictive but navigable vehicle import regulations. The Ship Cars provides container shipping to Mumbai, Chennai, and Nhava Sheva for qualifying importers. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to India from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to India is priced per vehicle and route — request a free quote for a fixed price. 22–28 days to Mumbai/JNPT. Both RORO and container shipping are available, with vehicles arriving at Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva), Chennai, Kolkata. 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 India: 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 India
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva), Chennai, Kolkata in about 22–28 days to Mumbai/JNPT. Prices depend on vehicle size and method — see our car shipping costs.
Choose RORO shipping for the lowest price on running vehicles, or 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 India
Quick answer: Trucks, lorries, vans and pickups usually ship by RORO to Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva), Chennai, Kolkata, priced by length, height and weight (per cubic metre). Transit is about 22–28 days to Mumbai/JNPT.
- 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 India 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 India
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship as RORO or break-bulk cargo to Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva), Chennai, Kolkata. Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including India, 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.
India vehicle import rules (September 2026)
- India imposes very high import duties: 100% customs duty for CBU (completely built up) vehicles, plus 25% excise duty and GST.
- Only Indian nationals returning after 2+ years abroad or diplomats can import personal vehicles with some concessions.
- Left-hand drive vehicles are NOT permitted for road use.
Documents required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Transfer of Residence certificate
- IEC (Import Export Code)
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official India & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Shipping a vehicle to India?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for India, usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
22–28 days to Mumbai/JNPT
Ports
Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva), Chennai +1
Starting From
£1,800
Overview
India has restrictive but navigable vehicle import regulations. The Ship Cars provides container shipping to Mumbai, Chennai, and Nhava Sheva for qualifying importers.
Shipping Methods
Container shipping to major Indian ports. RORO services are limited. Mumbai/JNPT is the most popular entry point.
Transit Time
22–28 days to Mumbai/JNPT. 24–30 days to Chennai from Southampton.
Import Regulations
India imposes very high import duties: 100% customs duty for CBU (completely built up) vehicles, plus 25% excise duty and GST. Only Indian nationals returning after 2+ years abroad or diplomats can import personal vehicles with some concessions. Left-hand drive vehicles are NOT permitted for road use.
Documents Required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Transfer of Residence certificate
- IEC (Import Export Code)
Costs & Fees
Container from £1,800–£3,000. Import duty 100%+. Excise 25%. GST 28%. Total taxes can exceed 200% of vehicle value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone import a car to India?
Is right-hand drive accepted in India?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to India?
Which UK ports do you ship from to India?
What documents do I need to ship a car to India?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to India?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to India?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to India from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to India every month. Asian markets reward UK exporters with premium pricing in exchange for tighter homologation, age limits and emission standards. South Asian markets share documentation patterns, while Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan run their own pre-shipment inspection regimes. Typical clients on this lane include right-hand-drive private importers, alongside private owners relocating to India and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-India corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with India customs.
Vehicles depart from Tilbury, Immingham, Liverpool and arrive at Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva), Chennai, Kolkata via Suez transit transhipping at Singapore or Port Klang. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 22–28 days to mumbai/jnpt, 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 India car shipping works
Every shipment to India follows the same six-step pipeline: free quotation, UK collection or self-drop at Tilbury, bonded UK warehousing and pre-shipment photos, HMRC NOVA / C88 export clearance handled by our UK customs clearance team, ocean transit to Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva) (and onward feeder to Chennai 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 India.
RORO to India
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for India. Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva). RORO shipping to India — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to India
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Chennai. Dedicated container shipping to India.
India ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for India are typically routed through Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva) as the lead discharge port, with Chennai, Kolkata available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to India and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva)
- Port of Chennai
- Port of Kolkata
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
India import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into India is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest India 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 India
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Transfer of Residence certificate
- IEC (Import Export Code)
For full country-specific customs rules, see our India import guides and articles, our UK and India customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva).
Who ships to India
- • Returning India residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to India
- • Asia car dealers and India re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to India
- • 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 India
• Specialist UK-to-India 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 India pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Mumbai (JNPT/Nhava Sheva) agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
Related services and tools for shipping to India
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 India. Many customers shipping to India also enquire about Sri Lanka, Pakistan because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to India
Use our online quote form for India sailing dates, indicative landed cost and document checks. Quotes are typically answered the same working day.