Car Shipping to Iraq
from the United Kingdom
Iraq accepts vehicle imports through Umm Qasr port in the south. The Ship Cars provides container shipping with experienced local clearance agents. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to Iraq from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to Iraq is priced per vehicle and route — request a free quote for a fixed price. 22–30 days to Umm Qasr from Southampton. Vehicles are shipped by container to Umm Qasr (Basra). 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 Iraq: 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 Iraq
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Umm Qasr (Basra) in about 22–30 days to Umm Qasr 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 Iraq
Quick answer: Trucks usually ship on flat-rack or open-top containers to Umm Qasr (Basra), priced by dimensions and weight. Transit is about 22–30 days to Umm Qasr 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 Iraq 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 Iraq
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship on flat-rack containers or as break-bulk to Umm Qasr (Basra). Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including Iraq, 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.
Iraq vehicle import rules (September 2026)
- Import duty 10–25%.
- Reconstruction levy may apply.
- Left-hand drive required.
- No strict age restrictions but newer vehicles preferred.
Documents required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Certificate of origin
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official Iraq & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Shipping a vehicle to Iraq?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for Iraq, usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options
Methods
Container
Transit Time
22–30 days to Umm Qasr
Ports
Umm Qasr (Basra)
Starting From
£2,000
Overview
Iraq accepts vehicle imports through Umm Qasr port in the south. The Ship Cars provides container shipping with experienced local clearance agents.
Shipping Methods
Container shipping to Umm Qasr. Overland options via Aqaba (Jordan) also available.
Transit Time
22–30 days to Umm Qasr from Southampton.
Import Regulations
Import duty 10–25%. Reconstruction levy may apply. Left-hand drive required. No strict age restrictions but newer vehicles preferred.
Documents Required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Certificate of origin
Costs & Fees
Container from £2,000–£3,200. Import duty 10–25%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to ship a car to Iraq?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to Iraq?
Which UK ports do you ship from to Iraq?
What documents do I need to ship a car to Iraq?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to Iraq?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to Iraq?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to Iraq from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to Iraq every month. The Middle East is the highest-value corridor for UK car exports, driven by Gulf demand for British-spec luxury saloons, large-engined SUVs, classic Land Rovers and right-hand-drive performance cars. Jebel Ali, Dammam, Hamad, Sohar and Shuwaikh act as regional re-export hubs. Typical clients on this lane include armoured-vehicle and luxury buyers, alongside private owners relocating to Iraq and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-Iraq corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with Iraq customs.
Vehicles depart from Immingham, Liverpool, Tilbury and arrive at Umm Qasr (Basra) via Suez Canal transit via Algeciras or Malta. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 22–30 days to umm qasr 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 Iraq car shipping works
Every shipment to Iraq follows the same six-step pipeline: free quotation, UK collection or self-drop at Immingham, bonded UK warehousing and pre-shipment photos, HMRC NOVA / C88 export clearance handled by our UK customs clearance team, ocean transit to Umm Qasr (Basra) (and onward feeder to Umm Qasr (Basra) 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 Iraq.
RORO to Iraq
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for Iraq. Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Umm Qasr (Basra). RORO shipping to Iraq — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to Iraq
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Umm Qasr (Basra). Dedicated container shipping to Iraq.
Iraq ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for Iraq are typically routed through Umm Qasr (Basra) as the lead discharge port, with Umm Qasr (Basra) available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to Iraq and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Umm Qasr (Basra)
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
Iraq import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into Iraq is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest Iraq customs schedule before quoting.
- GCC specification compliance and chassis-number verification
- 5% GCC customs duty and country-specific VAT
- Right-hand-drive restrictions in selected markets
- Re-export hubs in Dubai, Sharjah and Bahrain
Document checklist for Iraq
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Certificate of origin
For full country-specific customs rules, see our Iraq import guides and articles, our UK and Iraq customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Umm Qasr (Basra).
Who ships to Iraq
- • Returning Iraq residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to Iraq
- • Middle East car dealers and Iraq re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to Iraq
- • 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 Iraq
• Specialist UK-to-Iraq 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 Iraq pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Umm Qasr (Basra) agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
Related services and tools for shipping to Iraq
Shipping methods
Pricing & schedules
Guides & comparisons
Other Middle East destinations from the UK
We ship to 8+ other Middle East countries from the UK on the same trade lanes as Iraq. Many customers shipping to Iraq also enquire about Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to Iraq
Request a free, no-obligation UK-to-Iraq shipping quote online. Most quotes are returned within one working hour.