Car Shipping to Mexico
from the United Kingdom
Mexico is a growing destination for international vehicle imports. The Ship Cars ships vehicles from the UK to major Mexican ports including Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas, and Manzanillo via container shipping. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to Mexico from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to Mexico is priced per vehicle and route — request a free quote for a fixed price. 21–28 days to Veracruz (Gulf Coast). Both RORO and container shipping are available, with vehicles arriving at Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo. 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 Mexico: 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 Mexico
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo in about 21–28 days to Veracruz (Gulf Coast). 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 Mexico
Quick answer: Trucks, lorries, vans and pickups usually ship by RORO to Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, priced by length, height and weight (per cubic metre). Transit is about 21–28 days to Veracruz (Gulf Coast).
- 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 Mexico 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 Mexico
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship as RORO or break-bulk cargo to Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo. Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including Mexico, 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.
Mexico vehicle import rules (September 2026)
- Mexico requires vehicles to be no more than 10 years old for permanent import (with some exceptions).
- Vehicles must pass Mexican emissions and safety inspection.
- A customs broker (agente aduanal) is required for clearance.
- Import duty ranges from 1–50% depending on vehicle type and origin.
Documents required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Pedimento (customs declaration)
- Mexican import permit
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official Mexico & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Shipping a vehicle to Mexico?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for Mexico, usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
21–28 days to Veracruz (Gulf Coast)
Ports
Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas +1
Starting From
£2,500
Overview
Mexico is a growing destination for international vehicle imports. The Ship Cars ships vehicles from the UK to major Mexican ports including Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas, and Manzanillo via container shipping.
Shipping Methods
Container shipping is the primary method for Mexico-bound vehicles. RORO services are limited but available on select routes. Dedicated containers recommended for high-value vehicles.
Transit Time
21–28 days to Veracruz (Gulf Coast). 28–35 days to Lazaro Cardenas/Manzanillo (Pacific Coast).
Import Regulations
Mexico requires vehicles to be no more than 10 years old for permanent import (with some exceptions). Vehicles must pass Mexican emissions and safety inspection. A customs broker (agente aduanal) is required for clearance. Import duty ranges from 1–50% depending on vehicle type and origin.
Documents Required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Pedimento (customs declaration)
- Mexican import permit
Costs & Fees
Container shipping from £2,500–£4,000. Import duty 1–50% depending on vehicle. VAT (IVA) of 16% applies. Customs broker fees approximately £300–£500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import any age of car to Mexico?
Do I need a customs broker in Mexico?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to Mexico?
Which UK ports do you ship from to Mexico?
What documents do I need to ship a car to Mexico?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to Mexico?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to Mexico?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to Mexico from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to Mexico every month. The Americas combine three very different sub-markets: North American collector and 25-year-rule buyers, Latin American returning-resident imports, and Caribbean private importers. Container shipping dominates due to Gulf and Pacific routings, while RORO is concentrated on the Halifax, New York and Baltimore corridors. Typical clients on this lane include Caribbean diplomatic missions, alongside private owners relocating to Mexico and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-Mexico corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with Mexico customs.
Vehicles depart from Immingham, Liverpool, Tilbury and arrive at Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo via Panama Canal transit to the Pacific seaboard. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 21–28 days to veracruz (gulf coast), 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 Mexico car shipping works
Every shipment to Mexico 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 Veracruz (and onward feeder to Lazaro Cardenas 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 Mexico.
RORO to Mexico
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for Mexico. Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Veracruz. RORO shipping to Mexico — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to Mexico
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Lazaro Cardenas. Dedicated container shipping to Mexico.
Mexico ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for Mexico are typically routed through Veracruz as the lead discharge port, with Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to Mexico and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Veracruz
- Port of Lazaro Cardenas
- Port of Manzanillo
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
Mexico import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into Mexico is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest Mexico customs schedule before quoting.
- EPA, DOT, Transport Canada and INMETRO compliance
- 25-year and 15-year classic-import exemptions
- Customs bonds, brokers and HS code 8703 classification
- Gulf, Atlantic and Pacific routings via Panama Canal
Document checklist for Mexico
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Pedimento (customs declaration)
- Mexican import permit
For full country-specific customs rules, see our Mexico import guides and articles, our UK and Mexico customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Veracruz.
Who ships to Mexico
- • Returning Mexico residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to Mexico
- • Americas car dealers and Mexico re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to Mexico
- • 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 Mexico
• Specialist UK-to-Mexico 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 Mexico pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Veracruz agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
Related services and tools for shipping to Mexico
Shipping methods
Pricing & schedules
Guides & comparisons
Other Americas destinations from the UK
We ship to 8+ other Americas countries from the UK on the same trade lanes as Mexico. Many customers shipping to Mexico also enquire about USA, Canada because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to Mexico
Request a free, no-obligation UK-to-Mexico shipping quote online. Most quotes are returned within one working hour.