Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to Canada in 2026

Vehicles shipped from the UK to Canada typically depart from Southampton or Tilbury and arrive at one of two main gateway ports depending on the final destination within Canada: Halifax on the east coast, serving Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime provinces, or Vancouver on the west coast, serving British Columbia and western Canada. Halifax is by far the more commonly used port for UK shipments given the shorter transatlantic crossing and strong onward rail and road links into central Canada.

Both RORO and container shipping are available on the UK-to-Canada corridor. RORO services to Halifax run via established transatlantic vehicle shipping lines, while container shipping offers more flexibility for non-running vehicles or shipments requiring onward transport to Vancouver or interior destinations by rail.

RORO shipping from the UK to Halifax typically costs between £1,000 and £1,800 for a standard vehicle, making it a relatively cost-effective long-haul destination given the established transatlantic infrastructure. Shipping to Vancouver, whether via direct sailing or with onward rail transfer from Halifax, generally costs more, typically ranging from £1,800 to £2,800 depending on the method chosen.

Container shipping to Halifax ranges from roughly £1,600 to £2,600 for a shared container and £2,600 to £4,000 for a dedicated container. Transit time to Halifax is typically 10 to 16 days, among the shorter long-haul crossings available from the UK, while Vancouver-bound shipments can take 25 to 35 days when routed via the Panama Canal, or slightly less when combined with rail transfer from an east coast port.

Canada operates a Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) programme that governs the import of foreign vehicles, though UK vehicles face specific challenges since Canada generally requires vehicles to comply with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS), and many UK-market vehicles not originally manufactured for the Canadian or US market do not automatically qualify. Vehicles that are 15 years old or older, however, are generally exempt from these federal safety standard compliance requirements, making older and classic UK vehicles considerably easier to import than newer models.

For eligible vehicles, Canada applies a standard 6.1% duty rate on vehicles not manufactured in North America under general tariff treatment, plus federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% and applicable provincial sales tax, which varies by province from 0% in Alberta to as high as 15% in some Atlantic provinces when combined with federal tax under the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) system.

The 15-year age exemption makes Canada a particularly attractive destination for UK owners of classic and modern-classic vehicles. A well-maintained UK classic that clears the 15-year threshold can be imported without needing to demonstrate CMVSS compliance, considerably simplifying the paperwork and reducing the risk of a shipment being refused entry or requiring costly modifications.

Owners of newer vehicles considering emigration to Canada should check specific eligibility carefully, as some UK-market vehicles share sufficient specification with their Canadian-market equivalents to qualify via the RIV programme with only minor modifications, such as daytime running lights or metric speedometer markings, while others may not be eligible for import at all regardless of buyer intent.

Canada's east coast ports, including Halifax, generally remain operational year-round without significant weather-related closures, though winter storms in the North Atlantic between roughly November and March can occasionally cause minor sailing delays. Vancouver's port operations are less affected by winter weather but can experience longer-term congestion during peak shipping seasons.

Customers relocating specifically for the start of a Canadian winter should build in extra buffer time when planning their shipment, both to account for potential weather-related sailing delays and to ensure sufficient time for RIV inspection and provincial registration once the vehicle arrives, since demand for these services can increase during the autumn relocation season.

Given the complexity of Canada's CMVSS compliance rules, we strongly recommend confirming your specific vehicle's eligibility with Transport Canada's RIV programme, or with our team, before booking a shipment. We regularly assist customers relocating to Canada with both eligible newer vehicles and classic imports benefiting from the 15-year exemption.

Explore our full range of international destinations or get a free quote for your shipment to Canada today.