Shipping a Motorhome or Campervan Overseas from the UK

Motorhomes and larger campervans fall outside the standard vehicle shipping template because of dimensions, weight, and the fact they typically contain fitted furniture, appliances and personal belongings that a standard saloon simply doesn't have. Height is usually the first constraint — many RORO vessels have deck clearance limits around 2.5 to 3 metres on standard decks, and a coach-built motorhome or a high-top campervan conversion can easily exceed this, meaning it needs booking onto a 'high and heavy' deck, which is more limited in availability and priced accordingly.

Weight is the second major factor. A fully-loaded A-class motorhome can weigh well over 3.5 tonnes, which changes both the RORO booking category and, in some cases, the port handling equipment required. Because of these constraints, motorhome shipments generally need more lead time to book than a standard car — often 4 to 6 weeks rather than the 2 to 3 weeks that suffices for a typical saloon — simply because suitable sailings and deck space are less frequent.

RORO is the more common and cost-effective method for motorhomes and campervans that are self-propelled and roadworthy, since they can be driven directly onto the vessel like any other vehicle, provided height and weight fall within the sailing's specifications. Costs for RORO motorhome shipping typically run from £1,800 to £4,500 depending on size, destination and route, considerably more than a standard car due to the deck space consumed and the specialist handling required.

Container shipping is occasionally used for smaller campervans that fit within standard container height (around 2.39 metres internal height for a standard container, or roughly 2.69 metres for a high-cube container), but most full-size motorhomes are simply too tall for any standard container and would require a flat rack instead — an open, deck-style container platform that accommodates oversized cargo but leaves the vehicle exposed to the elements, similar to RORO in terms of weather exposure but with more flexible loading options for non-running vehicles.

This is the area that catches out first-time motorhome shippers most often. On RORO shipments, maritime cargo regulations prohibit loose personal items exactly as they would in a standard car — but a motorhome's fitted furniture, built-in appliances (fridge, hob, fixed beds) and integrated storage are generally treated differently from loose cargo since they're a structural part of the vehicle rather than separate items, and are typically permitted to remain as long as gas cylinders are disconnected and isolated, and the fridge and any gas appliances are empty and secured.

Loose, non-fixed items — bedding, kitchenware, personal effects, bicycles not permanently mounted — generally cannot travel inside on a RORO shipment and must either be shipped separately (for example via a container or as part of a household removals shipment) or removed before transit. If you specifically need to move belongings alongside the vehicle, a container shipment booked as part of an international removals service is usually the better fit, since it's designed around exactly that combination.

Before shipping, LPG or gas bottles must be disconnected, and in most cases removed entirely or securely isolated and clearly labelled, since carriers treat onboard gas systems as a safety-critical item requiring formal declaration. Fuel levels follow the same rule as standard vehicles — generally kept below a quarter tank, both to reduce fire risk and because most carriers cap the fuel allowance for safety reasons regardless of vehicle type.

Habitation batteries (as distinct from the vehicle's starter battery) should be checked and, where possible, isolated, since a live electrical system with fridges or alarms running throughout a multi-week sea voyage can drain the battery and, in some cases, has been known to trigger onboard smoke or fire alarms on the vessel if a fault develops. Skylights, awnings, step covers and any external fittings should be secured or retracted, and tyre pressures checked, since a motorhome sitting stationary and heavily laden for several weeks benefits from slightly higher pressures than normal road use to avoid flat-spotting.

Motorhome import rules vary more than standard car rules in some destinations because of how customs authorities classify the vehicle — as a passenger vehicle, a commercial vehicle, or a distinct 'caravan/motorhome' category with its own duty banding. Australia, for example, applies quite specific rules around motorhomes under its Personal Import Scheme and general import approval framework, with strict conditions on prior ownership and usage periods that are more detailed than for a standard car.

Several European destinations impose weight-based road tax bands that make a heavier coach-built motorhome noticeably more expensive to register than a lighter panel-van conversion, which is worth factoring into your decision if you're shipping to establish permanent residence abroad rather than for temporary touring use. We recommend confirming the exact import classification and any residency-linked conditions for your specific destination before booking, since this affects both duty and the documentation you'll need to gather in the UK beforehand.