Everything you need to know about shipping your car from the UK to the Philippines — Manila port, customs duties, LTO registration, and costs.
Used vehicle imports are restricted under Executive Order 156. Exemptions exist for returning Filipino residents who have lived abroad for at least 1 year and have owned the vehicle for 6+ months.
Container shipping from the UK costs £1,800–£4,500 depending on container type. Import duties add 60–150% of the vehicle's CIF value on top.
Yes. The Philippines drives on the right, so RHD vehicles must be converted to LHD for LTO registration. Classic vehicles over 25 years may be exempt.
Transit from Southampton to Manila takes 28–35 days. Customs clearance adds another 2–4 weeks.
Generally no — the Philippines drives on the right and bans RHD imports under Republic Act 8506 (with limited exceptions for diplomats, classic 25+ year vehicles, and certain commercial vehicles). UK RHD imports are restricted in practice; LHD vehicles or LHD conversions are required for most categories.
No formal age cap, but vehicles over 5 years old face uplifted valuations and higher customs scrutiny. Vintage vehicles 25+ years old qualify for reduced excise under the classic vehicle category. Returning resident NDI imports have more flexibility on age than standard commercial imports.
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