What will it cost to ship your car?
An itemised estimate in about ten seconds. Every line shown, nothing hidden, plus the destination rules that decide whether your car can go at all.
Your shipment
Why we show a range, not a single number
Because a single number would be made up. Carriers reprice weekly, sailings vary by port pair and season, and the same car can cost several hundred pounds more in one month than another. Anyone quoting you an exact figure before checking availability is guessing at your expense.
What we can do honestly is show you the shape of the cost: which lines exist, roughly what each one runs to, and which ones you can remove. That is enough to decide whether to go ahead. An itemised quote from a specialist who has checked the sailing confirms the real number, and you'll have that within 24 hours.
What the estimate covers, and what it doesn't
It covers the UK side: ocean freight, collection to the port, export documentation and customs entry, any inspection or cleaning the destination requires, marine insurance, and our booking fee.
It does not cover destination duty, VAT or local clearing. Those are set by the country you're shipping to, not by us or your shipper. On some routes they are the largest number in the whole move — Kenya assesses tax on its own valuation schedule rather than what you paid, and it routinely exceeds the freight. Each destination in the calculator shows its own tax note for that reason.
The rules that decide whether your car can go at all
Price is the second question. The first is whether the shipment is even possible, and this is where most plans come unstuck:
- Kenya: only vehicles under 8 years old, counted from first registration. In 2026 that means 2019 or newer. A 2017 car will be refused at Mombasa.
- Australia: import approval must be granted before the car sails. Arriving without one can mean re-export or destruction, at your cost.
- USA: the 25-year rule. Older than that imports cleanly; newer than that is effectively blocked unless the car is already US-spec.
- Cyprus and the EU: since Brexit these are third-country imports. Duty and VAT apply unless you qualify for transfer-of-residence relief.
The calculator shows these alongside the price, because a cheap quote for a shipment that cannot legally arrive is worth nothing. Our route guides go through each one properly.
How to make it cheaper
- Drive it to the port yourself. Saves £120–£400. The easiest win here.
- Choose RoRo if the car is ordinary. A container buys security you may not need. See RoRo vs container.
- Be flexible on sailing dates. Rates move week to week.
- Get the paperwork right first time. Clearance delays cost more than almost any saving on this list.
What not to skip: marine insurance. At 1.5–2.5% of value it's the cheapest line relative to what it protects, and it can't be added once the ship has sailed.
Quick answers
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK?
For most destinations, £700 to £2,000 in freight for a standard running car by RoRo. Cyprus is typically £550–£900, Kenya £800–£1,200, the USA £900–£1,500 and Australia £1,100–£2,000. Collection, documentation, insurance and any required inspection go on top, and destination duty and VAT are separate again.
Does the estimate include import duty and VAT?
No. It covers the UK-side cost of getting your car shipped. Import duty, VAT and local clearing are charged by the destination country on arrival. On routes like Kenya those taxes can exceed the shipping cost, so each destination shows its own tax note.
Is the estimate a quote?
No — it's an honest ballpark built from market ranges for 2026. A quote comes from a specialist who has checked the actual sailing for your route and vehicle, and is itemised line by line. Ours arrive within 24 hours and are free.
Can I ship a car that doesn't run?
Usually yes, but not by RoRo — a non-runner has to be winched into a container, which costs more and needs arranging in advance. Choose private container in the calculator for a realistic figure, and say so on the quote form.