It’s the first question almost everyone asks — and it’s a fair one. Whether you’re moving abroad, exporting a vehicle for business, or simply buying a car from another country, understanding the cost of shipping a car overseas is a crucial first step in planning your move.
The honest answer? There’s no single fixed price. Car shipping costs vary depending on a range of factors — the route, the method, the vehicle size, and the time of year, among others. But at Ship Cars Ltd, we believe in transparent, straightforward pricing — no hidden fees, no vague ballpark figures, and no surprises when the invoice lands.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything that influences the cost of shipping a car overseas, so you can plan your budget with confidence.
The Key Factors That Affect Car Shipping Costs
Understanding what drives the price of international car shipping will help you make smarter decisions — and potentially save money in the process.
1. Shipping Method — RoRo or Container?
The biggest single factor affecting your car shipping cost is the method you choose. At Shipcars.co.uk, we offer two primary options:
Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) is typically the more affordable choice. Your vehicle is driven onto a specialist car carrier vessel, secured on the car deck, and driven off at the destination port. Because there’s no crating or container loading involved, the handling costs are lower — and those savings are passed directly on to you.
Container shipping costs more but offers significantly greater protection. Your vehicle is loaded into a sealed steel container, either as a sole occupant in a 20ft box or shared with one or two other vehicles in a consolidated 40ft container. For high-value, classic, or non-running vehicles, the additional cost is absolutely worth it.
As a rough guide for 2025/2026 UK departure routes:
| Shipping Method | UK to USA (approx.) | UK to Australia (approx.) | UK to UAE (approx.) |
| RoRo | £900 – £1,400 | £1,500 – £1,900 | £700 – £1,100 |
| Shared Container | £1,400 – £2,200 | £1,100 – £1,500 | £1,100 – £1,600 |
| Dedicated 20ft Container | £2,500 – £4,500 | £2,800 – £3,500 | £2,000 – £3,200 |
These are freight cost estimates only. Port handling, documentation, and destination charges will apply in addition.
2. Destination — Where in the World Is Your Car Going?
It probably won’t surprise you to hear that distance plays a significant role in pricing. A short European RoRo shipment to Spain or France will cost considerably less than a full ocean voyage to Australia or New Zealand. But it’s not just about distance — port infrastructure, local handling charges, and the frequency of sailings to a given destination all feed into the final price.
Some of the most popular routes we handle at Shipcars.co.uk and their approximate freight ranges include:
- UK to USA — From approximately £900 via RoRo (East Coast ports)
- UK to Australia — From approximately £1,100 via shared container
- UK to Turkey — From approximately £550 via RoRo (Gemlik, Izmir, Mersin)
- UK to UAE — From approximately £700 via RoRo (Jebel Ali)
- UK to West Africa (Nigeria/Ghana) — From approximately £800 via container
- UK to Spain — From approximately £350 via RoRo (Huelva, Cadiz)
“A customer shipping a Toyota RAV4 from the UK to Jebel Ali, Dubai via RoRo received a confirmed all-in quote from Shipcars.co.uk within hours. The total freight cost came in well under what two other companies had quoted for the same route.”
3. Vehicle Size and Weight
Your vehicle’s dimensions and weight directly affect which shipping method is available and how much space it occupies on a vessel or inside a container. Larger vehicles such as pick-up trucks, vans, and SUVs typically cost more to ship than a standard saloon or hatchback.
For container shipments in particular, oversized vehicles — those that are too tall or too wide to fit inside a standard 20ft container — may need to ship on an open flat-rack container, which carries a premium.
4. UK Collection and Port Delivery
If you need us to collect your vehicle from your home address, business premises, or a dealership anywhere in the UK, we offer a UK-wide collection service using fully insured trade plate drivers and enclosed car transporters. This is a separate, additional cost — but it’s a convenient option that removes a lot of the legwork from your end.
Alternatively, you can deliver your vehicle directly to our nominated UK port facility, which will reduce the overall cost of your shipment.
5. Insurance
Shipping a car overseas without appropriate insurance is a risk we’d never recommend taking. At Shipcars.co.uk, we offer comprehensive marine transit insurance covering both total loss and cosmetic damage.
Insurance is priced as a percentage of the declared vehicle value — typically between 1.5% and 3% depending on the level of cover selected and the destination. On a vehicle valued at £15,000, that equates to approximately £225–£450 for the full voyage.
It’s a relatively small cost for complete peace of mind — and given the distances involved, it’s money well spent.
6. Port Handling, Documentation, and Destination Charges
This is the area where hidden costs most commonly catch people off guard — and it’s one of the reasons we lay everything out clearly in our quotes from the very beginning.
UK port handling covers the cost of your vehicle being received, inspected, and loaded at the UK departure port. This typically ranges from £150 to £350 depending on the port and the method.
Export documentation includes the customs export declaration, the bill of lading, and any port authority administration fees. At Shipcars.co.uk, we handle this on your behalf as part of our service.
Destination charges are levied at the receiving port and vary significantly by country. They cover local port handling, customs examination fees, and agent costs. These are not within our control — but we’ll always give you a realistic estimate upfront so there are no surprises when your vehicle arrives.
“A trade customer exporting three Range Rovers to Lagos, Nigeria commented that Shipcars.co.uk was the only company that clearly itemised destination charges in the quote — which made budget planning significantly easier on their end.”
What’s Typically Included in a Shipcars.co.uk Quote?
When you request a quote from us, our pricing will clearly outline:
- Ocean freight (the cost of the sea voyage)
- UK port handling and terminal fees
- Export documentation preparation
- Bill of lading issuance
- Estimated destination port charges (clearly labelled as estimates)
- Optional UK collection (if requested)
- Optional transit insurance (if requested)
What we don’t do is bury costs in the small print. If something is subject to change or outside our direct control, we’ll tell you — and we’ll tell you clearly.
Can You Reduce the Cost of Shipping a Car Overseas?
Yes — and here are a few practical ways to do it:
- Choose RoRo over container where the route and vehicle type allow. It’s almost always the more cost-effective option for standard, running vehicles.
- Opt for a shared container rather than a dedicated 20ft box if your vehicle doesn’t need exclusive use of the space.
- Deliver your vehicle to the port yourself rather than using the collection service, if that’s practical for you.
- Book early. Last-minute bookings on busy routes can attract premium rates. Booking 3–4 weeks ahead of your preferred sailing gives us more options and often results in a better price.
- Consolidate if shipping multiple vehicles. Trade customers and exporters moving more than one vehicle at a time can benefit from consolidated pricing — something we’re very experienced in managing.
Get a Fast, Honest Quote from Shipcars.co.uk
There’s no obligation, no pressure, and no vague estimates. Just an honest, itemised quote from a team that genuinely knows international vehicle shipping inside out.
Tell us your vehicle details, where it’s going, and when you need it there — and we’ll come back to you quickly with a clear, competitive price.
Call us | WhatsApp us | Request a quote online at Shipcars.co.uk
Transparent pricing. Real expertise. Safe delivery — every time.
