Canada is a huge country, and the first cost question is usually about distance: how much does it add if the car is in Calgary rather than Halifax? The sea crossing itself is a known figure. As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping a car from Canada to the UK starts from around £2,175.
That figure is shipping only. It does not include import tax, registration, testing, other services or the lighting work almost every Canadian car needs. Below is what moves the shipping price, the tax on top, and what else to put in the budget.
- Guide shipping price
- From £2,175
- Shipping time
- 2 to 6 weeks
- Import tax
- 10% duty + 20% VAT
- Over 30 years old
- 5% VAT, no duty
What changes the shipping price
Every quote is written by a person, because the price depends on your car, where it is and the month it sails. These are the things that move it most.
Where the car is
We collect from anywhere in Canada, from a home address or a dealer, and the car is insured while it is moved to the port. The inland leg is part of the price, so a car near a port costs less to get to the ship than one in the middle of the prairies. We ship from ports right across the country, including Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Prince Rupert, Saint John, Hamilton and Quebec.
Which coast it sails from
A car leaving from the west coast has further to go, because the ship routes through the Panama Canal before it crosses the Atlantic. That adds time. Which port suits your car depends on where it is and what is sailing, and your quote will set out the route.
Open or enclosed collection
The truck to the port can be open or enclosed. For a classic or a high-value car, enclosed is worth asking about. Say which you want on the quote form and we will price it.
RoRo or container
Both work well from Canada, and the choice affects the price and the handling.
| Feature | RoRo | Container |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Generally faster | Can take a little longer |
| Car must run | Yes | No |
| Sealed in transit | No | Yes |
| Unloaded at our premises | No | Yes |
The full comparison is in container, RoRo or air.
The size of the car and the time of year
A pickup or a full-size SUV takes more room than a sports car, and it is priced that way. Shipping lines also put prices up when they are busy, and fuel costs move through the year. That is why we quote this month's price for your exact model.
The tax on top
Canada is outside the EU, so a car bought there pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT. Both are worked out on the price of the car plus the cost of getting it here, and the VAT is charged on top of the duty.
Here is a worked example for a hypothetical £18,000 car shipped at our guide price of £2,175:
| Line | How it is worked out | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Car | Purchase price | £18,000.00 |
| Shipping | Canada guide price | £2,175.00 |
| Import duty | 10% of £20,175 | £2,017.50 |
| Import VAT | 20% of £22,192.50 (price, shipping and duty) | £4,438.50 |
| Shipping plus tax | Before UK changes, testing and registration | £8,631.00 |
So on an £18,000 car, the tax comes to £6,456. Our worked import tax examples run the sums at other prices.
Budget for the lighting. Almost every Canadian car needs some lighting work before it can be tested here, and it varies a lot from car to car. Tell us the exact model on the quote form and we will tell you what to expect.
Ways it can cost less
Moving to the UK
If you are moving home, have lived outside the UK for at least 12 months and have owned the car for at least 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no VAT and no duty. On the example above, that is £6,456 you keep. You apply to HMRC before the car ships. See Transfer of Residence for the rules.
Cars over 30 years old
A car over 30 years old pays 5% import VAT and no duty. Run the same £18,000 car and £2,175 shipping through that, and the tax drops from £6,456 to £1,008.75. Plenty of the North American classics people want are already past that mark. Our list of the most popular cars to ship from Canada might give you ideas.
A car that was UK registered
If the car went out to Canada from the UK, it may come back tax free with the original UK purchase invoice and the old V5C. See bringing a UK car back home.
Invoice timing
Tax is based on what you paid. If the purchase invoice is more than 3 months old, a valuation is used instead.
Try your own numbers here:
What the guide price does not include
These come after the car lands. They vary with the car, so we price them in your quote:
Costs to budget for
0 of 7 done
Canadian cars are built to North American lighting rules. Many flash red at the back to indicate, and UK rules want amber. Our guide to converting an American car for UK roads goes through each change, and the same rules apply to Canadian cars.
After the changes, a car under 10 years old takes an IVA test, a car between 10 and 40 takes an MOT, and one over 40 does not need an MOT. Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and we run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain on our own site. Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days.
Insurance in transit
Your Canadian car insurance will not cover the car at sea. Our marine insurance covers it up to its full value and usually costs a few percent of that value. An excess applies to minor damage, and your quote will say what it is.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to ship a car from Canada to the UK?
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping starts from around £2,175. That excludes registration, other services, import tax and any remedial work.
Does it cost more to ship from the west coast of Canada?
It takes longer, because the ship routes through the Panama Canal before crossing the Atlantic. Where the car is and what is sailing both affect the price, so your quote will set out the best route.
How much tax will I pay on a car from Canada?
Usually 10% duty and 20% VAT, worked out on the car price plus shipping, with VAT on top of the duty. On an £18,000 car with £2,175 shipping, the tax is £6,456. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty.
Is the inland collection included?
We collect from anywhere in Canada and the car is insured while it is moved to the port. The collection is priced in your quote, based on where the car is.
Will my Canadian car need much work?
Almost always some lighting work: amber rear indicators, side markers, a rear fog light and headlights for driving on the left. It varies by car, so give us the exact model when you ask for a quote.
Send us the car and where it is on the quote form, and a person on our team will come back with this month's price for the whole job.
