Most people who ask us about an American car have one worry first: what will it cost to get it here? The shipping itself is the easy part to pin down. As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping a car from the USA to the UK starts from around £1,450.
That figure is shipping only. It does not include import tax, registration, testing, other services or any work the car needs to be road legal here. Below is what moves the shipping price, what the tax looks like on top, and what else to budget for.
- Guide shipping price
- From £1,450
- Time at sea
- Around 2 to 4 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 and the month you ship it. These are the things that move it most.
Which coast the car is on
We ship from ports on both coasts, including New York, Savannah, Houston and Oakland. From the East Coast the sea passage is around 2 weeks. From the West Coast it is around 4, as the ship has further to go. Allow about 2 weeks before sailing for paperwork and loading either way.
How far it is from the port
We collect from anywhere in the USA and truck the car to the port. A car sitting a few miles from New York costs less to get to the ship than one halfway across the country, so the inland leg can make a real difference to the total. Tell us the address or dealer on the quote form and we will price the collection with it.
Container or RoRo
Both work well from North America. RoRo, where the car is driven onto the ship, is generally a little quicker, but the car has to run and drive. A shared container keeps the car sealed the whole way and comes straight to our site in Castle Donington to be unloaded by our own team. See container, RoRo or air for the full comparison.
The size of the car
A big pickup or a full-size SUV takes up more room on a ship or in a container than a sports car, and it is priced that way. Lots of American cars are on the large side, so it is worth giving us the exact model when you ask for a quote.
The time of year
Shipping lines put prices up when they are busy, and fuel costs move through the year. That is why we quote this month's price rather than a fixed rate card.
The tax on top
A car from the USA 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, so it adds up to more than people expect.
Here is a worked example for a £20,000 car shipped for £1,450:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Car | £20,000 |
| Shipping | £1,450 |
| Value for tax | £21,450 |
| Import duty at 10% | £2,145 |
| Import VAT at 20% of £23,595 | £4,719 |
| Shipping plus tax | £8,314 |
There are two big exceptions. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which is why so many American classics come over. And if you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for 12 months or more and have owned the car for at least 6 months, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no VAT or duty at all.
Keep your invoice handy. 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:
Registration and conversion
Once the car is here, it needs to be made legal for UK roads and registered with the DVLA. We will not guess at those costs here, because they depend so much on the car.
American cars usually need lighting work: amber rear indicators instead of red, side markers, a rear fog light and headlights set up for driving on the left. A car under 10 years old then takes an IVA test, and an older one takes an MOT. Our guide to converting an American car for UK roads covers what changes and why.
Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, so all of this happens on one site. We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, and our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days. For the registration side in detail, see My Car Import's registration service.
Insurance in transit
Your normal car insurance will not cover the car at sea. Our marine insurance covers it up to its full value, with an excess on minor damage. It is worth adding to the sum when you budget.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to ship a car from the USA to the UK?
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping starts from around £1,450. That is shipping only. Import tax, registration, testing, other services and any work the car needs are on top. Your quote will give the exact price for your car this month.
Is it cheaper to ship from the East Coast or the West Coast?
It depends on the car and the sailing, but the East Coast is closer. The sea passage from the East Coast is around 2 weeks and from the West Coast around 4. How far the car is from the port matters too, because we truck it there first.
How much tax will I pay on a car from the USA?
Usually 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price of the car plus shipping, with VAT charged on top of the duty. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. Transfer of Residence can make it nil if you are moving to the UK and qualify.
Does the shipping price include registration?
No. The guide price is for shipping only. Registration, testing and any changes the car needs for UK roads are quoted separately, because they depend on the car.
Can you collect the car from a dealer in the USA?
Yes. We collect from anywhere in the USA, from a home address or a dealer, and take the car to the port.
Send us the details on the quote form and a person on our team will come back with this month's price for your car.
