---
title: "Air freighting a car to the UK | Shipping a Car"
url: https://shippingacar.co.uk/service/air-freight/
description: "Air freight for cars on a tight deadline or of high value. What the process involves, the common routes, and what drives the cost."
---

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- Air freight

# Air freighting a car to the UK

For tight deadlines and high-value cars. Most routes take days rather than weeks.

[Get a quote](https://shippingacar.co.uk/quote/) 01332 810442

[Photo: Cargo being loaded onto an aircraft]

## When air freight makes sense

If a car needs to be here by a certain date, or it is valuable enough that you want the shortest possible journey, flying it is the answer. Timings depend on when planes are flying the route and how busy it is.

It is a niche part of car transport, so we always suggest a chat first so we can tell you what is realistic.

## What happens

Once you have your quote and decide to go ahead, we send you a short list of what happens next and anything you need to do.

The car needs a low fuel level and must not be leaking anything. We arrange collection to the airport, the export customs work, and the unloading and UK customs clearance when it lands. There are a few more steps in the background, and we deal with those on your behalf.

## Common routes

You can fly a car from almost anywhere. The route we handle most is the UAE to the UK, and our partners can get a car onto a plane from most places in the world.

## What it costs

Weight, distance, timescale and admin fees all play a part, and prices move with wider economic factors too. It is a substantial cost, so we price every air freight job individually.

It is the quickest way by a distance, but it is rarely the cheapest, which is why most people choose a container.

## Questions people ask

Days rather than weeks on most routes, depending on when planes are flying and how busy the route is.

The UAE to the UK, and our partners can get a car onto a plane from most places in the world.

It needs a low fuel level and must not be leaking anything. We send you a short list of what to do once you go ahead.

## Read next

- [Container, RoRo or air: which is right for your car?](https://shippingacar.co.uk/container-roro-or-air/)
- [Import car insurance in the UK: from the ship to the road](https://shippingacar.co.uk/insuring-an-imported-car/)

## At a glance

Best for

Deadlines and high-value cars

Typical time

A few days

Price

Quoted per job

[Get a quote](https://shippingacar.co.uk/quote/)

Every quote includes customs clearance and unloading at our site. Testing and DVLA registration with My Car Import can be added to the same quote.

Shipping is half the job

## Then My Car Import puts it on UK plates.

Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, so when the container is unloaded the car is already where it needs to be. It goes straight into testing and registration on the same site, with no extra transport and no waiting for a test slot somewhere else.

[Quote for the whole import](https://shippingacar.co.uk/quote/) [Registration at My Car Import](https://mycarimport.co.uk)

- **One of only seven** privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain
- **The only privately owned** MSVA test centre in Great Britain
- A **dealer-level DVLA account**, so we register imported cars within 10 working days
- **In-house conversions** and test preparation, from lights to speedos

## Other ways to ship

- [Container shipping Our default for most cars. Sealed in a container, shared to keep the cost down.](https://shippingacar.co.uk/service/container-shipping/)
- [RoRo shipping Driven onto a car carrier and driven off at the other end. Often the cheapest route.](https://shippingacar.co.uk/service/roro-shipping/)
- [Classic car shipping Extra care for older cars, from how it is collected to how it comes out of the box.](https://shippingacar.co.uk/service/storage/)
- [Motorbike shipping Crated or strapped, insured, and handled by people who ride.](https://shippingacar.co.uk/service/motorbike-shipping/)
- [Motorhome shipping Bigger than a car, so the method depends on the size. We work it out for you.](https://shippingacar.co.uk/service/motorhome-shipping/)

## Tell us about your car

Where it is, what it is and when you need it here. We will price the whole import, from collection abroad to UK registration with My Car Import, not just the boat.

Rather talk it through? Call 01332 810442