---
title: "How much does it cost to ship a car to the UK?"
url: https://shippingacar.co.uk/shipping-costs/
description: "Guide prices for shipping a car to the UK, built from a year of real jobs: £1,450 to £4,000 by sea depending on where it starts. Motorbikes from £1,250."
---

- [Home](https://shippingacar.co.uk/)
- Shipping costs

# What it costs to ship a car to the UK

It depends almost entirely on where the car is starting from. These guide prices come from a year of real jobs.

**£1,450 to £4,000** by sea, depending on which side of the world the car is on.

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

## The further the car, the bigger the number

Guide prices by region, shipping only.

Malaysia from £4,000

Rest of world from £3,575

Australia / New Zealand from £3,200

Singapore from £3,175

Hong Kong from £2,425

Canada from £2,175

UAE / Middle East from £2,150

South Africa from £1,975

Cyprus from £1,850

Malta from £1,725

USA from £1,450

Motorbikes, from anywhere from £1,250

**Shipping only.** Registration, other services, import tax and remedial fees are not included.

Motorbikes come in cheaper than any car route because they travel in shared containers.
Australia and New Zealand are shown together because that is how the route is priced, and
"rest of world" covers every origin without a figure of its own.

Europe is left out because those cars come by road, not sea, and we price them per job.

| Where the car ships from | Guide price |

| Malaysia | from £4,000 |
| Rest of world | from £3,575 |
| Australia / New Zealand | from £3,200 |
| Singapore | from £3,175 |
| Hong Kong | from £2,425 |
| Canada | from £2,175 |
| UAE / Middle East | from £2,150 |
| South Africa | from £1,975 |
| Cyprus | from £1,850 |
| Malta | from £1,725 |
| USA | from £1,450 |
| Motorbikes, from anywhere | from £1,250 |

## Add the tax and see the whole number

Shipping is only part of it. Put in what the car cost and we will add the import duty and VAT you are likely to pay when it lands.

## Your car will not be the guide price

The port, the size of the car, whether it shares a container and how quickly you need it all move the number. Ask and we will price the actual route.

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### Where it starts

The biggest factor by far. The further the car is from the UK, the bigger the number, and some ports cost more to ship from than others.

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### Shared or dedicated

A space in a shared container is the cheapest way to ship. A container of your own costs more, but it sails when you are ready.

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### The car

Size matters, and so does condition. If a car has to be pushed or needs work to start it, that adds time and money at both ends.

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### How quickly you need it

Shipping lines charge more when they are busy, and a tight deadline narrows the options. Air freight is fastest, and priced to match.

## And the import tax?

### Moving to the UK

Lived outside the UK for more than 12 months and owned the car for more than 6? Transfer of Residence makes it tax and duty free. You apply to HMRC, and our customers get guides to help.

### Bought in the EU

20% import VAT, on the purchase price plus the transport costs to bring it here.

### Bought outside the EU

20% import VAT and 10% duty, on the purchase price plus transport.

### Over 30 years old

Classics pay 5% import VAT and no duty.

### Coming home

A car that used to be UK-registered may come back tax free, with its UK purchase invoice and old V5C logbook.

### How it is worked out

VAT is based on your purchase invoice, or a recent valuation if the invoice is more than 3 months old.

## Get the real number for 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