UK International Auto Transport Quotes
You can read auto transport reviews from major companies in the UK to see the services offered by each company, read testimonials from their customers, and compare quotes side-by-side instantly. In addition, you can get detailed information about shipping to the United Kingdom or get professional advice for shipping from the UK to the United States or elsewhere in the world.
CarShipping.com works with many of the best auto transport companies, who are recommended for vehicle shipping, freight and personal moving services. Review each British moving company and compare multiple quotes when you’re ready.
Reviews of United Kingdom International Shipping Companies
Container Shipping and RoRo Services
British international shipping companies will typically give you the choice of shipping your car in a container or aboard a Roll on Roll off (RoRo) vessel. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. Container shipping is usually much more costly than RoRo shipping. However, most professional shipping companies also allow you to transport your household goods in the same container as your car. RoRo services are 40 percent to 60 percent cheaper than container shipping and are ideal if you plan on shipping only your car from the UK to the US.
Shipping Times
United Kingdom international shipping companies take between two to four weeks to deliver a car to the US East Coast, and between three and five weeks to ship it to the West Coast. RoRo services usually use either the Port at Liverpool or the Port of Southampton to ship cars to North America. Container shipping services typically sail from the British ports of Tilbury, Thames or Felixstowe. Cars can be shipped to any location in the US from these ports. Some England international shipping companies offer door-to-door services between the two countries, while a majority offer door-to-dock or dock-to-dock services.
Shipping Costs
The cost to ship a car between the UK and US depends on the type of shipping you choose and the size of your vehicle. Generally, you can expect to spend between ,700 and ,500 to ship a car to the US using a RoRo service. British international shipping companies charge anywhere from ,500 to ,000 for containerized shipping between the two countries. Some companies also charge an additional handling fee of between and 0 for loading and unloading the car. Be prepared to pay another 1.5 percent of the value of the vehicle if you want insurance protection for your vehicle while it is in transit.
Import Requirements
All cars shipped to the US need to be thoroughly cleaned before arrival at port. The undercarriage of the vehicle needs to be washed in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. All imported vehicles that are less than 25 years old also need to meet US emissions requirements and safety standards for bumpers, safety restraint systems and lights. Many UK international shipping companies offer assessment services to help you figure out if your car is compliant with US standards before you ship it from the United Kingdom.
Door-to-Door and Door-to-Dock Shipping
You can import a car to the United Kingdom from anywhere in the United States. Many shipping companies offer door-to-door service between the two countries. Others offer door-to-dock or dock-to-dock shipping. Shipping companies typically use a wide range of ports on the east and west coasts for shipping a car to the UK. If you choose the RoRo method to ship a car to England, your vehicle will most likely arrive at either the Port of Southampton or the Port at Liverpool. Cars shipped to the country on container ships usually arrive at the British Ports of Felixstowe, Thames or Tilbury.
Shipping Time and Cost
Shipping companies typically take between one and three weeks to import a car to England from the United States. The cost of shipping a car to the UK from North America depends on the method of shipping you choose. If you plan on shipping only your car, the best option would be to use a RoRo service.
RoRo services are typically between 40 percent and 50 percent cheaper than container shipping for importing a car to the UK. However, if you have multiple items to ship, a container would be the better option. Most shipping companies allow you to transport household goods and personal belongings in the same container as your car. Generally, you can expect to pay between ,600 and ,000 to import a car to the UK using a RoRo service. The cost of importing a car to the UK in a container typically ranges between ,250 and ,800.
UK Car Import Requirements
The United Kingdom allows cars to be imported into the country from anywhere so long as the vehicle meets the country’s safety and emissions control standards. If you have a new vehicle, you will need to pay a value added tax of 17.5 percent and customs duty of 10 percent in order to import a car to England. In order to ship a car to the UK, you will need the original title or certificate of origin for the vehicle, and also a no-objection certificate from your bank if the vehicle has an outstanding loan against it.
Shipping Choices
Shipping companies will give you two options for shipping a car from the UK to the United States. You can ship a car from England in a container, or you can ship it on a Roll on Roll off (RoRo) ship. A container makes sense if you plan on shipping other items to the US besides your car. However, a RoRo service is the much cheaper option for importing a car from the UK if the only item you plan on shipping is your car. RoRo services use the ports at Southampton and Liverpool to ship cars to the US, while container services sail from the ports at Felixstowe, Thames or Tilbury.
Shipping Times
Shipping companies take between two to four weeks to ship a car from the UK to ports on the US East Coast and up to five weeks to ship a car from England to the West Coast. You can have your car shipped from door-to-door if you want, or you can have it shipped door-to-dock or dock-to-dock. You will need your UK registration information and title before you can ship a car from the UK to the US. If you have an outstanding automobile loan against the vehicle, you will also need a no-objection certificate from your bank before you can import a car from England to the US.
Shipping Costs from the UK
RoRo services charge between ,700 and ,500 to import a car from England, while container services charge between ,500 and ,000 for shipping a car from the UK. Some companies also charge a handling fee for unloading the vehicle at a US port. If you want maritime insurance for your vehicle, be prepared to pay another 1.5 percent of the value of the vehicle for insurance coverage.
US Car Import Requirements
All cars that arrive at US ports from foreign destinations will be inspected for compliance with US safety and emissions controls standards. It is generally a good idea to have your vehicle’s technical documentation handy when importing a car from the UK. If your vehicle does not meet US safety or emissions standards, you will need to work with a registered importer to make the necessary modifications. Sometimes, these modifications can be prohibitively expensive. So, before you ship a car from the UK, make sure it meets US safety and emissions standards.