RORO and container · Since 2016 · 20,000+ vehicles shipped
International Car and Vehicle Shipping
We ship cars, classic cars, motorhomes, 4x4s, trucks and machinery between the UK, Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australasia by RORO, container and flat rack, with customs clearance support. For private importers and exporters, collectors, dealers and businesses, and travellers and overlanders taking their own vehicle abroad.
- 20,000+ vehicles shipped
- BIFA and FIATA member
- Customs clearance support
- Quote emailed in about 2 minutes
Your quote in about 2 minutes
- 1Choose your route and vehicle
- 2Receive your quote by email
- 3Book, and we handle the rest
No account needed. Or call +44 203 787 4201.
Who we ship for
Private customers, collectors, businesses and travellers: the rules, paperwork and costs depend on what happens to the vehicle when it arrives.
Import and export
Moving country or buying abroad
Ship a car or motorhome to your new home, or bring one back. Transfer of Residence relief can remove UK duty and VAT, and we can arrange customs through our broker or a local agent.
Transfer of Residence guide →Classic and collector cars
Shipped with care
Sole-use or shared containers for classics and high-value cars. Qualifying historic vehicles import to the UK with no duty and 5% VAT.
Importing a classic →Business and equipment
Dealers, fleets and machinery
Single units or regular volumes of cars, trucks, plant and machinery by RORO, flat rack or container, with customs entry through our broker or yours.
RORO and machinery shipping →Travellers and overlanders
Taking your own vehicle abroad
Ship your motorhome, 4x4 or expedition truck for a trip and bring it home, with advice on temporary import, carnets and insurance.
Overland vehicle shipping →Popular routes and prices
Standard car, RORO sea freight, from our own quotes in the last 90 days.
Guides before you ship
Moving to the UK with a vehicle
Who qualifies for Transfer of Residence relief, the ToR1 form, NOVA and DVLA registration.
Importing a classic car
The three tests for historic vehicle relief, what you pay and the evidence customs may ask for.
Customs clearance
Through our broker, a trusted local agent we introduce, or your own broker: permanent import, temporary admission and commercial entries.
Visiting with your own vehicle
Temporary import rules, time limits and when a carnet de passages is needed.
What you can pack
Touring vehicles can usually carry secured personal items; standard cars must be empty.
Motorhomes, trucks and oversized vehicles
Height, length and weight decide the carrier and the price. When RORO, flat rack or a container works.
Car shipping by RORO or container
RORO
Best for drivable vehicles
Driven on and off the ship. The usual choice for cars, motorhomes and trucks.
Shared container
Best value in a container
Share a 40ft container with other vehicles and split the cost.
Sole-use container
Best for classics and belongings
A 20ft or 40ft container just for you, with room for personal effects.
Flat rack
Best for machinery and oversized loads
Static machinery, boats and loads that cannot roll on or fit in a container.
Customs clearance
Our broker, a local agent or yours
Permanent import, temporary admission, commercial entries and historic vehicles: we clear through our broker, introduce a trusted local agent, or work with your own.
How it works
One team from your quote to collection.
1
Get a quote
Fill in our 2-minute form and your quote is emailed to you.
2
Book
We confirm the sailing and send port delivery instructions.
3
Ship
Drop off at the port; we track the vessel and keep you updated.
4
Clear and collect
Customs is cleared by our broker, a local agent or your own; then you collect at the port.
Where we ship
Pick a route for prices, ports, sailings and import rules.
North America
Central and South America
Mediterranean
Australia, New Zealand and Iceland
Why customers ship with IVSS
Vehicle specialists
We only ship vehicles: one car or a fleet, every shipment gets the same care.
Quotes emailed in about 2 minutes
Fill in the 2-minute form and your quote is emailed to you, with route ranges from our own recent quotes.
Customs support
Booking and port instructions in one place, with customs through our broker, a trusted local agent or your own.
Advice you can use
Import rules, historic vehicle relief, Transfer of Residence, carnets and insurance, before you book.
Common questions
How much does it cost to ship a car abroad?
It depends on the route and the size of the vehicle. As a guide, RORO sea freight for a standard car starts from £987 from the UK to the USA and from US$1,405 from the USA to the UK. Motorhomes, trucks and machinery cost more. Our 2-minute quote form emails you the exact price.
Should I choose RORO or a container?
RORO, where the vehicle is driven onto the ship, is usually the cheapest for cars, motorhomes, trucks and rolling machinery. A container suits classic or high-value vehicles and lets you pack belongings. A shared container splits the cost with other vehicles.
Can you ship machinery, trucks and commercial vehicles?
Yes. Rolling machinery, trucks and buses go RORO. Static or oversized equipment that cannot be driven or fit a container goes on a flat rack. We quote these individually with dimensions and weights.
Can I import a classic car to the UK without paying duty?
Yes, if it qualifies as a historic vehicle: at least 30 years old, of a model no longer made and in original condition. It then pays no import duty and an effective 5% VAT instead of 10% duty and 20% VAT.
I am moving to the UK. Do I pay duty and VAT on my car?
Usually not, if you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 months, owned the vehicle for at least 6 months and apply for Transfer of Residence relief before it arrives.
Can I ship my own vehicle abroad for a trip and bring it back?
Yes. Many countries let visitors bring their own vehicle in temporarily without paying import duty, as long as it leaves again. We ship it out, help with customs on arrival and can ship it home or onward at the end of your trip.
Can I pack belongings in my vehicle?
In motorhomes, campervans and expedition vehicles used for touring, secured personal items are usually allowed. Standard cars must be empty except for normal tools. Rules depend on the carrier and route; we confirm what is allowed when you book.
Member of
IVSS is a member of BIFA, the British International Freight Association, and FIATA, the international federation of freight forwarders.
Get your quote in about 2 minutes
Prefer to talk it through? Call +44 203 787 4201, Monday to Friday.