RORO and container · Updated October 2026
Car Shipping to Cyprus from the UK and Europe
Shipping a car from the UK to Limassol, Cyprus by RORO costs from £1,000 for a standard car, including UK export documents, export customs and port fees, or from £1,900 for a van or campervan up to 2.6 m high. From Antwerp a car is from €1,150, and a shared container from the Netherlands or Germany is from €1,250 per vehicle. Sea transit is typically 2–3 weeks; Cyprus port charges, duty and VAT are extra.
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- BIFA and FIATA member
Standard car, RORO, Southampton to Limassol
from £1,000
Typical range £1,000–1,155 · about 2–3 weeks at sea
Get my quoteNo account needed. Your quote is emailed to you.
Car from
£1,000 RORO from Southampton
Departures
Southampton, Antwerp, Hamburg (RORO); Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Bremerhaven (container)
Arrival
Limassol, Republic of Cyprus
Transit time
Typically 2–3 weeks at sea
From the UK
10% duty + 19% VAT, unless relief or UK/EU origin applies
From the EU
No customs duty on a used vehicle already in the EU
Methods
RORO, shared container, sole-use 20ft and 40ft
Book ahead
4–8 weeks
RORO prices by vehicle
RORO from Southampton to Limassol, from our current Cyprus tariff. Includes UK export documents, export customs and port fees. Prices are set by size and height (up to 13 m³ and 1.7 m, 18 m³ and 2.1 m, 28 m³ and 2.6 m); larger or taller vehicles are charged by length. Cyprus destination charges are extra.
| Vehicle | Typical sea freight | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Car up to 1.7 m high | £1,000 – 1,155 | Get a quote |
| 4x4, SUV or MPV up to 2.1 m | £1,155 – 1,900 | Get a quote |
| Van or campervan up to 2.6 m | £1,900 – 2,740 | Get a quote |
| Motorhome over 2.6 m (6–8 m long) | £2,740 – 3,505 | Get a quote |
| Truck, bus or machinery (8–12 m) | £3,505 – 5,040 | Get a quote |
Container prices
Container is the choice for classics, high-value vehicles and anything you want to pack with belongings.
Sole-use container to Limassol
| Loading port | 20ft | 40ft HC |
|---|---|---|
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | €1,950 | €1,950 |
| Hamburg or Bremerhaven, Germany | €2,000 | €2,250 |
Export price includes all export costs, export customs clearance, loading (stuffing) and trucking. Cyprus import costs are about US$2,000 for a 20ft and US$2,500 for a 40ft. Antwerp also available.
Shared container, per vehicle
| Loading port | Export | Cyprus import (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | €1,250 | US$1,000–1,250 |
| Germany | €1,250 | US$1,000–1,250 |
A good fit for classic and collector cars, motorcycles, and vehicles travelling with belongings.
Not included: insurance, Cyprus destination charges, or costs from a customs inspection, verification, delay or extra port fees. Container prices are confirmed for your sailing; containers can be booked 4–6 weeks before departure.
Why are you shipping your vehicle to Cyprus?
Moving to Cyprus
Relocate with your car
Transfer of Residence relief can remove duty and VAT on your own car from the UK.
Read moreTouring / Overlanding
A winter or a long trip in your own vehicle
Temporary import for up to 6 months a year with no duty or VAT, if you live outside the EU.
Read moreTrade and business
Dealers, fleets and machinery
Right-hand-drive cars from the UK, vans, trucks and plant, by RORO or container.
Read moreClassic and collector cars
Ship a classic safely
Shared or sole-use container from the Netherlands or Germany, with optional marine insurance.
Read moreTouring / Overlanding
Visiting Cyprus in your own vehicle
Spending the winter in Cyprus or touring the eastern Mediterranean? If you live outside the EU, you do not need to import your vehicle permanently. Cyprus Customs allows temporary import for private use, with no duty or VAT.
Who qualifies
- You live outside the EU (normally at least 185 days a year)
- You own the vehicle, or have written consent from the owner
- It is registered outside the EU
- It is for your own private use, not for sale, hire or lending
What you need
- Your registration document (V5C for UK vehicles)
- Your passport and driving licence
- Insurance valid in Cyprus, such as a Green Card
- Form C.104O, issued by Cyprus Customs on arrival and kept in the vehicle
Time limit
Up to 6 months a year, in one stay or several. Before it runs out the vehicle must leave Cyprus or be cleared with duty and VAT paid.
EU-registered vehicles
Vehicles registered in another EU country move freely within the EU, so there is no customs procedure. Check the Cyprus rules on driving on foreign plates if you become resident.
Shipping home
When your trip ends we can ship the vehicle back to the UK or mainland Europe. Ask for a return quote with your booking.
Moving to Cyprus
Moving to Cyprus with your car
If the car is staying in Cyprus, it is a permanent import. We can arrange Cyprus customs clearance through a trusted local agent, or work with your own broker.
- Transfer of Residence relief
- If you are moving your normal residence to Cyprus from outside the EU, your own car can come in free of duty and VAT. Under EU rules you normally need to have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and owned and used the car for at least 6 months. Apply to Cyprus Customs on form Απ. 2.
- While you wait
- Customs can let you drive the car for up to one month on form C.104O while your relief application is decided.
- Standard import from the UK
- 10% import duty and 19% VAT on the value plus shipping and insurance. A car of UK or EU origin may pay 0% duty with a valid statement of origin.
- Moving from another EU country
- A used car already in the EU pays no customs duty when it moves to Cyprus. A new car (under 6 months old or under 6,000 km) pays Cyprus VAT.
- Registration
- After clearance, register the car with the Road Transport Department and pay the registration fee. Used vehicles from outside the EU can face extra conditions, so check before you ship.
- Documents
- Registration document (V5C), proof of ownership and purchase, your passport, and proof of your move, such as a rental or purchase contract or employment in Cyprus.
Trade and business
For dealers, fleets and businesses
Cyprus drives on the left, so right-hand-drive cars from the UK suit the local market. We ship single vehicles and regular volumes for dealers, rental and fleet operators and contractors, and can arrange customs through a trusted local agent or work with yours.
RORO from three ports
Southampton, Antwerp and Hamburg to Limassol. Cars and vans are priced in size bands; trucks, buses and machinery by length.
Containers
Sole-use 20ft or 40ft from €1,950 from Rotterdam or Germany, ideal for several cars or vehicles with parts. Shared from €1,250 per vehicle.
Machinery, high and heavy
Plant, trucks and vehicles over 2.6 m high go RORO, charged by length. Send dimensions and weight for a firm price.
Price match
Already have a valid quotation? We will do our best to match or beat it.
Why customers ship with IVSS
Advice you can use
Temporary and permanent import, Transfer of Residence, insurance and local rules.
Trusted agents only
We only use agents we know, which avoids surprise costs.
Kept informed
We update you at every stage, from booking to collection.
Electric and hybrid cars
Accepted by RORO when the shipping line's battery procedure is followed.
How shipping from the UK and Europe works
Book 4–8 weeks ahead. We handle the booking and paperwork, and help with customs.
1
Instant quote
Fill in the 2-minute form; your quote is emailed to you.
2
Book your sailing
We confirm the carrier, date and port delivery instructions.
3
Prepare
Clean the vehicle, remove loose items, send your registration document and passport copy.
4
Drop off
At the terminal, normally 4–7 days before sailing.
5
Sea crossing
We track the vessel and keep you updated until arrival.
6
Clearance and collection
Customs is cleared by our broker, a local agent or your own; collection is normally 2–3 working days after arrival.
Questions about shipping from the UK and Europe
How much does it cost to ship a car to Cyprus from the UK?
RORO from Southampton to Limassol costs from £1,000 for a standard car up to 1.7 m high, £1,155 for a taller car or SUV up to 2.1 m, and £1,900 for a van or campervan up to 2.6 m, including UK export documents, export customs and port fees. Cyprus port charges, clearance, duty and VAT are extra.
How long does it take to ship a car to Cyprus?
Typically 2–3 weeks at sea to Limassol, plus a few working days for customs clearance in Cyprus. Book 4–8 weeks ahead so we can secure your sailing.
Which port in Cyprus do you ship to?
Limassol, the main vehicle port of the Republic of Cyprus. RORO sails from Southampton, Antwerp and Hamburg; containers load in Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg and Bremerhaven.
Do I pay import duty on a car from the UK to Cyprus?
Since Brexit the UK is outside the EU, so a car from the UK pays 10% import duty and 19% VAT on its value plus shipping and insurance, unless relief applies. A car that qualifies as UK or EU origin under the UK–EU trade agreement can pay 0% duty with a valid statement of origin, and Transfer of Residence relief can remove duty and VAT if you are moving to Cyprus. A registration fee is payable when you register the car.
Can I take my UK car to Cyprus for a holiday or a few months?
Yes. If you live outside the EU, your own UK-registered vehicle can be temporarily imported for private use for up to 6 months a year, with no duty or VAT. Cyprus Customs issues form C.104O on arrival, which you keep in the vehicle. You must not sell, lend or hire it, and you need insurance valid in Cyprus, such as a Green Card.
Can I ship a car from Germany, the Netherlands or Belgium to Cyprus?
Yes. RORO sails from Antwerp from €1,150 and from Hamburg from €1,550 for a car, and a shared container from the Netherlands or Germany costs from €1,250 per vehicle. A used car moving within the EU pays no customs duty; you then register it in Cyprus.
Can I ship an electric or hybrid car to Cyprus by RORO?
Yes, if you follow the shipping line's procedure for used electric and hybrid cars: battery charged between 25% and 50%, the drive type marked on the windscreen, the battery cut-off clearly marked, and a signed leak-tightness certificate from a licensed garage. Vehicles with a flat battery are refused.
Can I ship a motorcycle to Cyprus?
Not by RORO on this route at the moment. Motorcycles travel in a shared container from the Netherlands or Germany, or with a car in a sole-use container.
Can I register a right-hand-drive UK car in Cyprus?
Yes. Cyprus drives on the left, so UK right-hand-drive cars suit its roads. After customs clearance the car is registered with the Road Transport Department. Used vehicles from outside the EU can face extra conditions, so check with them before you ship.
Related routes and guides
Member of
IVSS is a member of BIFA, the British International Freight Association, and FIATA, the international federation of freight forwarders.
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Prefer to talk it through? Call +44 203 787 4201, Monday to Friday.