Buying a Classic Car Abroad and Shipping It to the UK: From the USA and Canada

Why buy a classic in the USA or Canada?

Choice, condition and price. The USA has a deep supply of classics that spent their lives in dry climates, including British sports cars such as the MGB, Triumph TR6 and Jaguar E-Type that were sold new there, as well as American muscle cars and European classics. Canada adds cars with long single-owner histories.

Before you buy, add up the full cost: the purchase and any auction premium, transport to the port, sea freight, UK import VAT (and duty if the car does not qualify as historic), marine insurance, and registration.

Inspect the car before you pay

• Use an independent inspector near the car, not one chosen by the seller
• Ask for photos of the underbody, chassis rails, floors and sills, and a cold-start video
• Check that the VIN on the car matches the title and the build plate
• Ask for evidence of originality: build records, restoration invoices and matching numbers, which also support the UK historic rate
• At an auction, read the buyer's premium and the collection deadline before you bid; storage after the sale is at your cost
• Agree with the seller who takes the car to the port, and when

The US title: the document that lets the car leave

US Customs and Border Protection must be shown the original title before the car is exported, at the port at least 72 hours before export, and the title must be free of any lien. If the seller still has a loan on the car, or the title is lost, the car cannot be loaded until the lien is cleared or a replacement title is issued, which can take weeks.

Do not pay the balance until you have the original title in the seller's name, signed over to you, with no lienholder shown, and a bill of sale. For a car bought in Canada, keep the original ownership document; we confirm the export paperwork for your vehicle before you ship.

What is a bill of lading? →

UK duty and VAT: the historic vehicle rate

A classic imported into the UK can be treated as a collectors' item under tariff heading 9705, with no import duty and an effective VAT rate of 5%. It has to pass three tests:

Age

At least 30 years old

Production

Of a model that is no longer made

Original state

No substantial changes to the chassis, body, steering, brakes, transmission, suspension or engine; restoration with original-type parts is allowed

Does not qualify

10% duty and 20% VAT, charged on the price plus shipping and insurance to the UK

If you are moving to the UK and have owned and used the car abroad, Transfer of Residence relief may mean no duty or VAT at all.

Importing a classic car to the UK: historic vehicle relief →

Transfer of Residence: moving to the UK with your vehicle →

Registering the car in the UK

1. Customs clearance: the import declaration is made and any duty and VAT paid, with our customs clearance support through our broker or your own.
2. NOVA: HMRC must be told within 14 days that the car has arrived; your customs agent usually does this.
3. Vehicle approval: cars over 10 years old do not need an IVA test.
4. MOT: needed before registration unless the car was built or first registered more than 40 years ago and has not been substantially changed.
5. Register with DVLA on form V55/5 with the original title. With a dating certificate you can apply for an age-related number instead of a current one.
6. Vehicle tax: a car built before 1 January 1986 can be taxed in the historic class at no cost from 1 April 2026.

Registering an imported vehicle: NOVA and V55/5 →

IVA test for imported vehicles →

RORO or container from the USA and Canada

RORO from the USA

Typically US$1,405–1,580 in sea freight for a car and US$1,790–2,200 for a 4x4 or SUV. The car travels inside the ship's enclosed hold; port drivers drive it on and off

RORO from Canada

Typically US$1,350–1,470 in sea freight for a car, Halifax to the UK

Sole-use container

Sealed from loading to unloading. Best for a high-value classic, a non-runner or a car bought with spares

Shared container

Container security at a lower price, shared with another shipper's vehicle

RORO ranges are the lower and upper quartiles of our own customer quotes over the last 90 days. Container prices are quoted for your car and port.

Your classic car policy usually does not cover the sea voyage. We arrange marine cargo insurance, from €200 for a single trip for a value up to €25,000; higher values are quoted individually. Older vehicles can be more difficult to insure, so tell us the value and condition early. Marine insurance is not included in shipping prices unless stated.

Get a shipping quote