RORO and container · Updated October 2026

Vehicle Shipping from Mexico to Europe and the UK

Name: International Vehicle Shipping Services
Address: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX, GB
Telephone: +44 203 787 4201

Shipping a standard car from Veracruz, Mexico to Europe or the UK by RORO costs about US$940–1,350 in sea freight (from US$940 to Bremerhaven), or US$2,510–3,630 for a motorhome, based on IVSS quotes in the last 90 days. Ships take about 19–28 days to Southampton, Bremerhaven and Zeebrugge. Add about US$650 export costs in Mexico and import costs of €375–650 in the EU or £350–400 in the UK.

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Customs clearance support
BIFA and FIATA member

Standard car, RORO, Veracruz to Europe

from US$940

Typical range US$940–1,350 · 19–28 days at sea, by port

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Car from

US$940 sea freight (RORO, to Bremerhaven)

Departure

Veracruz, Mexico

Arrivals

Southampton, Bremerhaven, Zeebrugge

Sailing time

About 19–28 days

Export costs in Mexico

About US$650 (US$750 from 5,000kg)

Import costs

€375–650 (EU) / £350–400 (UK)

Cut-off

9–10 days before sailing

Containers

Not currently offered from Mexico

How much does RORO shipping cost?

Typical RORO sea freight from Veracruz to European and UK ports, including BAF, LSL and bill of lading, based on IVSS quotes for this route in the last 90 days (rates October 2026). Export costs in Mexico and import costs in Europe are extra (see below).

Vehicle	Typical sea freight	Action
Car (saloon/hatchback)	US$940 – 1,350	Get a quote
4x4 / SUV	US$1,220 – 1,500	Get a quote
Van	US$1,500 – 2,740	Get a quote
Campervan / motorhome	US$2,510 – 3,630	Get a quote
4x4 camper / overlander	US$1,500 – 3,090	Get a quote
Expedition truck	US$3,800 – 5,730	Get a quote

Why are you shipping your vehicle from Mexico to Europe?

Touring / Overlanding

End your trip in Mexico

Ship home from Veracruz after touring North or Central America.

Moving to the UK or Europe

Bring your vehicle with you

Transfer of residence relief can remove duty and VAT if you qualify.

Classic and collector cars

Bring a classic home

A classic you have toured with can qualify for UK historic vehicle relief.

Trade and business

Expedition and support vehicles

RORO for trucks and oversized units returning to Europe.

Entry rules

What are the rules for temporary entry, permanent import and transfer of residence in the UK and Europe?

The UK and the EU are separate customs areas with their own rules. Whether you pay duty and VAT depends on where you live, how long the vehicle stays and whether you are moving there.

Option	Who it is for	Duty and tax	What you need
Temporary entry, UK	Visitors who live outside the UK, with a vehicle registered and taxed abroad, for private use	None, for up to 6 months in total in any 12 months	Claim on arrival (form C110); for a shipped vehicle a customs agent declares it for you. Passport, registration and proof of ownership
Temporary entry, EU	People normally resident outside the EU, with a non-EU registered vehicle, for private use	None, generally for up to 6 months	Declared on arrival by the customs agent at the EU port. Passport, registration and a nationality sticker
Permanent import, UK	Anyone keeping the vehicle in the UK who does not qualify for a relief	Customs duty (usually 10% for a car) and 20% VAT on the value plus shipping and duty	Import declaration, NOVA within 14 days of arrival, then DVLA registration
Permanent import, EU	Anyone keeping the vehicle in an EU country who does not qualify for a relief	10% customs duty for a car, plus import VAT at the rate of the country of clearance	Import declaration in the country of clearance, then national registration
Transfer of residence, UK	People moving to the UK after living outside it for at least 12 months, who have owned and used the vehicle for at least 6 months	No duty or VAT	HMRC approval on form ToR1 before import, then NOVA. Import within 12 months of moving
Transfer of residence, EU	People moving to an EU country after living outside the EU for at least 12 months, with a vehicle possessed and used for at least 6 months	No duty or import VAT	Proof of residence and ownership, registration in your name. Clear within 12 months of moving
Classic / historic vehicles	Vehicles at least 30 years old, of a model no longer made, in original state	UK: no duty and an effective 5% VAT. EU: no customs duty on collectors' vehicles; import VAT is reduced in some countries, for example Germany 7%, France 5.5%, Netherlands 9% and Spain 10%.	Evidence of age and condition, such as the title and photos

Under temporary entry the vehicle must not be sold, lent or hired out, and must leave before the time runs out; the UK and EU count their time separately. Under transfer of residence the vehicle cannot be sold, lent, hired out or used as security for 12 months.

Official sources: GOV.UK: Temporary imports of vehicles · GOV.UK: Form C110, temporary admission of a private vehicle · GOV.UK: Paying VAT and duty on an imported vehicle · GOV.UK: Transfer of residence to Great Britain · HMRC Imports manual IMPS05200: works of art, antiques and collectors' items · UK Trade Tariff: collectors' pieces, heading 9705 · German Customs (Zoll): temporary importation of a vehicle · German Customs (Zoll): transferring residence · EUR-Lex: Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009, reliefs from customs duty · Austrian Ministry of Finance: importing a vehicle for personal use · Zoll: classic car cleared at 7% import VAT, no duty

Customs clearance is through our broker, a local agent we introduce, or your own broker. Rules change; we confirm them for your vehicle before you ship.

Touring / Overlanding

How do I ship my vehicle home from Mexico after my trip?

Veracruz on the Gulf coast has regular RORO sailings to Southampton, Bremerhaven and Zeebrugge, about twice a month.

What you need

Passport and vehicle registration or title
Your Mexican temporary import permit
The export bill of lading and customs references, if the vehicle is returning to the EU
An address in Mexico and in Europe

Before you ship

Deliver for the cut-off, 9–10 days before sailing
Empty all gas bottles
Declare any EV or hybrid, and any motorbike, before booking
Ask us what you may leave inside the vehicle

More than one vehicle?

Mexico issues one temporary import permit per person, so a second vehicle, such as a motorbike, must be in another person's name. Tell us before you book.

Customs checks in Europe

Many vehicles arriving from Mexico are selected for a customs inspection in the EU, which usually costs €150–250 extra.

Visiting Europe?

Temporary entry lets visitors drive in the UK and the EU without duty, within time limits. See the entry rules table.

Overland vehicle shipping: the complete guide →

Importing to the UK or Europe

How do I clear my vehicle on arrival?

Import costs cover port fees, terminal handling and customs clearance, not duty or VAT. The rules for each option are in the entry table above.

Customs clearance: Our broker, a local agent we introduce, or your own broker can clear the vehicle at the UK or EU port.
UK: NOVA and registration: After clearance the vehicle is notified to HMRC on NOVA, then registered with the DVLA on form V55/5. Vehicles under 40 years old need an MOT first.
Returning UK or EU vehicles: A vehicle that left the UK or EU and comes back can qualify for relief. Keep your original export bill of lading and customs references.
EU registration: Registration follows the rules of the country you live in. We tell you what the clearance papers must show before you ship.

Trade and business

Do you ship for businesses and oversized vehicles?

We ship expedition, support and event vehicles from Mexico to Europe for businesses as well as travellers. We do not handle permanent exports from Mexico.

RORO

Veracruz to Southampton, Bremerhaven and Zeebrugge, about twice a month. Units over 25m³ are charged by volume.

Oversized units

RORO takes trucks and vehicles too tall for a container.

Other routes

We also ship from Mexico to Colombia and South America, and from Europe to Mexico.

Price match

We will try to match or beat any valid quotation.

Get a business quote

Why ship with IVSS?

Advice you can use

Temporary and permanent import, paperwork and insurance, explained before you book.

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.

We have done it ourselves

We have shipped our own vehicle around the world.

How does shipping from Mexico work?

Book 4–8 weeks ahead. We handle the booking and paperwork, and help with customs.

1
Get a quote
Fill in the 2-minute form for instant pricing.
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.

Do I need marine insurance for the crossing?

Your road insurance does not cover the sea crossing. We arrange All Risks marine insurance from the departure port to the arrival port, with or without a condition survey.

Motorhomes, expedition trucks and 4x4 campers: when insured through us, personal items inside the vehicle are covered up to €15,000, where your route allows belongings in the vehicle.

Insured value up to €25,000€200 single trip, €400 multi-trip
Insured value up to €50,000€300 single trip, €600 multi-trip
Insured value up to €100,000€425 single trip, €850 multi-trip
Higher values, up to €1,000,000In bands, shown on your quote; above that, ask us

Excess €500 per claim. Cover is subject to the insurer's policy wording, which we send with your booking confirmation. Damage, theft and claims

Questions about shipping from Mexico

How much does it cost to ship a car from Mexico to Europe?

RORO sea freight for a standard car costs about US$940–1,350 (from US$940 to Bremerhaven), based on IVSS quotes in the last 90 days. Add about US$650 export costs in Mexico and €375–650 import costs in the EU, or £350–400 in the UK.

How long does shipping from Veracruz to Europe take?

About 19–21 days to Southampton, 23–25 days to Bremerhaven and 26–28 days to Zeebrugge, based on the current schedule.

Can I ship my vehicle in a container from Mexico?

Not at present. We ship from Mexico by RORO only.

Do you handle permanent exports from Mexico?

No. We ship touring vehicles leaving Mexico, not vehicles being permanently exported.

Do I pay duty and VAT when the vehicle arrives in Europe?

It depends where you live. Visitors can use temporary entry, people moving may qualify for transfer of residence relief, and anyone else pays duty and VAT. See the entry rules table above.

Can I ship an electric or hybrid vehicle?

Hybrids are accepted if the battery is free of faults, with an OBD report for some carriers. Fully electric vehicles must normally be under 12 months old with a dealer diagnostic report and approval before booking.

When are the next RORO sailings from Veracruz to Europe?

Live schedules from the carriers we book with. Dates move; we confirm yours at booking.

Mexico to the UK and Europe

RORO

Next sailing: Brooklands from Veracruz on 29 Nov 2026, arriving Southampton on 18 Dec 2026 (19 days). About 6 sailings a month. Updated 13 Nov 2026.

Calls at Southampton, Bremerhaven and Zeebrugge

RORO sailings from Veracruz and Altamira to the UK and Europe, Nov 2026 – Feb 2027
Vessel	From	Departs	Southampton	Bremerhaven	Zeebrugge
Brooklands	Veracruz	29 Nov 2026	18 Dec 2026	21 Dec 2026	24 Dec 2026
Brooklands	Altamira	1 Dec 2026	18 Dec 2026	21 Dec 2026	24 Dec 2026
Drive Green Highway	Veracruz	15 Dec 2026	5 Jan 2027	8 Jan 2027	11 Jan 2027
Drive Green Highway	Altamira	18 Dec 2026	5 Jan 2027	8 Jan 2027	11 Jan 2027
Donington	Veracruz	27 Dec 2026	19 Jan 2027	22 Jan 2027	25 Jan 2027
Donington	Altamira	30 Dec 2026	19 Jan 2027	22 Jan 2027	25 Jan 2027
Brooklands	Veracruz	15 Jan 2027	4 Feb 2027	7 Feb 2027	10 Feb 2027
Brooklands	Altamira	18 Jan 2027	4 Feb 2027	7 Feb 2027	10 Feb 2027
Drive Green Highway	Veracruz	1 Feb 2027	21 Feb 2027	24 Feb 2027	27 Feb 2027
Drive Green Highway	Altamira	4 Feb 2027	21 Feb 2027	24 Feb 2027	27 Feb 2027

Calls at Antwerp and Bremerhaven

Vessel	From	Departs	Antwerp	Bremerhaven
Höegh Yokohama	Veracruz	22 Dec 2026	11 Jan 2027	13 Jan 2027
Höegh Yokohama	Altamira	25 Dec 2026	11 Jan 2027	13 Jan 2027
Höegh Oslo	Veracruz	28 Dec 2026	17 Jan 2027	–
Höegh Oslo	Altamira	30 Dec 2026	17 Jan 2027	–