RORO and container · Updated October 2026
Vehicle Shipping from Panama to Europe and the UK
Shipping a standard car from Manzanillo, Panama to Europe or the UK by RORO typically costs US$1,250–1,480 in sea freight, or US$2,520–3,490 for a motorhome, based on IVSS quotes in the last 90 days. Add about US$267 export costs in Panama and import costs of €295–500 at EU ports or about £300 in the UK.
- Instant pricing in about 2 minutes
- Customs clearance support
- BIFA and FIATA member
Standard car, RORO, Manzanillo to Europe
from US$1,250
Typical range US$1,250–1,480 · About 25–45 days at sea, by port
Get my quoteNo account needed. You get instant pricing.
Car from
US$1,250 sea freight (RORO)
Departure
Manzanillo (Colón), Panama
Arrivals
Southampton, Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Hamburg, Bremerhaven
Export costs in Panama
About US$267
Import costs
€295–500 (EU) / about £300 (UK)
Container from
€3,200 (20ft, door costs included)
Cut-off
2–3 working days before sailing, plus a police inspection
Motorbikes
Shipped separately, not inside a vehicle
How much does RORO shipping cost?
Typical RORO sea freight from Manzanillo 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 Panama and import costs in Europe are extra (see below).
| Vehicle | Typical sea freight | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Car (saloon/hatchback) | US$1,250 – 1,480 | Get a quote |
| 4x4 / SUV | US$1,640 – 1,990 | Get a quote |
| Van | US$1,790 – 2,710 | Get a quote |
| Campervan / motorhome | US$2,520 – 3,490 | Get a quote |
| 4x4 camper / overlander | US$1,940 – 3,040 | Get a quote |
| Expedition truck | US$3,630 – 5,290 | Get a quote |
How much does container shipping cost?
Container is the choice for classics, high-value vehicles and anything you want to pack with belongings.
Sole-use container from Manzanillo
| Route | 20ft | 40ft |
|---|---|---|
| Manzanillo to Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven or Le Havre | €3,200 | €3,500 |
Includes the normal export and import costs, shipping, stuffing and customs clearance. Some costs vary by port of departure and are confirmed with your booking. Containers can only be booked 4–6 weeks before sailing.
How the container share works
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Join a share | Complete our booking form and we add you to an open container share or look for a partner for you. |
| Deposit | The deposit is only taken once a partner is found. |
| Booking | Containers are usually confirmed 4–6 weeks before sailing. |
Shared space is subject to availability. See our open container shares.
Not included: marine insurance, duty and taxes, or costs from a customs inspection. Lithium-ion batteries must be declared before booking and may have to ship as hazardous, usually for US$700–1,000 or more. Container prices are confirmed for your sailing.
Why are you shipping your vehicle from Panama to Europe?
Touring / Overlanding
End your Americas trip
Finished the Pan-American Highway? Ship home or on to Europe from Manzanillo.
Read moreMoving to the UK or Europe
Import your vehicle
Transfer of residence relief can remove duty and VAT if you qualify.
Read moreClassic and collector cars
Ship a classic in a container
Sole-use containers from Manzanillo; UK historic vehicle relief can apply.
Read moreTrade and business
Fleets, projects and plant
RORO for trucks and oversized units, or containers to northern Europe.
Read moreEntry 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 Panama after my trip?
Manzanillo, on the Caribbean coast near Colón, is the usual port for shipping a touring vehicle from Central America to Europe.
What you need
- Original registration document and passport
- Your Panama temporary import permit
- Proof of when the vehicle left the EU or UK, if it is returning
- An address in Panama and in Europe
Before you ship
- Allow at least 1 day for the police inspection before the cut-off
- Empty all gas tanks and bottles
- Declare lithium batteries and any EV or hybrid before booking
- Book a separate unit for any motorbike
Visiting Europe with a foreign vehicle?
Temporary entry lets visitors drive in the UK and the EU without duty, within time limits. See the entry rules table.
Going south instead?
We also ship across the Darien Gap from Panama to Colombia.
Schedules
Sailings are normally published about 2 months ahead. Ask us for the next dates.
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 cargo?
We ship vehicles, trucks and equipment from Panama to Europe and the UK for businesses as well as travellers, by RORO or container.
RORO
Manzanillo to Southampton, Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Hamburg and Bremerhaven. Oversized and high units are charged by size.
Containers
20ft €3,200 and 40ft €3,500 to Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven or Le Havre, door costs included. See container prices above.
Other routes
We also ship from Panama to Colombia, Chile and the USA, and from Europe to Panama.
Price match
We will try to match or beat any valid quotation.
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 Panama 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 Panama
How much does it cost to ship a car from Panama to Europe?
RORO sea freight for a standard car typically costs US$1,250–1,480, based on IVSS quotes in the last 90 days. Add about US$267 export costs in Panama and €295–500 import costs in the EU, or about £300 in the UK.
Which European ports can I ship to?
Southampton in the UK, Antwerp and Zeebrugge in Belgium, and Hamburg and Bremerhaven in Germany.
Do I pay duty and VAT when I ship my vehicle home?
It depends where you live. Visitors can use temporary entry, people moving home may qualify for transfer of residence relief, and anyone else pays duty and VAT. See the entry rules table above.
Can I ship lithium leisure batteries?
Yes, on RORO, if they are fully installed, disconnected or isolated, and you send photos, the MSDS and the UN38.3 test report before booking.
Can I ship an electric or hybrid vehicle?
Hybrids are usually accepted with a report confirming the battery is free of faults. Fully electric vehicles must normally be under 12 months old with a dealer diagnostic report, and need approval before booking.
Can I ship my motorbike inside my van or truck?
No. Motorbikes must be declared before booking and shipped as a separate unit.
When are the next sailings?
Live schedules from the carriers we book with. Dates move; we confirm yours at booking.
Panama to the UK and Europe
We ship this route; the next sailing dates are not published yet. Ask us, or get Instant pricing.
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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