- • Liverpool, UK
- • Southampton, UK
Ship Overseas Reviews
Your outstanding customer service and flexibility with our constantly changing itinerary ensured smooth transport of our family vehicle. Thanks for the help!
More Customer ReviewsWhen shipping a car to the UK, the RoRo method is the best if you are only shipping one car and nothing else. Your car must simply be able to drive up and down the ramp of the RoRo Ship without any mechanical help. Absolutely no items are allowed in the car except for the spare tire and jack. If you are shipping 2 or more vehicles to UK, we will probably send it via container ship because it’ll be less expensive. Unlike RoRo, with container ships you can send a maximum of 150 pounds of personal belongings inside the car.
Our shipping vessels depart on a weekly basis from U.S. seaports to to the United Kingdom. We offer several vehicle shipping methods and additional services, to meet all your auto shipping needs to the United Kingdom. Find out more about shipping methods provided by Ship Overseas.
What documents do I need to ship a car to the UK?
An Original Clear Title of Ownership.
Can I ship a car to the UK if it’s on finance?
lf there is a Lien on the vehicle, you can only ship it if you are in the US military. Private persons cannot ship a car on which there is a lien. If you are in the military, you need an Original Notarized Lien Authorization letter + 3 Notarized Copies of the Title’s front and back or an Electronic Title with a copy of your military orders and a Dock Receipt is required.
What should I know about shipping a car to the UK using RoRo?
For RoRo shipments the vehicle must be in good mechanical condition with NO items permitted in the vehicle. For RoRo shipments, off-loading fees of approximately 125 pounds are payable on pick up of the vehicle.
How much does it cost to import a car to the UK from the US?
Import duties can vary for motor vehicles depending on their function and country of manufacture. Passenger vehicles have a different duty rate than commercial vehicles. VAT at 17.5 % is normally applied to many imported vehicles, based on the purchase price. Shipping a standard size sedan in running condition on a Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) ship starts at $795 to $1025 from Baltimore, MD to Southampton, UK. RoRo shipping from Galveston, TX to Southampton, UK starts at $825. Ship Overseas ships cars, including SUVs and trucks, motorcycles, RVs and boats to the UK and internationally. For more information on the shipping prices, please use this form to get a quote or feel free to contact us by phone at (858) 346-6908 or toll-free at (888) 805-4994.
Can I be exempt from paying taxes when I ship a car to the UK from the US?
Vehicles imported as part of change of residence can be imported without paying duty or VAT. Temporary imports can also be free from taxes for a period of up to 6 months. The importer must meet with required criteria. Vehicles have to be owned in USA for more than one year to avoid 17.5% VAT import charge.
Returning UK citizens are exempt from customs duty & the 17.5% VAT if they can show proof of residence in a foreign country for more than one year.
USA military personal must obtain special military tags (the ones on the lower drivers-side windshield) from the officer in charge of transport before picking up the vehicle which will exempt them from paying taxes.
What are the latest tax rates when I ship my car to the UK from the US?
Visit the UK government website, or contact the British Embassy in the United States for the latest tax rates for importing a car. The British Embassy may guide you to the British Consular. The import duty depends on what type of vehicle you are transporting to UK.
3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20008
Phone: (202) 588 6500
How much does it cost to import my car to the UK from the US if I am in the UK?
If you are in the UK and need to import a car from USA, use this UK Trade Tariff Tool to find out the latest tariffs. To import a vehicle from Liverpool, UK to Baltimore, MD using RoRo starts at $1225, and from Southampton, UK starts at $1350. Ship Overseas ships cars, including SUVs and trucks, motorcycles, RVs and boats to the US and internationally. For more information on the shipping prices, please use this form to get a quote or feel free to contact us by phone at (858) 346-6908 or toll-free at (888) 805-4994.
What shipping methods are available at Ship Overseas?
TWO TYPES OF SHIPPING METHODS
RoRo ships are built so anything with tires can Roll On and Off the ship. Automobiles and motorcycles are the most common vehicles. Other types of vehicles that can be shipped are motorhomes, campers, trailers, buses, construction vehicles, and boats. RoRo shipping is normally used when you only ship one vehicle. The car MUST be able to make it up and down the ramp without any assistance. The inside of a RoRo ship looks like a big parking garage. Once loaded on the RoRo vessel, each vehicle is tied down securely in its designated spot (as shown in the picture).
This shipping method has proved highly efficient and extremely cost-effective. When compared to container shipping, it has an additional advantage: it provides reliable departure and arrival dates. The ship’s departure and arrival schedule runs almost like an airline flight schedule.
Also, RoRo shipping is the preferred shipping method for new car manufacturers to ship their own vehicles. All vehicles are tied to the deck and are not exposed to the ocean. That way, the vehicles have all the protection against external elements.


Container Shipping
With this method, multiple vehicles are loaded into a container at a warehouse. Normally 4 cars fit into a container. The container must be filled with vehicles in order for it to be loaded onto the container ship. Because a container must be filled, it doesn’t provide fixed departure dates like the RoRo method does. You might need to wait an extra week until the container is filled with the 4th car. Use container shipping when you’re shipping 2 or more vehicles.
In addition, customers are allowed to ship additional items in the trunk or the backseat of their vehicle, which is largely thought to be the only real advantage container shipping has compared to RoRo.
With shared container shipping, you can ship vehicles that do not work. Many people who buy broken down classic cars in USA (over the internet) choose shared container.

Exclusive container shipping is normally used when shipping exotic vehicles like Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin, etc. It is also used if you want to ship personal belongings along with your car. Exclusive container shipping is the more expensive than RoRo and Shared Container shipping.
Like shared container shipping, you can ship vehicles that do not work.

Ship Overseas, offers the convenience to transport your vehicle to the port, if you are unable to drive your car to the port yourself. Having one company deal with both the transport to the port and the shipping is a good move, since you won’t have to deal with different agents. What’s more, Ship Overseas with a proven track record has the experience and practical know-how to handle all phases of your car shipping, including its transport to the port.
We offer open and enclosed auto shipping to pick from your location and deliver it to the port.
Open Auto Shipping – This is the most common type of car shipping method in the U.S. Generally, it is also the least expensive! This car shipping method is widely used for shipping vehicles like sedans and minivans. Many car manufacturers use the open auto shipping method simply to reduce costs. It is a safe and cost effective method.
Our transport trucks normally carry as many as 9-10 cars at a time and as few as 5 cars. The transport truck driver will load and unload vehicles while shipping cars across country. In addition, since we are able to fill these transport trucks to full capacity, it lowers the over all shipping costs when running routes across the U.S.
Enclosed Auto Shipping – Many of our customers who use an enclosed transport truck ship luxury, exotic, specialty, or vintage cars. The cost of this shipping method is higher, but the risk factor is greatly reduced. By using this car shipping method, the vehicle will not be exposed to the elements. Shipping a car to the port using enclosed car shipping is ideal if a person has a slightly higher budget. The car will normally be shipped along with 2 couple other vehicles. A special ramp or lift-gate is used to get the cars into the transport truck. You can expect to have peace-of-mind when using the enclosed car shipping method.


We HIGHLY recommend purchasing the optional marine insurance. We offer FULL COVERAGE Marine Insurance against Loss or Damage from the time your car is loaded onto the ship. The cost is 1.75% of the value you wish to insure the car for. Purchase Marine Insurance if you cannot afford to come out of pocket for repairs or loss. We have never ‘lost’ a vehicle unless it was a hurricane. Hurricane season is from June 1 and ends on November 30. You can learn more about Marine Insurance by clicking on the link below.

Our Competitive Advantage
- Our shipping rate includes your AES port filing fee, and the express mail fee to return your vehicle documents.
- You never have to pay in advance to place your shipping order. You only pay when your vehicle is ready to be loaded onto the ship.
- We are a licensed NVOCC shipper Lic.# 019334, and we only specialize in international vehicle shipping.
- Your own Customer Dashboard to track your shipment in real time, and manage your shipping documents.
- We ship 1000s of vehicles which affords us to negotiate with shipping lines huge volume discounts directly, to provide you with the best shipping rates.
- Our weekly schedule of departures means less delays for your vehicle to depart and to arrive at its destination port.
- Your car is handled with the utmost care from start to finish, which is reflected in the highly positive reviews and testimonials we consistently receive from our customer. Read our Customers Feedback here.