Car Shipping from the UK to Civitavecchia, Italy — RoRo & Container Services
- Fast Information
- Cost starts from: £793
- Roll on/Roll off: Yes ✓
- Container Shipping: Yes ✓
- Frequency of sailing: Weekly
Ship Cars Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Civitavecchia — Rome’s main port — via RoRo and container services, with approximately 19-27 days transit and three sailings per month. RoRo starts from £793 for a standard car. As the UK is now non-EU, Italian import VAT (IVA at 22%) applies unless you qualify for Transfer of Residence exemption. No customs duty is payable if the vehicle’s origin is UK or EU under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. We handle all UK export documentation.
What Are The Car Shipping Methods: RORO vs. Container
At Ship Cars, we offer a range of vehicle shipping options, from Roll on Roll Off (RoRo) which is highly cost effective and container shipping that includes; Full Container Load (FCL) when shipping luxury, electric or hybrid cars.
Important: Shipping personal effects inside a vehicle to Italy is possible but must be declared correctly to Italian customs with a detailed inventory. We can provide guidance on the required procedures.
- You may benefit from reading Car Shipping Method.
What Your Car Shipping Service Includes
When you book your Civitavecchia shipment with Ship Cars Ltd, our comprehensive service covers:
- Origin port charges and handling fees in the UK.
- Ocean freight on reliable carrier lines directly to the Port of Civitavecchia.
- Essential documentation, including the Bill of Lading.
- Expert support and tracking from collection to departure.
Please Note: Italian import VAT (IVA), customs clearance fees, and all local port/agent charges are not included in our shipping quote. These are payable in Italy. The tax treatment depends significantly on whether you are becoming an Italian resident.
Italy Import Rules: Key Regulations (Post-Brexit)
As the UK is now a non-EU country, vehicles imported into Italy are subject to customs formalities. Key rules include:
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Vehicle Standards: The vehicle must meet EU roadworthiness and emissions standards. Most modern UK cars already comply.
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Import VAT (IVA): This is the most significant cost. If you are importing the vehicle to become an Italian resident, you will likely be liable to pay Italian Import VAT (currently 22%) on the vehicle’s current market value. A major exemption exists if you are moving your primary residence to Italy and have owned and used the vehicle for more than 6 months.
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Duty: Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), vehicles of UK or EU origin are exempt from customs duty — which is the case for almost all UK-registered cars. The V5C logbook is the primary proof of UK origin. Duty of 10% applies only to vehicles manufactured outside the UK and EU (for example, a Japanese-made car imported via the UK).”
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Registration: After customs clearance, you must register the vehicle with the Italian authorities (Motorizzazione Civile) in your local area and obtain Italian number plates.
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Headlights: You will likely need to adjust headlights or fit beam deflectors for driving on the right.
Essential Import Documents Checklist
You or your appointed agent in Italy will require these documents:
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Original Bill of Lading.
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Original Vehicle Registration Document (V5C). Critical for proving ownership and UK origin.
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Commercial Invoice or a declared value statement.
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Certificate of Marine Insurance.
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Copy of Your Passport and proof of new Italian residency (e.g., residency certificate, “codice fiscale”) if applicable.
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Proof of Ownership (e.g., sales invoice if recently purchased).
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Freight Certificate/Invoice
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Certificate of Conformity (CoC) — issued by the vehicle manufacturer. Required by Motorizzazione Civile for Italian registration. Contact your vehicle manufacturer’s Italian subsidiary to obtain. Allow 2–6 weeks.
Strong Recommendation: Using a licensed customs agent (spedizioniere) in Civitavecchia or Rome is highly advisable. They will handle the complex VAT/Duty declarations, liaise with customs, and guide you through the subsequent Italian registration process.
- Get more information about car shipping documents.
Cost & Transit Summary
Here is a clear overview for shipping a standard small car to Civitavecchia.
| Shipping Cost (Example) | From £793 for a small car via RORO (all-inclusive of our listed services). |
| Insurance | Marine Insurance is a strategic necessity for vehicles during transit. Covering your vehicles against Total Loss due to fire and water damage and cosmetic damages. |
| Total Transit Time | Approximately 19-27 days from UK departure port to arrival in Civitavecchia. |
| Sailing Frequency | Regular sailings, with vessels departing weekly. |
| Collection Service | Our flexible and secured collection services include Trade Plate-Insured driven service as well as transporter or recovery options. |
| Local Taxes & Duties | Not included. Import duty, GST, and agent fees are payable in Civitavecchia. |
What Happens After My Car Arrives at Civitavecchia Port?
Civitavecchia Port is one of Italy’s busiest RoRo ports, handled by Grimaldi Euromed among other operators. Vehicles arriving from UK ports are processed at dedicated automotive terminals on the port’s southern quay (Molo Vespucci area).
After arrival, the typical process is:
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Italian Customs clearance — managed by your appointed clearing agent at Civitavecchia. Post-Brexit, this involves a customs declaration to the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (Italian Customs Agency)
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IVA (VAT) assessment — if applicable, calculated on the vehicle’s customs value and payable before release
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Vehicle release — once clearance is complete, your clearing agent releases the vehicle from the port
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Onward delivery from Civitavecchia:
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Rome city centre: approximately 80km via the A12 motorway — approximately 1 hour
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Florence: approximately 250km — approximately 2.5 hours
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Viterbo: approximately 50km — approximately 45 minutes
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After road delivery, the Italian registration process:
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Present the vehicle to the Motorizzazione Civile in your local area (or Rome for most Lazio-based importers)
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Submit CoC, V5C, proof of IVA payment, and identity documents
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New Italian number plates issued
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Allow 4–8 weeks from port clearance to completed Italian registration
FAQs
Q: How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to Civitavecchia?
RoRo shipping from the UK to Civitavecchia starts from £695 for a standard small car. These prices cover UK port to Civitavecchia port sea freight only. Italian IVA (22%), customs duty if applicable, clearing agent fees, and Italian registration costs are payable separately in Italy.
Q: Do I need to pay Italian VAT (IVA) when importing my car to Italy?
If you are becoming an Italian resident, Italian Import IVA at 22% of the vehicle’s market value typically applies. However, if you are moving your primary residence to Italy and have owned and used the vehicle for at least 6 months, you may qualify for a Transfer of Residence (ToR) exemption, reducing or eliminating IVA liability. Engage a licensed Italian customs agent (spedizioniere) to assess your specific eligibility.
Q: How long does car shipping from the UK to Civitavecchia take?
Transit takes approximately 19-27 days from UK departure port to Civitavecchia. We operate three sailings per month. Including UK collection, port-in processing, and Italian customs clearance, allow 4–6 weeks total from booking to your vehicle being available.
Q: Do I pay customs duty when shipping a UK car to Italy?
Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), vehicles of UK or EU origin are exempt from Italian customs duty (which would otherwise be 10%). Your V5C logbook is the primary proof of UK origin. Duty only applies to vehicles manufactured outside the UK and EU.
Q: What is Civitavecchia and how far is it from Rome?
Civitavecchia is Italy’s primary port for vehicle imports to the Lazio region, often called the “Gateway to Rome.” It is located approximately 80 kilometres northwest of Rome — approximately 1 hour via the A12 motorway.
Contact us today for further information or visit our sailing schedule and get an instant quote to schedule your car shipping with us with your vehicle’s details and your planned residency status in Italy.
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