Car Shipping From UK to USA — RoRo & Container Services

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Shipping a car from the UK to the USA by RoRo costs from £929 to Jacksonville or £1,620 to Tacoma port-to-port, depending on destination. A dedicated 20ft container starts from £2,200. Vehicles leave from Southampton or Tilbury and arrive at US ports including Baltimore, Jacksonville, Brunswick, New York, Long Beach, and Port Hueneme. Port-to-port transit runs 12–36 days depending on the US destination port.

What Are The Ways to Ship Your Car from the UK to the USA

Ship Cars Ltd offers two methods on the UK-to-USA route: Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) and dedicated container shipping. There is no shared container (LCL) service available on this route. Which method you choose depends on your vehicle type, its value, and how much protection you want during the Atlantic crossing.

RoRo — Cost-Effective and Frequently Sailing

RoRo is the most straightforward and affordable way to ship a standard vehicle from the UK to the USA. Your car is driven onto a purpose-built car carrier vessel at the UK departure port, secured on a vehicle deck, and rolled off at the US arrival port. It is the exact same method used by vehicle manufacturers to export cars from UK plants to American dealerships.

RoRo is well-suited to modern, drivable vehicles in good condition. The car must have a working battery, be driveable, and the fuel tank must be no more than a quarter full at the point of loading. No personal belongings can be left inside the vehicle.

Sailings on the UK-to-USA route are frequent, with multiple departures per month from Southampton. This gives good flexibility if you are working to a specific timeline. RoRo port-to-port pricing by US destination is set out below.

Dedicated Container — Maximum Security for Your Vehicle

A dedicated container places your vehicle inside a sealed 20ft or 40ft steel box for the entire Atlantic voyage. This is the preferred option for classic cars, left-hand drive vehicles being exported to the US, high-value cars, or vehicles that are non-running and cannot be driven onto a vessel.

There is no shared container option on this route — if you are choosing container, your vehicle will be the only cargo in the box, or paired with one other vehicle in a 40ft container at your request. Pricing for a dedicated 20ft container from a UK port to a US East Coast port starts from £2,800.

Which US Ports Can I Ship My Car To?

Ship Cars Ltd arranges vehicle collection from anywhere in the UK and road transport to the departure port. The two primary UK departure points for USA-bound vehicles are:

• Southampton — the UK’s main RoRo export terminal for vehicles heading to the USA and the Americas. Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Höegh Autoliners operate regular services from here to East and Gulf Coast US ports.

• Tilbury (London) — a significant container hub on the Thames, well-positioned for customers based in London and the South East, with onward services to US ports.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to the USA?

The USA has multiple vehicle import ports, and the right one for you depends on where the car is going once it lands. Here is the full breakdown of RoRo port-to-port pricing and transit times from UK ports:

4×4 and SUV vehicles attract an additional supplement of approximately £250–£350 on all routes. Dedicated container pricing varies by destination — contact our team for a tailored quote on container shipments to any US port.

Once the vehicle arrives at the US port, it will need to clear US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before release. We arrange this through our US-based customs agents and can coordinate onward delivery to any US address.

US Import Rules — What You Need to Know Before You Ship

Importing a vehicle into the USA is more tightly regulated than many people expect. Getting this wrong before the vehicle ships can result in the car being held at the port or, in worst-case scenarios, refused entry entirely. Here are the key rules that apply to vehicles being shipped from the UK to the USA.

The 25-Year Rule

This is the single most important rule for UK-to-USA vehicle imports. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibit the permanent importation of vehicles that do not conform to US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and emissions regulations — and the vast majority of UK-specification vehicles do not. However, vehicles that are 25 years old or older are exempt from these requirements entirely.

This means that if you are exporting a vehicle manufactured before July 2000 to the USA permanently, it qualifies for the 25-year exemption and can be imported without modification. Vehicles under 25 years old face significant hurdles for permanent import unless they are already US-spec.

There is one commonly used exception for sub-25-year vehicles — the Show or Display exemption — but this is limited to vehicles of historical or technological significance and is not applicable to most standard UK cars.

Emissions Compliance (EPA)

Even vehicles that clear the DOT 25-year threshold must still meet EPA emissions requirements or qualify for an exemption. Vehicles 21 years or older are typically exempt from EPA emissions regulations, making the practical threshold for most importers the same 25-year mark.

Can I Drive My UK Right-Hand Drive Car in the USA?

The USA has no legal prohibition on right-hand drive vehicles, and many UK-origin classic and specialist cars are imported in RHD configuration without issue. However, some US states may impose additional requirements for vehicle registration of RHD vehicles — check with the DMV in the state where the vehicle will be registered before you ship.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

All vehicles entering the USA must have a valid VIN. UK vehicles carry a VIN, but if it does not conform to the US 17-digit format, a US-format VIN may need to be issued by a registered importer. This is relevant primarily for older vehicles.

What US Customs (CBP) Process Does My Vehicle Go Through?

Every vehicle shipped to the USA must clear US Customs and Border Protection at the arrival port. The key steps are:

1. CBP Entry — an import declaration must be filed with US CBP before or at the time of arrival

2. EPA Form 3520-1 — must be completed to declare emissions compliance or exemption

3. DOT Form HS-7 — must be completed to declare safety standard compliance or exemption

4. Payment of US import duty — currently 2.5% on the customs value of passenger vehicles imported from the UK (source: USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2026). Note: the 2025 US-UK trade negotiations included proposals around vehicle tariffs — confirm the current applicable rate with our team at the point of booking.

5. State DMV registration — handled after CBP release, at the destination state

Our US-based customs partners manage steps one through four on your behalf. You will receive clear advice on forms required and duties payable before the vehicle sails.

Preparing Your Vehicle for UK-to-USA Shipping

Whether you are using RoRo or a dedicated container, there are preparation steps that apply before your vehicle reaches the UK port:

• Fuel: Tank must be no more than one quarter full

• Personal items: Vehicle must be completely empty — no tools, luggage, or personal belongings

• Battery: Must be fully charged and in working order for RoRo shipments

• Alarm: Deactivate any alarm system before loading

• Cleanliness: The vehicle must be clean inside and out — US border authorities carry out agricultural and biosecurity inspections on arrival and any soil, plant material, or biological contamination can result in quarantine or fumigation at your cost

• Tyres: Must be inflated to the correct pressure

These are not optional steps. Our team will walk you through the full pre-shipment checklist specific to your vehicle and chosen US destination port.

Get Your Car Shipping Done From UK To USA With Ship Cars Ltd

At Ship Cars Ltd, we handle UK-to-USA vehicle shipments routinely. We know which US ports suit which destinations, how to navigate the 25-year rule, and how to get your vehicle through CBP clearance without unnecessary delay.

Here is what we manage for you:

• Collection from any UK address and road transport to Southampton or Tilbury

• Confirmed RoRo or dedicated container bookings with carriers including Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Höegh Autoliners, and leading container lines

• All UK export documentation

• US customs entry preparation — CBP, EPA Form 3520-1, DOT Form HS-7

• Marine insurance arrangement

• Doorort-to-door delivery within the USA through our US logistics partners

• Ongoing shipment tracking and communication throughout the voyage

We are direct about what your vehicle will and will not qualify for under US import rules before you book. No optimistic guesswork — just honest, experienced advice.  Contact us today for further information or visit our sailing schedule and get an instant quote to schedule your car shipping with us.

Other Resources:

• Import Regulations In USA
• Documents Required For Exporting A Car From UK
• Complete Guide on Car Collection and Car Delivery Services
• Marine Insurance Explained for International Car Shipping
• How To Track Your Car During International Shipping 

We provide efficient Car Shipping Services to:

New York

Canada

Real Customer Examples

A customer in Surrey shipped a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback from Southampton to Baltimore by RoRo. The vehicle was well over 25 years old, qualified for the DOT and EPA exemptions, and cleared US CBP at Baltimore in four working days. It was delivered to the buyer’s garage in Virginia within the week — exactly as quoted and on schedule.

A classic car dealer in the Midlands used Ship Cars Ltd to ship a 1972 Jaguar E-Type in a dedicated 20ft container to Port Hueneme for a collector in California. The container option was chosen specifically to protect the car’s concours condition during the Pacific Coast delivery. The vehicle arrived without a mark and cleared Californian DMV registration within three weeks of arriving at port.

Frequently Asked Questions – Car Shipping From UK To USA

Can I ship a right-hand drive UK car to the USA permanently?

Yes, provided the vehicle qualifies under the 25-year DOT/EPA exemption. Most UK-specification modern cars cannot be permanently imported to the USA unless they are 25 years old or older — but there are no restrictions for vehicles that meet the age threshold.

Is there a shared container option on the UK-to-USA route?

No. Ship Cars Ltd operates RoRo and dedicated container only on the UK-USA route. No shared (LCL) container service is available.

How long does it take to clear US customs after the ship arrives?

Under normal conditions, CBP clearance takes 3–7 working days after the vessel arrives at the US port. Our US customs partners file the entry before vessel arrival to keep clearance as fast as possible.

What US import duty do I pay on a UK car?

The standard US import duty rate on passenger vehicles from the UK is currently 2.5% of the vehicle’s customs value (USITC HTS 2026). This is separate from any state taxes or DMV fees that apply at registration. Confirm the current rate with our team at the point of booking given ongoing US-UK trade discussions.

Do I need to be present at the UK port when my vehicle is loaded?

No. We manage collection, port check-in, and the loading process entirely. You do not need to attend the port.

All transit times, port-to-port prices, and duty rates are indicative and subject to carrier schedules, US CBP processing, and current tariff schedules. Contact Ship Cars Ltd for a current, tailored quote.

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