Car Shipping From UK to Africa — RORO & Container
- Fast Information
- Cost starts from: £1045
- Roll on/Roll off: Yes ✓
- Container Shipping: Yes ✓
- Frequency of sailing: weekly
Ship Cars Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Africa via weekly RoRo and container services, departing from Tilbury, Sheerness, Immingham, Southampton, and Teesport. We serve West Africa (Lagos, Tema, Cotonou, Banjul, Abidjan), East Africa (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam), and Southern Africa (Durban, Cape Town, Walvis Bay). RORO shipping starts from £1045. Each African country operates under its own customs rules, duty structure, and vehicle eligibility requirements — this guide covers what you need to know by region.
What Shipping Methods Are Available from the UK to Africa?
Ship Cars Ltd offers two main shipping methods for all African routes: RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) and container shipping.
RORO Shipping Method:
RORO shipping method is the most cost-effective option for standard roadworthy vehicles. Your car is driven directly onto a specialist vessel at the UK departure port and secured below deck for the voyage. RoRo offers frequent weekly sailings to most African destinations and is the preferred method for the majority of UK-to-Africa shipments. Some shippinglines allow personal belongings to be loaded inside the vehicle.
Container Shipping Method:
Container shipping provides a higher level of protection and is recommended for high-value vehicles, classic cars, non-running vehicles, and electric vehicles. We offer 20ft and 40ft container options. Vehicles shipped in containers can carry a limited quantity of personal effects, subject to accurate customs declaration at the destination port. Container shipping is the only option for Cape Town, South Africa — no RoRo service operates to Cape Town.
Which African Countries and Ports Does Ship Cars Ltd Serve?
We ship to destinations across three African regions:
West Africa — weekly RoRo and container sailings from Tilbury and Sheerness to: Lagos (Tin Can Island Port and Apapa Port, Nigeria), Tema (Ghana), Cotonou (Benin), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Dakar (Senegal), Conakry (Guinea), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Banjul (Gambia), Pointe Noire (Republic of Congo), and Libreville (Gabon).
Southern Africa — regular sailings from Sheerness and Teesport to: Durban (South Africa) via RoRo, Cape Town (South Africa) via container only, Walvis Bay (Namibia) via RoRo and container, and Port Elizabeth (South Africa).
East Africa — sailings from Southampton, Tilbury, and Sheerness to: Mombasa (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania).
If your destination is not listed, Contact Our team — we serve most African ports on request.
You can visit our Destinations countries worldwide to know our shipping ports.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to Africa?
Car shipping costs from the UK to Africa vary by destination, vehicle size, and method. Indicative RoRo costs for a standard saloon car:
| Destination | Departure Port | RoRo Cost (approx.) |
| Lagos, Nigeria | Tilbury / Sheerness | From £947 |
| Banjul, Gambia | Tilbury / Sheerness | From £1017.75 |
| Walvis Bay, Namibia | Sheerness / Teesport | From £1,095 |
| Durban, South Africa | Sheerness / Teesport | From £1,045 |
| Mombasa, Kenya | Southampton / Tilbury | From £1,327 |
All prices are indicative sea freight costs only and exclude destination import duty, port handling charges, customs clearance fees, and local delivery. Container shipping costs 20–40% more than RoRo to the same destination. For a personalised quote based on your vehicle and destination, use our free quote form.
How Long Does Car Shipping from the UK to Africa Take?
Transit times from the UK to Africa depend on the destination region:
| Region | Example Port | Approximate Transit |
| West Africa | Lagos, Nigeria | 15–21 days |
| West Africa | Tema, Ghana | 6–23 days |
| West Africa | Banjul, Gambia | 34–50 days |
| Southern Africa | Walvis Bay, Namibia | 14-26 days |
| Southern Africa | Durban, South Africa | 22–46 days |
| East Africa | Mombasa, Kenya | 24–27 days |
| East Africa | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | 21–41 days |
These are port-to-port sea transit times. Allow additional time for UK collection and port-in processing, and for customs clearance at the African arrival port, which typically takes 5–14 working days depending on the country.
Can I Ship a Right-Hand Drive UK Car to Africa?
Whether your UK right-hand drive (RHD) vehicle can be registered at your destination depends entirely on which side of the road that country drives on. This is the most important eligibility question for UK-to-Africa vehicle shipping and varies significantly by region.
RHD-Compatible Destinations
These countries drive on the left and accept UK RHD vehicles for full road registration:
South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, and Malawi.
LHD-Required Destinations
These countries drive on the right and require left-hand drive vehicles for road registration. UK RHD vehicles can be imported with a waiver certificate in some cases but must typically be converted to LHD before they can legally be driven on public roads: Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Gabon, and Congo.
If you are shipping a RHD vehicle to a West African country, contact our team before booking. For Gambia specifically, a waiver certificate from the Gambian Police Force is required before shipment — this permits import only and the vehicle must be converted to LHD at the port before it can be used on Gambian roads.
What Documents Do I Need to Ship a Car to Africa from the UK?
The following UK export documents are required for all African shipments:
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V5C logbook — original document confirming vehicle registration and ownership
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Passport — photo page copy of the consignee (the person receiving the vehicle)
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Purchase or sales invoice — confirming the vehicle’s value for customs declaration purposes
Ship Cars Ltd handles the UK export customs declaration on your behalf. Destination import documentation varies by country. Your appointed African clearing agent will advise on country-specific requirements including import permits, roadworthiness certificates, pre-shipment inspections, and duty payment procedures.
For countries requiring pre-shipment inspection in the UK — including Kenya (QISJ inspection at Tilbury or Manchester) and Cameroon (CNCC inspection) — we will advise you of the specific requirements and timeline when you book.
What Are the Key Import Rules by African Region?
Import rules differ significantly across Africa. Key points by region:
West Africa:
Most West African countries drive on the right and require LHD vehicles. Many enforce vehicle age restrictions — Ghana and Nigeria both limit used vehicle imports by age. Pre-shipment inspection is mandatory for some destinations including Kenya and Cameroon. Left-hand drive sourcing or conversion is often required.
Southern Africa:
Most Southern African countries drive on the left and accept UK RHD vehicles. South Africa charges Ad Valorem Excise Duty in addition to standard customs duty. Namibia enforces a vehicle age restriction on used imports. Container shipping is mandatory for Cape Town — RoRo arrivals are Durban-only.
East Africa:
Kenya and Tanzania both drive on the left and accept UK RHD vehicles. Kenya requires a mandatory QISJ pre-shipment inspection in the UK and all import containers must clear through Embakasi ICD per the SGR (Standard Gauge Railway) directive. Both countries enforce vehicle age restrictions.
For destination-specific rules, import duty rates, and age restrictions, visit the individual country page for your destination or contact our team directly before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions — Car Shipping UK to Africa
Does Ship Cars Ltd ship vehicles to all African countries?
We serve destinations across West, East, and Southern Africa with weekly or fortnightly sailings. Our primary routes cover Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, and Tanzania. For other African destinations, contact us — we can arrange shipment to most African ports on request.
Can I ship an electric vehicle to Africa?
Yes, but only via container shipping — RoRo carriers do not accept electric vehicles due to maritime fire-safety regulations covering high-voltage batteries. EVs incur a hazard surcharge of approximately £295 and must be loaded with battery charge below 50%. Not all African ports currently have facilities for EV clearance — confirm with our team before booking.
Can I pack personal belongings in my car when shipping to Africa?
Personal belongings can only be packed inside the vehicle if you are using container shipping. RoRo vehicles must be completely empty. For container shipments, all items must be accurately declared to customs at the destination port and must comply with each country’s import regulations. Prohibited items vary by country.
Which UK port does my vehicle leave from?
We operate from Tilbury (London), Sheerness (Kent), Immingham (Lincolnshire), Southampton, and Teesport (Middlesbrough). The departure port depends on your destination and the available sailing schedule. We offer UK-wide vehicle collection to any of our departure ports as part of our door-to-port service.
Ship Your Car to Congo with Ship Cars Ltd
Ready to ship your car from the UK to Africa? Whether you are moving to South Africa, exporting to Nigeria, or shipping to Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, or anywhere across the continent, Ship Cars Ltd handles everything from UK collection to port-of-arrival guidance. Get a free personalised quote today — tell us your vehicle, your destination, and your collection postcode and we will confirm pricing, sailing dates, and next steps within 24 hours.
Contact us today for further information or visit our sailing schedule and get an instant quote to schedule your car shipping with us.
