Car Shipping From Yokohama to UK

Shipping a car from Yokohama to the UK via shared container costs £1,380 per vehicle, with ocean transit of 45–58 days into Felixstowe, Southampton, or Bristol. A dedicated 20ft container costs £3,000, and a 40ft box is £4,500. Japan-built vehicles now qualify for 0% import duty under the UK–Japan CEPA trade agreement (in full effect from January 2026), though 20% VAT on the CIF value still applies.

Why Yokohama?

Yokohama is not just another Japanese port — it is the country’s largest and busiest vehicle export hub, handling roughly 80% of all UK-bound car shipments. Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, just south of Tokyo, the port sits at the centre of Japan’s automotive logistics network. Major shipping lines including NYK, MOL, and K Line operate regular schedules from Yokohama to the UK, with multiple sailings per month on both container and RoRo services.

If you are buying a car at auction in Japan, the vast majority of stock moves through Yokohama. The auction houses in Tokyo, Chiba, and the Kanto region are all within a short trucking distance, meaning most vehicles can reach the port within 24 to 48 hours of purchase clearance.

Ship Cars Ltd — Yokohama Shared Container Service

Rather than waiting weeks for a RoRo sailing slot that may already be fully booked, Ship Cars Ltd operates a dedicated shared container (LCL — Less than Container Load) service from Yokohama. Here is how it works.

Your vehicle is delivered to our nominated freight facility in Yokohama, where it is inspected, documented, and professionally loaded into a 40ft Shipping Container alongside one other vehicle. The container is sealed, transported to the Yokohama container terminal, and loaded aboard a scheduled cargo vessel bound for the UK.

What that means for you:

• More frequent departures than RoRo — we ship on fixed schedules rather than waiting for a vessel to fill

• Full enclosure protection — your vehicle is enclosed in steel throughout the ocean voyage, with no exposure to weather, salt spray, or deck cargo

• Professional lashing and blocking inside the container — your car is secured in position by trained freight handlers using wheel straps and chassis blocks

• No waiting for RoRo booking windows that can be weeks apart

The Yokohama Advantage — 0% Duty on Japan-Built Cars

Any page about Yokohama to UK shipping would be incomplete without addressing the 2026 trade change.

The UK–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) eliminated import duty on Japan-manufactured passenger cars from January 2026. Before this change, every vehicle imported from Yokohama paid a standard 10% duty on the CIF value — a significant expense that added hundreds or thousands of pounds to the total import cost. From 2026, that 10% is gone for qualifying vehicles.

Four things must be in place for the 0% rate to apply:

1. The vehicle must be manufactured in Japan — Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, and similar
2. The Japanese exporter must include a valid Statement of Origin with the shipping documents
3. The vehicle must ship directly from Japan to the UK without clearing customs in a third country first
4. Your UK customs agent must claim the preference on the C88 customs declaration with the correct CEPA trade code

Ship Cars Ltd handles all of these requirements as standard for every Yokohama shipment. If your vehicle qualifies, we make sure the paperwork reflects it.

Important: 0% duty does not mean zero tax. VAT at 20% applies to the CIF value regardless of duty outcome, and you must budget for it.

The Container Options from Yokohama

Ship Cars Ltd offers two primary container options from Yokohama:

Shared Container (LCL) — £1,380

Your vehicle shares a 40ft container with one other UK-bound car. This is the most cost-effective method and our most popular choice. The container is loaded at our Yokohama facility, sealed, and remains unopened until arrival at the UK port. Transit time: 45–58 days.

Dedicated 20ft Container — £3,000

Your vehicle occupies a full 20ft container on its own. This is the right choice for larger vehicles that cannot share space, for non-running cars that require forklift loading, or for anyone who wants absolute privacy and zero contact risk with another vehicle.

Dedicated 40ft Container — £4,500

Sufficient space for up to three standard saloons. Common for buyers importing multiple vehicles in a single shipment, or for oversized vehicles like Land Cruisers, HiAce vans, or heavy machinery.

What Happens at the UK End

When your container arrives at Felixstowe, Southampton, or Bristol, it is discharged from the vessel and moved to the container terminal. A customs agent — appointed by Ship Cars Ltd — files the import declaration with HMRC and arranges for the container to be devanned (unpacked) in a secure bonded facility.

The typical UK-side timeline is:

• Vessel arrival and discharge: 1–2 days

• Customs clearance: 5–10 working days

• NOVA submission to HMRC: within 14 days of arrival — Ship Cars Ltd handles this

• Vehicle release and collection: 1–2 days after clearance

If the vehicle is over ten years old, it is exempt from IVA testing and requires only an MOT (£40–£60) before it can be registered with the DVLA. Vehicles under ten years old require an IVA test (£199 DVSA fee) and any necessary modifications — headlight conversion, rear fog light, speedometer conversion.

Total time from Yokohama loading to driving on UK roads is 12 to 20 weeks, depending on the vehicle’s age and condition.

The Route — How Your Car Travels from Yokohama to the UK

The standard container route from Yokohama runs south through the East China Sea, transits the Malacca Strait into the Indian Ocean, and heads west towards the Suez Canal. After transiting the canal, vessels cross the Mediterranean, exit through the Strait of Gibraltar, and head north through the Atlantic to the English Channel.

Total ocean distance: approximately 12,000 nautical miles

This route is used by all major container lines serving Yokohama to the UK and is well-established with multiple port calls for refuelling and rotation. Sailings are scheduled weekly to fortnightly, and container space is generally more available than RoRo.

How Ship Cars Ltd Can Help You Ship from Yokohama

At Ship Cars Ltd, Yokohama is one of our most active routes. We operate a shared container service from Yokohama with regular departures, and we handle the entire process end to end — from collection in Japan to delivery at your UK address.

Here is what we take care of:

• Vehicle collection from any location in Japan and transport to our Yokohama freight facility

• Japanese export documentation, deregistration, and customs clearance

• Professional container loading with proper lashing and blocking

• Full marine insurance for the ocean voyage

• UK customs clearance, including CEPA preference claim to secure 0% duty where applicable

• NOVA submission on arrival

• Port-to-door delivery once your vehicle has been cleared and released

• IVA guidance if your vehicle requires UK type approval

Our Booking Manager Aarti is available to discuss your specific vehicle, the Yokohama schedule, and your expected timeline. We will give you a clear, itemised quote with no hidden charges and keep you updated throughout the shipment.

Contact Ship Cars Ltd for a direct quote on your Yokohama to UK container shipment.

Real Customer Examples

“A customer purchased a 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI from a Tokyo auction. The vehicle was over ten years old — no IVA required. Shared container from Yokohama to Felixstowe took 49 days. Customs clearance was completed in six working days, and the car was delivered to a Glasgow address within 72 hours of release.”

“A returning UK expat shipping a 2015 Toyota Alphard Hybrid from Yokohama to Southampton used the dedicated 20ft container service. The CEPA origin statement was correctly filed — 0% import duty applied, saving just over £1,300 compared to the pre-2026 rate. Total timeline from collection in Japan to road-ready in the UK was 14 weeks.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Ship Cars Ltd collect my vehicle from anywhere in Japan?

Yes. We arrange inland transport from any Japanese address — auction house, dealer forecourt, or private residence — to our Yokohama freight facility.

Is RoRo available from Yokohama to the UK?

Yes, RoRo sailings run from Yokohama approximately every 15 days. However, sailings are frequently fully booked weeks in advance. Ship Cars Ltd recommends shared container as a more reliable option with better schedule flexibility.

Can personal items be packed inside the vehicle in a container?

For container shipments, a limited quantity of personal goods can be placed inside the vehicle in most cases. Speak to our team about the specific rules and weight limits before packing.

How do I know if my car qualifies for 0% duty?

If the vehicle was manufactured in Japan by a Japanese brand, it almost certainly qualifies — provided the Statement of Origin is included with the shipping documents. Ship Cars Ltd will confirm eligibility and manage the paperwork as part of your booking.