The Cost of Exporting a Car from the UK: A Detailed Breakdown | GVE London – Blog

Needless to say, exporting a car from the UK, or from any country for that matter, comes with a considerable price tag attached. This cost is further influenced by a number of other factors. In this guide, we’ll break down and understand these elements so you can create a budget and choose the options that are most realistic and cost-effective for you.

Shipping Costs

Unsurprisingly, one of the most significant expenses you’ll bear is simply the method you choose to ship your vehicle across the vast ocean. Broadly speaking, three main types of methods are available:

• Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo): The most budget-friendly option, where cars are driven onto a specialised ship, secured in place, and transported to their destination. This is very bare-bones and undeniably gets the job done for the least amount of money but isn’t particularly ideal for high-end vehicles.
• Container Shipping: A middle-of-the-road, highly preferred method of shipping a car. Vehicles are placed inside a shipping container, protecting them from the weather and making handling easier. This is often chosen for high-value cars and even mid-tier vehicles that owners want to keep well protected.
• Air Freight: The fastest but most expensive way to ship a car, usually reserved for high-end supercars or urgent deliveries.

While not an exact figure, a general estimate for sending a car from the UK to the UAE via RoRo is between £800 and £1,500, while a 20ft container could range from £1,500 to £3,000. As for Air Freight? Expect something over £10,000+.

Read Also: A Guide to Customs and Duties for UK Car Exports

Customs Duties and Taxes

After a car is shipped, there are customs duties and taxes that you must pay, which vary greatly from one country to another. They are often calculated based on the condition of the car, its value, shipping costs, and, of course, the country’s important regulations. For example, if you’re importing a car into the EU, you’ll usually have to pay around 10% customs duty based on the value of the car, plus VAT, which can be as high as 20% in some countries. Furthermore, some countries also have registration fees for when vehicles arrive on their land.

Insurance

If you’re shipping a supercar or a luxury vehicle, we highly recommend getting insurance. Transit usually goes smoothly, but one bad day is all it takes. We’d advise not taking any chances, as the cost of insurance is typically only about 1% to 2% of the vehicle’s value. While this might seem like an additional expense, it’s important for peace of mind, particularly when exporting luxury cars or rare cars, and peace is priceless.

Paperwork & Admin Fees

There’s no getting around the paperwork, so make sure you carry the following documents:

• Export Certificate (V5C logbook)
• Bill of Lading (Shipping Document)
• Customs Declaration Forms

Destination Charges

Finally, after all the hassle and paperwork, you’ve arrived at the destination. However, it isn’t over yet. Your vehicle most likely now needs to pay port charges, customs clearance fees, and even storage fees if the car is held at the port for an extended period before delivery. These charges can add up, so it’s best to research and plan for these fees in advance to avoid surprises. These are usually anywhere from £200 to £1,000.

Final Thoughts

Exporting a car from the UK is quite an involved process, but it can be made a lot easier with the help of a supercar showroom or a luxury car exporter, like GVE London, as they’ve amassed years of experience dealing with this procedure, having shipped thousands of cars. Furthermore, we can ensure the car meets the destination country’s regulations, as we have an in-house team that can perform servicing, repairs, as well as any modifications required.