Taking your car to the USA might seem straightforward until you start comparing shipping quotes. The advertised freight price rarely tells you what the entire move will cost, and not every UK-registered vehicle can be legally imported into the United States.
This guide explains what you can expect to pay, which shipping options make sense for your vehicle, and how US import rules could affect your plans.
PSS International Removals arranges car-only transport and vehicle shipping alongside household removals. Request a tailored vehicle-shipping quote with your vehicle details and destination.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to the USA?
For a standard car, budget roughly £1,000–£1,800 for advertised RoRo freight to an East Coast port, or £1,450–£2,100 to some West Coast ports.
Shared-container and dedicated-container prices overlap, so compare the actual route, vehicle dimensions and loading arrangements. These estimates exclude major destination and import costs.
Estimated UK-to-USA Car Shipping Prices in 2026
| Shipping method | East Coast freight estimate | West Coast freight estimate | Price scope |
| RoRo, standard running car | £1,000–£1,800 | £1,450–£2,100 | Indicative port-to-port shipping |
| Shared vehicle container | £1,450–£2,900 | Quotation required | Consolidated loading, route-dependent |
| Dedicated 20ft container | £2,200–£3,600 | Quotation required | Exclusive container freight, subject to loading scope |
| Classic, prestige or non-running vehicle | Individual quotation | Individual quotation | Depends on handling, securing and equipment |
Indicative 2026 UK-to-USA freight ranges researched November 2026 from multiple published rate schedules. They are not PSS tariffs or a national average. Unless specified in a written quotation, allow separately for UK collection, US handling, import charges, shipment protection and inland delivery.
Supply the vehicle’s dimensions, weight, running condition and modifications. UK collection and inland US delivery can add transport stages excluded from port-to-port prices.
What Should Your Car Shipping Quotation Include?
Ask for the following items to be identified in writing:
- UK collection address or agreed delivery point, including any special loading equipment.
- Export processing, port handling, ocean freight and stated fuel surcharges.
- RoRo, shared-container or dedicated-container loading and securing arrangements.
- Shipment protection, declared value, excess and exclusions.
- US terminal handling, customs brokerage and required security filings.
- Applicable import duties and government fees, or confirmation that these are payable separately.
- Vehicle release, storage conditions and onward delivery to your US address.
PSS says its door-to-door vehicle quotations include collection, delivery and basic customs clearance. Confirm exclusions for duties, inspections, handling and protection.
How Do You Calculate the Total Cost of Shipping and Importing a Car?
Add freight, collection, protection, US handling, customs brokerage, applicable duties and onward delivery. Do not treat an advertised sea-freight rate as the final bill.
For example, consider a hypothetical car with £1,300 port-to-port RoRo freight and £20,000 declared insurable value. PSS’s published vehicle shipment-protection rate is 2%, equivalent to £400 at that declared value. Freight and protection alone therefore total £1,700, before collection, US charges and delivery.
For a separate illustrative US customs value of $20,000, a qualifying 10% combined tariff would mean $2,000 duty. The applicable formal-entry Merchandise Processing Fee is generally 0.3464%, subject to current limits and exemptions. Handling, brokerage and delivery cost extra. Do not add sterling and dollar amounts without converting currencies.
The 10% tariff is not a blanket rate for cars leaving Britain. Obtain the vehicle’s applicable tariff treatment before using that calculation as a budget.
For your actual costs, request an itemised PSS vehicle-shipping quote.
Should You Ship Your Car by RoRo or Container?
RoRo is usually the lower-freight-cost option for a running, standard-size car where a suitable sailing operates.
Container shipping offers different loading and access arrangements and may suit classics, valuable vehicles, non-runners or customers moving household belongings at the same time.
| Factor | RoRo | Shared container | Dedicated container |
| Loading | Vehicle driven on and off a specialist ship | Vehicle loaded and secured with other shipments | Vehicle secured in an exclusive container |
| Typical cost | Often lowest for a running car | Shared costs; sailing and loading availability vary | Higher fixed cost, especially with unused space |
| Handling and access | Vehicle handled during port loading and discharge | Enclosed transport with shared loading arrangements | Enclosed transport with controlled, dedicated loading |
| Most useful for | Standard running cars | Cars suited to scheduled consolidation | Classics, valuable cars, non-runners and combined household moves |
RoRo stands for Roll-on Roll-off. Vehicles generally travel on enclosed specialist vehicle decks, not exposed on top of the ship. The car must meet the carrier’s operational and preparation requirements.
Ask how a shared-container vehicle is loaded, secured and released, and whether consolidation delays delivery.
Is a Dedicated Container Better for a Classic Car?
A dedicated container suits controlled loading or limited access during transit. Agree the loading method for low-ground-clearance cars.
Photograph the bodywork, wheels and interior, and obtain a written condition report. Check whether shipment protection recognises an agreed valuation and what it excludes. Enclosed shipping reduces some exposure risks, but does not eliminate damage or loss.
For vehicles over 25 years old, federal import eligibility may also be easier. Age-related safety relief is separate from customs duty and emissions requirements.
Can You Ship a Car and Household Belongings Together?
Yes. PSS can arrange a sole-use container carrying a vehicle and professionally packed household goods.
Its published process includes positioning a container at the residence, securing and walling off or over-crating the vehicle, then loading approved household effects into the remaining space.
The container is sealed before shipment. The exact arrangement must be approved against the car’s dimensions, the household inventory, carrier conditions and US customs requirements. This is different from filling a car’s boot with undeclared belongings.
See PSS international container shipping and our removals to the USA for combined moves.
What Are the US Import Rules for a UK Car?
Before permanently importing a vehicle, establish its federal safety and emissions eligibility.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) oversees federal vehicle safety standards, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates emissions, and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) handles entry and applicable import charges. State registration comes afterwards.
Can You Import a UK-Spec Car Under 25 Years Old?
A car under 25 years old generally needs to meet applicable US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) or enter through another lawful route. A manufacturer certification label, commonly around the driver’s door opening, helps establish US safety conformity. A similar US model does not establish conformity.
For some nonconforming vehicles, importation requires an NHTSA eligibility determination and a Registered Importer (RI). EPA compliance may separately require an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI).
NHTSA generally requires a bond with a face amount equal to 150% of the vehicle’s declared value for qualifying RI imports. On a $20,000 car, that is a $30,000 bond amount, not an automatic $30,000 fee.
Ask the RI for the bond premium, conformity modifications, testing charges and expected timetable. NHTSA generally requires the necessary modifications within 120 days of entry.
Check NHTSA’s importation requirements and EPA’s vehicle-import guidance before booking freight.
Does the 25-Year Rule Make a UK Car Legal to Import?
A vehicle at least 25 years old can qualify for exemption from NHTSA’s federal safety standards, measured from its actual manufacture date.
EPA has a separate age-related provision for vehicles at least 21 years old that meet its original-configuration requirements.
A vehicle manufactured in January 2001 is at least 25 years old in November 2026. One manufactured in December 2001 is not. Evidence of the build date may be needed.
For EPA relief, the engine’s model and configuration matter. An engine replacement or modification can affect the exemption even when the vehicle itself is old enough.
Age exemptions do not automatically remove import duties or state registration requirements. CBP confirms classic cars may remain dutiable.
See CBP’s classic-vehicle import guidance.
Can You Import a Right-Hand-Drive Car into the USA?
Yes. Right-hand drive is not, by itself, a federal ban. The vehicle must still satisfy the applicable US safety and emissions rules or qualify for exemptions. A UK-spec right-hand-drive car doesn’t become compliant simply because a left-hand-drive version exists in the USA.
After federal clearance, confirm titling, insurance and road-registration requirements with the destination state’s motor vehicle authority.
How Much US Duty and Tariff Will Apply?
You cannot calculate every vehicle import using the historic 2.5% passenger-car duty rate. Additional automobile tariffs and preferential arrangements can change the total charge. A customs broker needs the vehicle’s classification, manufacturing origin, customs value, entry date and eligible exemptions.
Under the US–UK Economic Prosperity Deal, certain UK-origin automobiles within an annual tariff-rate quota of 100,000 vehicles can receive a 10% combined tariff. That is made up of the usual 2.5% passenger-car rate and 7.5% under the preferential arrangement. The fourth-quarter 2026 quota covers 1 October through 31 December 2026.
A car shipped from Britain is not necessarily UK-origin. Ineligible vehicles can face higher duties.
The official US–UK tariff arrangement and CBP’s fourth-quarter 2026 quota notice explain the scheme.
CBP calculates duty on an accepted customs value, using the applicable valuation rules. Keep your purchase records and supporting valuation evidence. Do not assume an old purchase price, the insured value and the customs value are identical.
Other possible charges include the Merchandise Processing Fee, applicable Harbour Maintenance Fee, broker fees, handling and storage. Moving to America does not automatically make one privately owned vehicle duty-free.
What Documents Are Needed to Ship and Import a Car?
You will usually need UK vehicle registration documents, evidence of ownership and value, shipping records and the relevant EPA, DOT and customs declarations. Your importer or appointed broker should confirm which forms apply to the vehicle’s eligibility route before it sails.
| Document | What it establishes | Who supplies or files it | When needed |
| V5C and permanent export notification | UK keeper record and DVLA notification | Registered keeper | Before permanent export |
| Purchase invoice or other ownership evidence | Ownership and supporting valuation | Owner/importer | Before booking and customs entry |
| Bill of lading | Ocean carriage and shipment details | Carrier or shipping agent | During shipping and release |
| EPA Form 3520-1 | Emissions conformity or exemption declaration | Importer or authorised agent | US entry |
| DOT Form HS-7 | Safety conformity or exemption declaration | Importer or authorised agent | US entry |
| Customs entry documents, including Form 7501 where applicable | Entry record, classification and charges | Importer or customs broker | US customs processing |
| Importer Security Filing (ISF), where required | Advance ocean-cargo information | Importer or authorised agent | Before loading under the applicable deadline |
The V5C identifies the keeper, not conclusive ownership. Keep purchase or title evidence.
For a UK-registered car taken abroad for 12 months or more, notify the DVLA of permanent export. Complete and send the relevant V5C section, keeping the rest for registration overseas.
See GOV.UK’s vehicle-export instructions.
For applicable US-bound ocean cargo, key ISF details are generally required at least 24 hours before vessel loading. Confirm filing responsibility with your agent; relevant RoRo cargo is not automatically exempt.
Read CBP’s ISF guidance and PSS’s customs information.
How Does Car Shipping from the UK to the USA Work?
First confirm import eligibility, then obtain a vehicle-specific quotation and arrange collection or depot delivery. Once the car is prepared and shipped, the importer or appointed broker manages the US entry process. Release and onward transport follow, with state registration required before normal road use.
- Check eligibility: Confirm manufacture date, safety certification, EPA status and the lawful import route.
- Request a quote: Provide make, model, year, dimensions, running condition, value and destination.
- Prepare paperwork: Gather ownership evidence, V5C details and US compliance or exemption declarations.
- Arrange collection: Agree home pickup or depot delivery, vehicle access and any specialist loading needs.
- Inspect and load: Record vehicle condition, then secure it for RoRo or container transport.
- Complete sea transit: Allow for sailing dates, consolidation and port operations.
- Clear US customs: Submit the entry, pay applicable charges and arrange release.
- Arrange onward delivery: Transport the vehicle to its destination and complete state titling, insurance and registration.
Before pickup, photograph the car and check that it starts, steers and brakes. Give PSS accurate dimensions, ground clearance, modification details and any electric-vehicle battery information. Remove loose valuables and toll tags.
Follow the actual carrier’s fuel, battery and alarm instructions rather than assuming every service uses the same rules.
PSS’s USA car-shipping page gives planning periods of 7–10 weeks for shared-container vehicle shipments and 2–6 weeks for sole-use container transport, with customs clearance and inspections potentially adding time. RoRo timing needs a route-specific sailing estimate.
Which Companies Can Ship Cars from the UK to the USA?
PSS offers car shipping to the USA, including vehicle-only and combined household shipments, with RoRo and LoLo options on selected routes.
Our international removals accreditations provide additional information about the business, but do not replace vehicle-specific compliance checks.
Check that the written quote identifies the shipping method, collection point, US discharge port, destination delivery, customs responsibilities and all exclusions. Ask who arranges the required filings and who pays if the car is held for examination or storage.
Our Advice: Check Eligibility, Then Decide Whether to Ship or Sell
Shipping an older eligible classic or a US-certified car can make sense. A modern UK-market vehicle may need expensive conformity work, or have no practical route to permanent import.
Start with the manufacture date, manufacturer’s compliance labels and engine details. Then obtain a shipping and import-cost breakdown.
Finally, compare what you could sell the car for in the UK with the cost of buying an equivalent vehicle in America.
For example, if selling your car would raise £12,000 and a comparable US replacement costs £15,000, you have a £3,000 difference to work with before considering shipping, import fees, compliance and registration. These figures are illustrative, not an actual PSS customer quote.
For a rare or sentimental car, replacement availability matters as well as price.
Request a tailored PSS vehicle-shipping quote once you have checked the proposed import route.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Shipping to the USA
How Long Does Car Shipping from the UK to the USA Take?
PSS gives approximate planning periods of 7–10 weeks for shared-container vehicle shipments and 2–6 weeks for sole-use container shipping. Customs examinations and onward delivery can add time. For RoRo, request a timetable for the actual ports and sailing rather than relying on a generic ocean-crossing estimate.
Can I Put Personal Belongings Inside My Car?
RoRo carriers generally require the vehicle to be empty of personal possessions. With container shipping, approved household goods can travel as a separately declared and secured shipment. Do not treat the car’s boot as free luggage space.
Is Car Shipping Insurance Included in the Price?
Not necessarily. PSS publishes vehicle shipment protection at 2% of the declared value, subject to the relevant policy. At a £20,000 declared value, that is £400. Check cover limits, excesses, valuation terms and exclusions before paying; an ordinary UK motor policy may not cover an ocean shipment.
Can I Ship a Non-Running Car to America?
Yes, if an appropriate service and specialist loading arrangements are available. Standard RoRo usually requires a vehicle capable of being driven on and off the vessel. Explain whether your car starts, steers and brakes, and disclose leaks or damaged running gear. US import eligibility still needs checking separately.
Must I Be in the USA When the Car Arrives?
Not necessarily. A properly authorised customs broker can carry out many import procedures without you attending the port. You must provide the required identity, ownership, vehicle and compliance documents, and pay applicable charges. Confirm the release and final-delivery arrangements before the vessel arrives.
Does a Car Over 25 Years Old Enter the USA Duty-Free?
No, not automatically. The 25-year rule provides relief from NHTSA’s federal motor vehicle safety standards, not a blanket customs-duty exemption. EPA eligibility, customs classification and applicable tariffs are separate. Ask the US customs broker to establish the expected import charges against your vehicle’s age, origin and value.
