Shipping Your Car Overseas: What UK Movers Need to Know

Planning a relocation and considering shipping your car overseas?

If you are planning a move abroad, you’ve likely wondered whether you should ship your car along with your belongings.

In many locations overseas, shipping a car from the UK is entirely achievable, and for many people relocating, it’s far more practical, and often more cost-effective, than selling up and starting again with a new vehicle at the other end.

Whether you are heading to mainland Europe or somewhere further afield, moving a car overseas involves paperwork, careful timing, and choosing a shipping method that suits your vehicle.

This guide walks through what UK movers need to know before their car joins the rest of the shipment, so nothing catches you out along the way.

A Short Overview of This Blog

Thinking about shipping your car overseas as part of your move? Here is a quick look at what this guide covers, so you can jump straight to the section that matters most to you.

• Why ship your car: the main reasons movers choose to take their car with them rather than sell it before they go.
• RoRo or container shipping: a plain English look at the two main methods, and which suits different vehicles.
• Paperwork before departure: get the DVLA logbook, export certificates, and customs declarations in order.
• Registering and insuring your car abroad: what happens once your vehicle lands at its destination.
• Timing your shipment: how to fit vehicle shipping into your wider moving timeline.
• Costs to expect: a realistic look at what shipping a car overseas from the UK tends to involve.
• Ship or replace questions to help you decide whether shipping your car is the right call.

By the end, you should have a clear picture of what is involved in shipping a car overseas from the UK, and how it fits alongside the rest of your move. Read on for the full details or use the headings below to find the section you need.

Why More UK Movers Choose to Ship Their Car Overseas

Many people moving abroad from the UK choose to ship their existing car rather than sell it, particularly when the vehicle is reliable, familiar and can travel alongside their household belongings.

For a lot of people, a car is more than just a way of getting around; like our personal belongings, we get attached to our cars.

It might be paid off, recently serviced, kitted out with a child seat that fits just right, or simply familiar in a way that a new purchase never quite matches straight away.

Add in the cost and hassle of sourcing another vehicle in an unfamiliar country, often before you have a permanent address, local credit history or a full grasp of the second-hand market and shipping the car you already own starts to look like the simpler option.

It is also worth remembering that a right-hand drive car bought in the UK can be worth more, or simply be easier to sell later, if you ever decide to bring it back or move on again.

For movers relocating with household goods, adding a car to an existing shipment is often easier than arranging it separately.

RoRo or Container? Choosing the Right Shipping Method

RoRo and container shipping are the two main options for transporting a car overseas from the UK, with the best choice depending on the vehicle, destination, budget and level of protection required.

There are two main ways to ship a car overseas, and the right choice depends on your vehicle and your priorities.

RoRo, (short for roll on roll off), means your car is driven onto a specially designed vessel and parked for the crossing, then driven off again at the other end. It is generally the more affordable option and works well for everyday cars in full running order, since the vehicle needs to start, steer, and brake under its own power.

Container shipping means your car is loaded into a sealed steel container, either alone or sharing space with other vehicles or household items.

This method costs more, but it offers extra protection from weather and handling, and it is the only realistic option if your car isn’t currently drivable, or if you want to ship spare parts, tools, or other belongings alongside it.

Many people moving their entire household choose container shipping because it can travel with their furniture in the same consignment.

The Paperwork You Need Before Your Car Leaves the UK

If you plan to be away for 12 months or more, you must permanently export your car and notify the DVLA before it goes.

This means completing the permanent export section of your V5C logbook, detaching it and sending it to DVLA Swansea, while keeping the rest of the logbook with you, since you will need it to register the car in your new country.

Some destinations also require a V561 export certificate, which confirms the vehicle’s UK registration history, and you’ll usually need to submit an HMRC export declaration through the Customs Declaration Service before it can leave.

Your shipping provider can normally handle this on your behalf, but it is worth asking early rather than assuming it is included.

Do not forget to tell your car insurer that the vehicle is being shipped overseas, and check whether your cover needs adjusting for the journey itself.

It is also sensible to photograph the car from all angles, note the mileage, and keep copies of every document in case anything needs to be queried at either end such as damages in transit.

Registering and Insuring Your Car at Its New Home

After your vehicle arrives overseas, local registration, roadworthiness checks, taxes, insurance and number plate requirements will depend on the rules of the destination country.

Every country sets its own rules for importing a vehicle, and these can vary considerably even between neighbouring European countries.

Some destinations require a roadworthiness or emissions test before your car can be registered locally; others charge import duty or local taxes depending on how long you have owned the vehicle and whether you qualify as a genuine relocating resident, and nearly all of them will want to see your V5C, proof of ownership and proof of UK registration history.

Research your destination’s requirements, or ask your removals company what they typically see, well before your car arrives, since registration can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

You will also need to arrange local insurance and, in many cases, new number plates once your car has been registered in its new country.

Timing Your Shipment Around Your Move

Planning vehicle shipping alongside your international house move can help coordinate collection, sailing schedules, customs processing and delivery of your car with the arrival of your household belongings.

Vehicle shipping works best when you plan it alongside the rest of your move, not as an afterthought.

If your household goods are already travelling with a removals company, ask whether they can coordinate the car through the same route, since this often means fewer handovers and a more predictable arrival window.

A moving checklist is a useful way to keep vehicle paperwork alongside everything else you need to organise before moving day, and it is worth building in a buffer, since sailing schedules and customs processing can occasionally shift departure or arrival dates.

If you will be without your car for a period either side of the move, plan for temporary transport, whether that means hire cars, public transport, or leaning on the new community you are joining for the first few weeks.

What Does It Cost to Ship a Car Overseas from the UK?

Costs vary widely depending on your destination, shipping method, and vehicle size.

As a general rule, RoRo shipping is usually more affordable for a standard family car travelling to Europe, while container shipping costs more but suits longer distances, non-running vehicles, or moves where the car travels with other belongings.

Beyond the shipping cost itself, budget for port handling fees, any import duty or local taxes at your destination, insurance for the journey, and the cost of registering and insuring the car once it arrives.

A written quote from your mover that separates each of these elements makes it much easier to compare providers and avoid unexpected costs later.

Should You Ship Your Car or Start Afresh?

Shipping isn’t always the right answer for every move or destination country.

If your car is older, due a major service, or a left hand drive model would suit your destination far better, it may be more sensible to sell before you go and buy locally once you arrive.

Also consider how easily your current car’s brand and model are serviced in your destination country, since parts and expertise for some UK favourites can be harder to find overseas.

On the other hand, if your car is relatively new, holds its value well, or you simply cannot face starting the search for another vehicle on top of everything else a move involves, shipping it is often the more comfortable choice.

A quick conversation with an experienced removals provider can help you weigh up the real costs on both sides before you decide.

How White & Company Can Help

White & Company offers vehicle shipping as part of its European removals and international removals services, so your car can travel as part of the same coordinated move as the rest of your household.

That means one point of contact, one timeline, and one team who already understand the paperwork your destination will ask for.

If your move also involves house removals, storage solutions for items you are not taking straight away, or self-storage closer to home, it is worth discussing everything together at the planning your move stage.

You can also get a quote online or speak to your local branch to talk through vehicle shipping alongside the rest of your relocation.

White & Company are members of the BAR – British Association of Removers. With over 150 years of experience, we continue to set the standard for removal and storage companies across the UK; your belongings are in safe hands!

Get in touch today to book your free-of-charge, no-obligation quotation and pre-move survey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Home

A few general questions that come up often when people are planning a house move, whether they are shipping a car overseas or not.

How far in advance should I book a removals company?

Most people book around six to eight weeks before moving day, though popular dates at month end or during summer can fill up faster. Booking earlier gives you more choice over dates and helps secure a better rate.

What items can removal companies not transport?

Removal companies cannot usually transport flammable or hazardous items such as gas canisters, paint, aerosols or certain cleaning chemicals. Perishable food, plants and pets are also generally excluded, so it is worth checking your provider’s list of prohibited items early on.

Do I need to be present on moving day?

Yes, someone needs to be present, or you will need to formally authorise another adult to act on your behalf. This allows the removals team to confirm what is being taken, answer questions and hand over keys where relevant.

How is the cost of a house move calculated?

Costs are usually based on the volume of belongings, the distance travelled, and any additional services such as packing, storage or access difficulties at either property. A home or video survey helps a removals company give you an accurate, tailored quote.

Can I get insurance for my belongings during a move?

Most reputable removals companies offer insurance cover for the period your belongings are in transit or storage, often called goods in transit or move protection cover. It is worth checking exactly what is included and at what declared value before moving day.

What is the best time of year to move house?

Spring and early autumn tend to be popular, thanks to milder weather and school term timing, while midweek moves outside the summer peak are often cheaper. That said, plenty of people move successfully at other times of year, so it usually comes down to your own circumstances.

How do I prepare my home for moving day?

Declutter in the weeks beforehand, label boxes clearly by room, and pack an essentials bag with anything you will need on the first night in your new home. Confirming parking access for the removals vehicle at both ends also helps the day run smoothly.

Max Peterson

Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.