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Want to move to New York? Considering Los Angeles, or one of the growing Texas cities? The USA is the single most popular destination for UK movers, and also one of the most document-heavy. Two things decide whether your move goes smoothly: having every customs form ready before your belongings are packed, and knowing which visa route you’re actually on before you commit to a shipping date. Get both right and the process is straightforward. Miss either and your belongings can sit at the port while paperwork catches up.
Quick answer: Shipping a two to three bedroom household from the UK to the USA typically costs £6,000 to £12,000 and takes three to six weeks by sea freight. You’ll need a specific set of US Customs and Border Protection documents ready before your shipment departs, not after. Most UK citizens don’t need a visa for a short visit (ESTA covers up to 90 days), but a genuine relocation, whether for work, investment or family, needs one of several longer-term routes, and the right one depends on why you’re moving.
Sea freight is the standard method for UK-to-USA household moves, with groupage (a shared container) or a full container load depending on how much you’re shipping.
Cost ranges:
| Move size | Typical cost | Sea transit |
|---|---|---|
| Small move | £2,000 to £5,000 | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Two to three bedroom home | £6,000 to £12,000 | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Larger family move | £10,000 to £18,000+ | 3 to 6 weeks |
Transit time depends on which US port your belongings arrive at; East Coast ports are generally quicker to reach from the UK than West Coast ones. A survey gives you an exact figure and timeline for your specific move. Our covers what’s included in a quote and what’s usually charged separately.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires a specific set of documents before your belongings can clear. This is the part that catches people out most, because the list is longer and more form-code-heavy than most other destinations:
Provide these as early as possible. Late or incomplete documentation is the single most common cause of delay and extra cost at US customs, and for your own protection, we won’t ship your belongings without them in place.
We always recommend speaking directly to the relevant embassy for the most accurate and up to date moving advice:
Your move manager will work through the CBP paperwork with you before your belongings leave the UK, and confirm a realistic price and timeline for your specific city. That conversation starts at the survey.
New York City: the largest British community of any US city, concentrated in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the commuter areas of Westchester County and northern New Jersey. Popular with finance, media and academic professionals who want a dense, walkable, familiar-feeling city with direct flights to the UK. It is also the most expensive: one-bedroom rents have been running well over $4,000 a month.
Los Angeles: a well-established British community, with a significant British presence across the wider Los Angeles area rather than concentrated in one neighbourhood. Car-dependent, with a milder climate than New York, though housing costs remain high.
Austin: part of a fast-growing group of Texas cities (alongside Houston) attracting UK movers for no state income tax and a growing tech and energy sector. Noticeably cheaper than New York or Los Angeles on rent and general living costs, though flights to the UK usually require a connection.
Miami and Seattle: also growing destinations, Miami for its international, Latin America-facing business scene and warm climate, Seattle for tech-sector roles and closer proximity to family already settled on the US West Coast.
Whichever city you’re considering, our city-specific pages for New York, Los Angeles and Boston go into the delivery-side detail for those routes specifically.
The right route depends on why you’re moving, and getting this settled before you book a shipping date matters. Your immigration status determines whether and how you can live and work in the US, and can also affect the timing and practical arrangements for importing your belongings.
This is not immigration advice, and US immigration rules and procedures can change. Confirm your route and its current requirements with the US Embassy or a qualified US immigration adviser before committing to a shipping date. Your move manager can then help coordinate the shipment around your confirmed immigration status.
If you’re moving to the USA, you’ll very likely need to exchange a significant amount of currency. Many people lose out by using their bank, assuming it’s the only option. Specialist currency exchange providers often offer more competitive rates and can help you save thousands. To find out how to make your money go further during your move, speak to one of our move managers, or call: +44 20 7097 5335.
Alongside the move itself, our GMS Xtra services can cover home and school search, visa and immigration support, international currency transfer, container tracking, car purchase and leasing, and temporary accommodation. We also provide expert packing, secure storage, customs clearance, and pet relocation support. Your move manager can tell you which are relevant for your move to the USA.
Shipping a UK car to the USA is possible, but it means navigating US environmental and safety compliance rather than a simple import. Whether it’s worth it depends on the car: valuable, sentimental, or hard-to-replace vehicles are more often worth the process; an ordinary family car usually isn’t, once you weigh the compliance cost against buying locally.
The 25-year exemption: vehicles that are 25 model years or older, with their original drive train, are generally exempt from EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and DOT (Department of Transportation) compliance requirements. This is the simplest route if your vehicle qualifies.
Vehicles under 25 years old must comply with EPA and DOT standards, which usually means bringing the car into compliance through a Registered Importer or Independent Commercial Importer (ICI), a certified conversion shop. This process is often expensive enough that it’s not economically worthwhile compared with buying a US-market car locally.
Documents typically required (where applicable): EPA Form 3520-1 and, for older or specific cases, Form 3520-21; DOT Form HS-7; the vehicle’s Bill of Lading and Bill of Sale showing its value; the title of ownership translated into English; and, for non-residents importing temporarily, a Letter of Permission from the EPA.
A few things worth knowing in advance:
Given the compliance cost and complexity, most people relocating to the USA choose to sell their UK car and buy locally rather than ship it. If you do decide to ship, Gerson Moving Services loads the vehicle into the container ourselves, at our own warehouse, alongside the rest of your belongings, rather than handing it to a separate vehicle-shipping specialist.
The process for bringing a dog to the USA changed significantly under a CDC rule that took effect on 1 August 2024, and it’s worth knowing the current position rather than relying on older guidance.
For dogs travelling from the UK (which is not on the CDC’s list of high-risk countries for dog rabies): the requirements are simpler than they used to be. Your dog must:
Because the UK is a low-risk country, no additional rabies vaccination certificate or extra paperwork is required beyond the CDC Dog Import Form, provided your dog has been in the UK (or another low-risk country) for the full 6 months before travel. Check the CDC’s current high-risk country list before you travel, since it’s reviewed periodically and can change.
For cats: requirements are less strict than for dogs. There’s currently no rabies certificate requirement for domestic cats entering the US, though a general health check applies and airline-specific rules will still apply for the flight itself.
Other animals (birds, reptiles, and others) are subject to separate USDA and Fish & Wildlife requirements: contact the destination agent with the species and its origin so the right permits, if any, can be checked in advance.
Moving a pet is specialist work, separate from your household shipment, so Gerson Moving Services works with a dedicated pet relocation specialist for this rather than handling it directly. Your move manager can refer you and coordinate timing so your pet’s move lines up with the rest of your relocation.
A small move typically costs £2,000 to £5,000, a two to three bedroom home £6,000 to £12,000, and a larger family move £10,000 to £18,000 or more. Sea freight transit is usually three to six weeks, depending on the port.
For a short visit, most UK citizens travel under ESTA without a visa. For a genuine relocation, you’ll need one of several longer-term routes depending on your reason for moving, such as E-2 (investor), H-1B or L-1 (work), family sponsorship, or the diversity visa lottery. Confirm your specific route with the US Embassy or a qualified immigration adviser before booking your move.
The core set includes a passport copy, CBP Form 3299, CBP Form 6059B, your Bill of Lading, a detailed English-language inventory, and an Importer Security Filing. Provide these as early as possible; late documentation is the most common cause of delay at US customs.
Yes, and the process is simpler than it used to be following a 2024 CDC rule change. Since the UK isn’t on the CDC’s high-risk country list, you need a CDC Dog Import Form, a microchip fitted before the rabies vaccine, and your dog must be at least 6 months old and appear healthy. Check the CDC’s current high-risk country list before travelling, as it can change.
For most people, no. Vehicles under 25 model years old must meet US EPA and DOT compliance standards, which is often expensive enough that buying a US-market car locally works out cheaper. Vehicles 25 years or older with their original drive train are generally exempt and more straightforward to bring in.
Certain items are prohibited outright (including Cuban cigars, absinthe, and counterfeit goods), while others like alcohol, firearms, plants, and food require permits, declarations, or duty. Check the full breakdown above, and flag anything unusual in your inventory with your move manager before packing day.
Real feedback from people who chose our international moving company.
“Moved from Manchester to Charlotte to be near family, with a dog needing his own paperwork. Container took nine weeks by sea and left Southampton exactly when they said.”
“London to Denver, downsizing from a house to an apartment. They numbered every box against the inventory, so I could tell customs what was where without digging through anything.”
“Shipped a full houseful of furniture from Bristol to Austin last spring. Every box was labelled by room, so unpacking at the other end took hardly any time at all.”
