Updated: July 2026
If you’re moving abroad and wondering whether it’s worth taking the car with you, you’re not alone, and you’re right to ask the question early.
Vehicle shipping has its own rules, its own timelines, and its own risks, including arrangements that fall through days before collection. Here’s what’s actually involved, and what to check before you commit.
Why shipping a car causes more last-minute problems than people expect
One Trustpilot review, cited in a wider review search of UK removal companies, captures the fear directly: “Less than 24 hours before collection, I was told my car couldn’t be shipped.” It’s not an isolated story – vehicle shipping complaints follow a consistent pattern across review sites: paperwork gaps discovered late, loading restrictions the customer wasn’t told about upfront, and sailings that get rearranged or cancelled close to the planned date.
Forum threads add specific confusion to the mix. On BritishExpats, one recurring point of clarification: “You cannot put anything inside a RORO vehicle apart from a spare tyre and a jack, as the days when you could load up are long gone.” Multiple threads across different destination sub-forums (USA, Australia, Spain) show the same unresolved questions coming up again and again – this is a genuinely confusing area, not a one-off complaint.
What’s actually involved in shipping a vehicle internationally
RORO vs container. Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) shipping is generally the more affordable option — the car is driven onto the vessel and off again at the destination – but it’s exposed to weather during the voyage and you can only leave a spare tyre and jack inside, nothing else. Container shipping costs more but protects the vehicle from the elements and can be combined with other cargo. For most standard car moves, expect a rough range of £800-£2,000 by sea depending on distance and method; get a specific quote rather than relying on a general figure, since route and vehicle size both move the number significantly.
Import duty and ownership rules. Many countries offer transfer-of-residence or similar duty relief if you’ve owned and used the vehicle before moving, but the qualifying ownership period and other conditions vary by destination. If you don’t qualify for relief, you may need to pay import duty, VAT or other local taxes on the vehicle, depending on the destination country’s rules. Always check the specific requirements for where you’re moving rather than assuming UK rules apply in reverse.
Compliance and registration. Most destinations require some form of compliance or safety inspection before a UK-specification vehicle can be registered locally — similar in principle to the UK’s Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) process for imported vehicles. Budget time and, often, modification costs for this step; it’s frequently the part people underestimate.
Not Sure Whether to Ship Your Car?
Shipping a vehicle overseas isn’t always the right choice. The costs, import rules and registration requirements vary from country to country, and in many cases it’s more practical to sell your car in the UK and buy another after you arrive.
Our experienced Move Managers can help you weigh up your options alongside the rest of your international move, so you can make an informed decision before you commit.
Questions to ask before you commit to shipping your car
- Is this handled directly, or subcontracted to another company? Subcontracting is where several of the “arrangement fell through” complaints in reviews trace back to – accountability gets diluted when more than one company is involved.
- What happens if the sailing is delayed or cancelled? A specific answer here, not a general reassurance, tells you whether the provider has actually thought about contingency.
- What documentation is required at each end, and who is responsible for preparing it?
- Is specialist marine cargo insurance included, or separate? Standard household contents insurance typically does not cover a vehicle in transit.
How this fits into a wider international move
Gerson Moving Services does not offer vehicle shipping as a standalone service. That’s a deliberate choice, not an oversight: for many households, once shipping cost, duty, and compliance testing are added up, the total is close to or more than the vehicle’s value, and the honest answer is that it’s not worth it.
Where vehicle shipping does make sense – for example, a high-value or hard-to-replace vehicle, a classic or specialist car, or a clearly defined short-term international assignment – it should never be allowed to complicate or delay the rest of your household move. If you’re weighing this up, your move manager can talk through whether coordinating a vehicle alongside your specific move is realistic, and can point you to the right questions to ask if you decide to arrange it separately. That’s a more honest position than promising a service we don’t operate directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth shipping my car when I move abroad?
Often, no. Between shipping cost, import duty, and compliance testing at the destination, it’s frequently cheaper to sell in the UK and buy locally, unless the car has high sentimental value, is difficult to replace at the destination, or you’re moving somewhere for a short, defined period. Work out the total landed cost before assuming shipping is the default choice.
How long does it take to ship a car overseas?
RORO sailings typically run weekly to biweekly from UK ports, with transit time depending entirely on destination distance. Add time for booking the sailing, export documentation, and customs clearance and compliance testing at the other end, since the sailing itself is rarely the longest part of the process.
What documents do I need to import my car at the destination?
Requirements vary by country but typically include proof of ownership, export paperwork from the UK, and evidence for any duty relief you’re claiming, such as a transfer-of-residence exemption. Many destinations also require a compliance or safety inspection, similar in principle to the UK’s Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) process, before the car can be registered locally.
What happens if my car shipping arrangement falls through?
This does happen, and it’s one of the most common complaints in vehicle-shipping reviews. Ask upfront whether your shipping is handled directly or subcontracted, since a subcontracted arrangement is where accountability tends to break down, and ask specifically what the contingency is if a sailing is delayed or cancelled close to your collection date.
