Car Shipping from the UK to Worldwide Destinations

ShipCars UK ships vehicles out of the United Kingdom every week. Roll-on roll-off remains the most economical route for anything that starts and steers: the unit is driven onto a purpose-built car carrier, lashed to a fixed deck and driven off at the destination port. For non-runners, high-value or accessorised vehicles we load into 20ft and 40ft containers at our own East Tilbury yard.

We collect from any UK address — dealership, auction house, private driveway or fleet yard — and deliver to the loading berth that gives the earliest sailing. Southampton, Tilbury, London Gateway, Immingham, Bristol and Sheerness all feature in our weekly schedule, so a vehicle rarely waits more than a few days for space.

UK ports we load from

We hold weekly sailings from six principal berths, chosen so that a vehicle collected anywhere in the UK reaches a loading terminal within a day.

• Southampton — the largest RoRo terminal in the UK, with services to West Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
• Tilbury & London Gateway — our home port, minutes from our East Tilbury vehicle compound and container yard, with sailings covering the Mediterranean, East and West Africa and the Gulf.
• Immingham — the principal RoRo gateway for Scandinavia and the Baltic.
• Bristol (Portbury) — used for selected North and West African rotations.
• Sheerness — container and RoRo capacity for shorter European and Mediterranean crossings.

RoRo versus container shipping

RoRo is cheaper, faster to book and involves no packing. The trade-off is that nothing loose may travel inside the vehicle, and the unit must be roadworthy with working brakes and steering. Container shipping costs more but protects the vehicle completely, allows personal effects and spares to travel alongside it, and is the only realistic option for classic cars, salvage units and vehicles going to ports without a RoRo terminal.

When we recommend RoRo

• The vehicle is roadworthy, taxed for movement and can be driven under its own power.
• You want the lowest possible freight cost and do not need to send accompanying items.
• Your destination port operates a RoRo ramp — most West African, Gulf and Mediterranean ports do.

When we recommend a container

• The vehicle is a non-runner, a classic, a salvage title or has modified suspension.
• You need to send wheels, spares, tools or personal effects alongside the vehicle.
• Theft and weather exposure in transit or at the destination terminal are a concern.
• The destination country does not operate scheduled RoRo services.

Transit times

Sailing time depends on the loading port, the shipping line's rotation and whether the vessel calls direct or via a transhipment hub. As a guide: Western Europe 3–7 days, West Africa 14–21 days, East and Southern Africa 21–30 days, the Middle East and Gulf 10–18 days, the Caribbean and North America 12–20 days, and Australia and New Zealand 35–45 days. We confirm the vessel name, voyage number and estimated arrival date in writing at the time of booking, not after the ship has sailed.

Documentation and export formalities

To export a UK-registered vehicle we need the V5C logbook, photographic ID for the owner, and the purchase invoice where the vehicle is being sold. We surrender the V5C to the DVLA, complete the HMRC export declaration and issue a bill of lading that names your consignee. If the vehicle is on finance, a letter of no interest from the lender is required before it can be loaded.

Documents you will typically need

• Original V5C registration certificate (logbook)
• Passport or photographic driving licence for the registered keeper
• Purchase invoice or bill of sale where ownership has recently changed
• Finance settlement letter or letter of no interest, where applicable
• MOT certificate or export MOT, where the destination requires one
• Import permit or pre-shipment inspection booking for certain destination markets

Preparing your vehicle for collection

A little preparation avoids delay at the terminal gate. Fuel should be at a quarter of a tank or less, alarms disabled or codes provided, and the vehicle clean inside and out — many destination customs authorities reject vehicles carrying soil, seeds or organic matter under ISPM15-style biosecurity rules. Personal belongings must not travel loose inside a RoRo unit; anything you want to send must go into a container instead.

• Fuel tank no more than a quarter full
• Battery connected, charged and terminals secure
• No loose items left inside the cabin or boot for RoRo shipments
• Existing damage, mileage and accessories photographed at collection
• Spare key handed to the driver, or confirmed as travelling separately

Loading, lashing and the compound

Every vehicle passing through our East Tilbury compound is logged in, photographed on all four corners plus the dashboard, and checked against the booking before it goes anywhere near a vessel. RoRo units are lashed to the car deck with four-point webbing to the carrier's specification; container loads are wheel-chocked, ratchet-strapped to the floor rings and, where more than one vehicle shares a box, separated with plywood bulkheads to prevent contact damage in transit.

Marine insurance

Carrier liability is limited and rarely reflects the true value of a vehicle. We offer all-risk marine cover at 1.5% of the declared CIF value, subject to a minimum premium, covering total loss and damage from the moment the vehicle is collected until it is discharged at the destination port.

What affects your premium and your freight rate

• Declared value of the vehicle and any accessories fitted
• Vehicle dimensions — height and length in particular drive RoRo lane-metre pricing
• Whether the unit is a runner (RoRo) or a non-runner (container or breakbulk)
• Choice of shared or exclusive-use container
• Loading port and destination port combination and sailing frequency
• Seasonal demand — Q4 and pre-Ramadan periods see higher carrier tariffs

Insurance options for owners and traders

Beyond our standard all-risk cover, dealers and private owners shipping high-value or classic vehicles can request an agreed-value policy that fixes the settlement figure in advance rather than relying on a post-loss valuation, which removes disputes over depreciation after a total loss.

Storage before and after sailing

Vehicles can be held at our East Tilbury compound before the confirmed sailing date, and equally at the destination agent's yard after discharge, for a modest daily rate. This is useful where a buyer's finance or import licence is still being finalised and you would rather hold the vehicle securely than release the booking and lose the sailing slot.

Trade and dealer accounts

Dealers, auction houses and export traders who move several vehicles a month can open a trade account with staged invoicing, consolidated container loading to reduce per-vehicle cost, and a single point of contact for the whole programme. We can also hold vehicles at our compound for a modest daily rate while a buyer's payment or import licence is finalised, rather than releasing the berth and losing the sailing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ship a car with a finance agreement still running?

Yes, provided the finance company issues a letter confirming they have no objection to the vehicle being exported. We can request this on your behalf if you give us the agreement number and the lender's contact details.

Do I need to be present when the vehicle is collected?

No. Our driver will complete the condition report and take the keys and documents from whoever is nominated on the booking, whether that is you, a dealership or a third party.

What happens if my vehicle fails the pre-shipment inspection?

We tell you immediately and hold the vehicle at our compound rather than loading it. In most cases the issue — an oil leak, excess fuel, a flat battery — can be rectified on-site so the vehicle still makes the intended sailing.

Why ship with ShipCars UK

NLX Logistics Ltd trades as ShipCars UK from our own vehicle compound and container yard at East Tilbury, a short drive from the port. That means your vehicle is inspected, photographed, loaded and, where needed, containerised on one site rather than passing through a chain of subcontractors. You deal with one coordinator from quotation to proof of delivery, and every stage — collection, gate-in, sailing, arrival — is confirmed to you in writing.