Quanti container ci stanno su una nave? Dalle navi feeder alle mega-navi
By Steve Joury / 23 ottobre 2026
Quanti container ci stanno su una nave? Dalle navi feeder da 1.000 TEU alle mega-navi da oltre 24.000 TEU, cos’è un TEU, come...
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Ultimo aggiornamento: 23 ottobre 2026
Shipping a car overseas costs anywhere from a few hundred pounds to Europe to several thousand to Australia. The price depends on the destination, the method (ro-ro or container), your car’s size and the import taxes at the other end. Here are typical 2026 car shipping costs from the UK and how to keep them down.
Ro-ro vs container: which is cheaper?| Method | How it works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ro-ro (roll-on roll-off) | Car is driven onto a specialist car carrier | Usually cheapest; frequent sailings | No personal items allowed in the car; exposed to the elements on deck in some cases |
| Shared container | Your car shares a 40ft container with 2–3 others | Protected; cheaper than sole use | Must wait for the container to fill |
| Sole-use container (20ft) | Your car alone in a container | Maximum protection; can add household goods | Most expensive |
Typical car shipping costs from the UK (2026)
| Destinazione | Ro-ro | Shared container | Sole 20ft container | Typical sea time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA East Coast | £900–£1,500 | £1,100–£1,800 | £1,600–£2,600 | 10–16 days |
| USA West Coast | £1,500–£2,300 | £1,700–£2,600 | £2,500–£3,800 | 25–35 giorni |
| Canada (Halifax) | £1,000–£1,600 | £1,200–£1,900 | £1,800–£2,800 | 10–16 days |
| Australia | £1,400–£2,500 | £1,800–£2,800 | £2,600–£4,200 | 5–7 weeks |
| Nuova Zelanda | £1,800–£2,900 | £2,000–£3,200 | £3,000–£4,600 | 6–8 weeks |
| Dubai and the UAE | £900–£1,500 | £1,100–£1,800 | £1,600–£2,500 | 3–4 weeks |
| Spain, France, Germany (road transporter) | da 500 a 1.200 sterline | Not usually needed | Not usually needed | 2–7 days |
Indicative port-to-port or depot-to-depot prices for a standard family car. Large SUVs, vans and classics cost more. Destination port fees, customs and taxes are extra.
Hidden costs to budget for
- Destination port and handling fees
- Import duty and taxes (such as GST in Australia, VAT in the EU, VRT in Ireland)
- Quarantine cleaning: Australia and New Zealand inspect cars for soil and seeds
- Compliance and registration: modifications, inspections and new plates
- Marine insurance: usually 1.5–3% of the car’s value
Some countries make it hard or expensive to import used cars. Australia and the USA have strict compliance rules, so check before you ship.
How to cut car shipping costs
- Choose ro-ro if your car is drivable and you don’t need to pack items inside.
- Share a container with other cars if you want protection.
- Be flexible on dates.
- Clean the car thoroughly, especially for Australia and New Zealand.
- Check import taxes first: sometimes selling and buying locally is cheaper.
Destination guides
- Shipping a car to Australia
- Shipping a car from the USA to the UK
- Importare un’auto dal Giappone nel Regno Unito
- Spedizioni a Dubai dal Regno Unito
Travel on the same ships
Some ro-ro and container ships take a few passengers. See freight ship types e cargo ship travel from the UK to the USA.
Domande frequenti
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK?
From about £500 to Europe by road transporter, to £900–£1,500 to the US East Coast by ro-ro, and £1,400–£4,200 to Australia.
Is ro-ro or container shipping cheaper?
Ro-ro is usually cheapest. A shared container offers more protection for a little more.
Can I put belongings in my car when shipping?
Not on ro-ro. In a sole-use container you can usually pack household goods alongside the car.
How long does it take to ship a car to Australia?
About 5–7 weeks at sea, plus customs and quarantine clearance.
Are there import taxes when shipping a car?
Often, yes. Duty, GST or VAT and registration costs vary by country.
Sail on a ro-ro or container ship
Ask us about passenger cabins on the ships that carry the world’s cars.
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Steve Joury
Consulente di viaggio Cargo at Cargoholidays
Appassionato di viaggi lenti e di mare. Steve conosce la maggior parte delle rotte di navigazione e le procedure per scoprire il nostro bellissimo mondo dal mare su una nave container. Ha partecipato a molti viaggi, da 7 giorni di viaggio in cargo a 140 giorni a bordo.
