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Car Shipping to the USA — International Vehicle Transport to East & West Coast Ports

Shipping a car to the USA costs from £986 via RORO to Baltimore, with transit times of 8–36 days depending on the destination US port. Eight major US vehicle import ports are served, including Baltimore, Jacksonville, Brunswick, Charleston, New York, Galveston, Port Hueneme, and Tacoma. Dedicated container shipping starts from £2,200 — there is no shared container option on this route. The 25-year rule is the most critical eligibility requirement: vehicles 25 years or older are exempt from US DOT safety standards and EPA emissions regulations and can be permanently imported without modification. Vehicles under 25 years old face significant compliance barriers for permanent import. US import duty is currently 2.5% of the vehicle’s customs value. A US-based customs broker is essential for CBP clearance.

Phone Number

Type of Vehicle

Vehicle Make/Model

Where Are You Moving From

Moving From City /Town

Where Are You Moving To

Moving To City /Town

Frequency of Sailing

Weekly

Transit Time

18-30 Days

Methods

RORO & Container

Cost Starts From:

£1,000

What Shipping Methods Are Available to the USA?

Two methods serve the USA — RORO and dedicated container. There is no shared container (LCL) option available on this route.

RORO to US East, Gulf, or West Coast Ports

RORO is the most cost-effective method for standard roadworthy vehicles. Your vehicle is driven directly onto a purpose-built car carrier vessel, secured on the car deck for the Atlantic crossing, and driven off at the US destination port. The vehicle must be in fully operational condition with a working battery, completely empty of personal belongings, and with the fuel tank no more than one quarter full. No personal belongings are permitted on RORO shipments.

Electric vehicles are not permitted on RORO services. Standard hybrid vehicles are generally accepted — confirm on a case-by-case basis.

Dedicated Container — Maximum Protection for the Atlantic Crossing

A dedicated 20ft or 40ft container places your vehicle in a sealed steel box for the entire voyage. This is the required method for electric vehicles and the recommended choice for classic cars, non-runners, and high-value vehicles where maximum protection and zero salt air exposure are the priority. There is no shared container option — your vehicle is the only cargo in a dedicated container, or optionally paired with one other vehicle in a 40ft container. Dedicated container pricing starts from £2,200 to East Coast ports.

The 25-Year Rule — The Most Critical US Import Requirement

The 25-year rule is the defining eligibility requirement for permanently importing a non-US-specification vehicle into the USA. Understanding it before any purchase or shipping decision is essential.

What the 25-Year Rule Covers

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibit the permanent import of vehicles that do not comply with US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and EPA emissions regulations. The vast majority of UK-specification vehicles do not meet these standards — they are built to EU specifications, not US specifications.

However, vehicles that are 25 years old or older are fully exempt from both DOT FMVSS and EPA emissions requirements and can be permanently imported into the USA without modification. This makes vehicles manufactured before August 2001 (as of 2026) eligible for the exemption.

Vehicles Under 25 Years Old

Vehicles under 25 years old that are not US-specification face significant barriers to permanent import. The two primary exceptions are the Show or Display exemption (limited to vehicles of historical or technological significance — not applicable to standard UK cars) and vehicles that already hold US-market certification. For most modern UK vehicles, permanent import into the USA before the 25-year mark is not a practical pathway.

Verify your specific vehicle’s age and eligibility with a US-registered importer or customs broker before making any purchase or shipping decision.

EPA Emissions Requirement

Vehicles 21 years or older are generally exempt from EPA emissions compliance requirements. For most importers, the practical threshold is 25 years — at which point both DOT and EPA exemptions apply simultaneously.

US Customs Clearance — CBP, EPA, and DOT Requirements

Every vehicle shipped to the USA must clear US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the arrival port before it can be released. The clearance process involves four mandatory steps:

CBP Import Entry — a customs declaration must be filed with CBP before or at the time of vessel arrival. Filed by a US-licensed customs broker.

EPA Form 3520-1 — must be completed to declare whether the vehicle complies with EPA emissions standards or qualifies for an exemption (25-year or 21-year exemption for most UK classic imports).

DOT Form HS-7 — must be completed to declare whether the vehicle complies with US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or qualifies for a DOT exemption (25-year rule).

US Import Duty Payment — currently 2.5% of the vehicle’s customs value for passenger vehicles from the UK under the current USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Confirm the current applicable rate with a US customs broker at the time of booking — US-UK trade tariff negotiations have been ongoing and rates are subject to change.

Under normal conditions, CBP clearance takes 3–7 working days after the vessel arrives at the US port. After CBP release, the vehicle must be registered with the relevant state DMV — this is handled separately after port release.

Vehicle Preparation Requirements Before Shipping to the USA

Whether shipping via RORO or dedicated container, the following preparation steps are mandatory before the vehicle reaches the UK departure port:

Fuel: Tank must be no more than one quarter full
Personal belongings: Vehicle must be completely empty — no tools, luggage, accessories, or personal items
Battery: Must be fully charged and in working order for RORO shipments
Alarm: Deactivate any alarm system before loading
Cleanliness: The vehicle must be clean inside and out — US CBP and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) conduct biosecurity inspections on arrival. Soil, plant material, or organic contamination found on the vehicle results in quarantine or compulsory fumigation at the importer’s cost
Tyres: Must be inflated to the correct pressure

These are not optional steps. Biosecurity failures at US ports are a common cause of unexpected additional costs for importers who do not clean their vehicles properly before loading.

Right-Hand Drive Vehicles in the USA

There is no legal federal prohibition on right-hand drive vehicles in the USA. Many UK-origin classic and specialist cars are imported in RHD configuration without issue under the 25-year exemption. However, some individual US states impose additional registration requirements for RHD vehicles — California, in particular, has specific requirements. Check with the DMV in the state where the vehicle will be registered before shipping to confirm any state-level RHD restrictions that may apply.

How Car Shipping Worldwide Manages Your USA Shipment

The USA route combines competitive sea freight pricing with one of the most document-intensive customs clearance processes of any international destination. The 25-year eligibility assessment, CBP entry preparation, EPA Form 3520-1, DOT Form HS-7, and biosecurity compliance all need to be coordinated correctly before and after the vessel sails.

Car Shipping Worldwide coordinates the full process on your behalf, from origin eligibility assessment through to US port delivery and CBP clearance coordination.

Origin Country — Before the Vessel Sails

We assess your vehicle's eligibility under the 25-year DOT/EPA exemption before any booking is confirmed. We confirm the correct US destination port based on your delivery address, arrange the sailing booking, and manage all origin export documentation — including commercial invoice, V5C export process, and vehicle condition report. Biosecurity cleaning requirements are advised and confirmed before loading. No vessel is booked until every pre-shipment requirement is in place.

Sea Freight — RORO or Dedicated Container to Your US Port

We book your vehicle onto the correct sailing from Southampton or Tilbury. RORO from £986 to Baltimore; from £987 to Jacksonville and Brunswick; from £1,182 to Charleston; from £1,327 to New York; from £1,240 to Galveston; from £1,477 to Port Hueneme; from £1,818 to Tacoma. Dedicated container from £2,200. All booking, documentation, and Bill of Lading are managed on your behalf throughout.

USA Destination — CBP Customs Clearance & DOT/EPA Declaration

We coordinate with our appointed agents at all major US vehicle import ports, providing any documentation or clarification required to support the CBP customs clearance process on your behalf. We remain available throughout to ensure the process at the destination moves forward without unnecessary delays.

Frequently Asked Questions: Car Shipping to the USA

How much does it cost to ship a car to the USA?

RORO starts from £986 to Baltimore for a standard saloon, rising to £1,818 to Tacoma on the West Coast. Dedicated container starts from £2,200 to East Coast ports — there is no shared container option. US import duty at 2.5% of the vehicle’s customs value is payable additionally at CBP clearance. Biosecurity cleaning, US customs broker fees, and state DMV registration fees are also additional costs.

What is the 25-year rule for importing a car to the USA?

Vehicles 25 years old or older are fully exempt from US DOT Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and EPA emissions compliance requirements and can be permanently imported into the USA without modification. Vehicles under 25 years old that are not US-specification face significant barriers to permanent import. As of 2026, vehicles manufactured before August 2001 qualify for the 25-year exemption.

How long does shipping a car to the USA take?

Transit times vary by destination port. Baltimore is the fastest East Coast option at 11–16 days. Jacksonville and Brunswick take 8–22 days. New York takes 12–20 days. Galveston takes 15–39 days. Port Hueneme takes 22–36 days and Tacoma 28–36 days. CBP clearance adds 3–7 working days after vessel arrival.

Can I ship a right-hand drive UK car to the USA?

Yes — there is no federal prohibition on RHD vehicles in the USA. Many UK classic and specialist cars are imported in RHD under the 25-year exemption. Some individual states may have additional registration requirements for RHD vehicles — check with the DMV in the destination state before shipping.

What forms do I need for US customs clearance?

Three mandatory forms are required: CBP Import Entry (filed by your US customs broker), EPA Form 3520-1 (emissions compliance or exemption declaration), and DOT Form HS-7 (safety standard compliance or exemption declaration). All three must be correctly completed before or at the time of vessel arrival at the US port.

Is there a shared container option for shipping to the USA?

No. Only RORO and dedicated container are available on the UK-to-USA route. There is no shared (LCL) container service. If you are not using RORO, your vehicle will be the only cargo in a dedicated container.

What Documents Are Required to Ship a Car to the USA?

Before Shipping (Origin Country):

Original V5C logbook or equivalent proof of ownership (do not leave inside the vehicle)
Passport copy (photo page of vehicle owner)
Bill of Sale or commercial invoice confirming declared vehicle value
Vehicle condition report (recommended for insurance purposes)
Export customs declaration (managed by your shipping agent)

At US Destination Port (CBP Clearance):

Original Bill of Lading
CBP Import Entry — filed by your US customs broker before vessel arrival
EPA Form 3520-1 — emissions compliance or exemption declaration
DOT Form HS-7 — safety standard compliance or exemption declaration
Bill of Sale and title documentation
Passport copy of the importer
US import duty payment (2.5% of customs value — confirm current rate)
State DMV title application (after CBP release — at destination state)