Understanding Vehicle Shipping Costs: What You'll Actually Pay

The True Cost of Shipping a Vehicle

One of the most common questions we receive is: “How much will shipping cost?” The answer depends on several factors, but we believe in full transparency. Here’s a detailed breakdown.

Freight Costs

Shipping rates vary by destination and method. The figures below are indicative “from” prices taken from our published shipping rates table. Like the table, they are approximate and exclude duties, taxes, collection and redelivery, so call us for the latest rates.

RoRo Shipping (Roll-on Roll-off)

• West Africa (Lagos, Tema): no published RoRo rate; ask us for a quote
• East Africa (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam): from £1,214
• Caribbean (Kingston, Port of Spain): from £1,372
• Middle East (Jeddah, Dubai): from £944

Container Shipping (20ft)

• West Africa (Lagos, Tema): from £1,651
• East Africa (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam): from £1,854
• Caribbean (Kingston, Port of Spain): from £2,191
• Middle East (Jeddah, Dubai): from £1,381

Container shipping costs more but allows you to ship personal items alongside the vehicle and offers better protection from the elements.

Insurance

Marine insurance typically costs 1.5% to 2.5% of the vehicle’s declared value. We strongly recommend full coverage — the small premium is worth the peace of mind.

Import Duties and Taxes

This is often the largest cost after the vehicle itself. Rates vary dramatically:

Destination	Duty Rate	VAT/Tax	Total Estimate
Kenya	35% for cars, electric included	16% VAT, plus excise duty, IDF and RDL	Use our Kenya duty calculator
Nigeria	20%	7.5% VAT	~30% of CIF value
Jamaica	30-40%	21.5% GCT	~55% of CIF value
UAE	5%	5% VAT	~10% of CIF value

CIF = Cost + Insurance + Freight (the total landed value at the destination port). Kenya works differently: the Kenya Revenue Authority calculates its charges on a customs value set under its Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) system, which is why the calculator is the better guide there.

Additional Costs

Don’t forget these commonly overlooked expenses. The figures below are for Mombasa, Kenya; other countries set their own charges.

• Port charges: Kenya Ports Authority wharfage and shore-handling come to about £125 for a car up to 1.5 tonnes and about £160 for an SUV or pickup up to 2 tonnes (the tariff is set in dollars: USD 165 and USD 210). Heavier vehicles pay more, and storage is charged after five free days
• Clearing agent fees: from about £90 for a car up to 2,000cc, £115 up to 3,000cc and £175 above that. These are the industry’s minimum fees (KES 15,000, 20,000 and 30,000), and agents can charge more
• Pre-shipment inspection: about £220 plus tax (the fee is set at USD 290) for the KEBS roadworthiness inspection that QISJ carries out on UK vehicles bound for Kenya
• Local registration: Varies by country
• Inland transport (port to door): depends on the distance and whether the vehicle is driven or carried on a transporter

How to Save Money

1. Book early — shipping rates fluctuate with demand
2. Choose RoRo over container if you don’t need the extra protection
3. Consolidate shipments — shipping multiple vehicles in one container reduces per-unit cost
4. Work with experienced exporters — we negotiate bulk rates with shipping lines

Our Promise

At UK Vehicle Exporters, every quote includes a full breakdown of all costs. No hidden fees, no surprises. We provide an itemised estimate before you commit, so you know exactly what you’re paying.

Get in touch for a personalised shipping quote today.

Figures checked October 2026: port charges from the Kenya Ports Authority Tariff 2025, in force since 22 December 2025; clearing fees from the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association’s minimum fees, effective 1 December 2023, as reported by The Star; inspection fee from QISJ’s notice of 15 May 2026. Converted at USD 1.33 and KES 171 to the pound (6 October 2026).

Image: Great Lagos, a Grimaldi Lines ro-ro ship that also carries containers, by Wolfgang Fricke, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0), resized.