Car Shipping to Benicia, USA
In Benicia, in California's San Francisco Bay Area. UK Vehicle Exporters Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Benicia, handling the whole UK side for you: car sourcing, tax-free supply where the car qualifies, buying on your behalf, inspections, collection and delivery to the UK port, UK customs clearance and loading onto the ship.
About Port of Benicia
The Port of Benicia is a privately owned vehicle terminal operated by AMPORTS, which also acts as the port authority. It is Northern California's main vehicle import point, processing about 240,000 finished vehicles in 2024, many from South Korea, Japan, China and Vietnam, plus short-sea traffic from Mexico.
Area served: Northern California, with Union Pacific rail next to the terminal and truck access via Interstate 80.
How Vehicles Are Handled at Benicia
AMPORTS runs the terminal on 98 acres of yard with three private berths, a dynamic capacity of about 400,000 cars and a 356,000 sq ft vehicle processing centre offering ro-ro handling, EV charging, accessory fitting, body shop and mechanical work. It handles both new vehicles and privately owned vehicles. General Motors and Toyota are among its largest customers.
- Operator
- AMPORTS (private terminal)
- Berths
- 3
- Yard
- 98 acres
- Vehicles
- About 240,000 (2024)
- Rail
- Union Pacific
Shipping a Car from the UK to Benicia
We handle the whole UK side of an export to Benicia: sourcing the vehicle, tax-free supply from the selling dealer where the car qualifies, collection from any UK address, UK customs clearance and export documentation, and loading onto the ship by RoRo or container. Current carrier schedules show 3-5 weeks port to port, sailing from Southampton. Lines on the route include Hyundai Glovis.
Any import duty and taxes are paid by the importer, whoever clears the car. We can arrange customs clearance, registration and delivery to your door through a local agent, quoted separately, or work with an agent of your choice. For costs, the full sailing schedule and everything else about exporting to USA, see our USA shipping guide.
Upcoming Sailings to Benicia
Dates are carrier estimates and must be reconfirmed before booking.
| Departs | From | Arrives | Vessel | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 2 Nov 2026 | CMA CGM Daytona | Hyundai Glovis |
| 9 Nov 2026 | Southampton | 9 Dec 2026 | Glovis Chorus | Hyundai Glovis |
Our Other Services
UK Car Sourcing & Supply
We source any new or used vehicle from any manufacturer in the UK, through our network of franchised dealers, car auctions, classified listings and private sellers, then inspect, purchase and export it to your country.
Buy a Car in the UK on Your Behalf
We check, view and buy the UK car you've found, from a dealer or a private seller, then ship it to you, protecting you from the pitfalls of paying an unknown seller from overseas.
Tax-Free & VAT-Free Vehicle Supply
We find new and VAT-qualifying used cars from VAT-registered dealers who will sell them free of UK VAT for export, which takes a sixth off a VAT-inclusive price. The saving comes from the dealer, not as a refund from us: we are not VAT registered. We arrange the export and give the dealer the proof it needs.
New / Used Car Export
We export new and used cars from the UK every week, sourced from our dealer, auction and trade network or supplied by you, given a multi-point inspection before shipment and shipped worldwide by RoRo or container.
Pre-Purchase Inspections
Before you commit to a car, we check its DVLA, MOT and recall records and run a paid UK history check, then view it, compare it with its logbook and send you photos and a video. A full mechanical inspection by an independent inspector can be added, quoted separately.
Government Pre-Shipping Inspection
Where the destination country requires a pre-export roadworthiness inspection, we arrange it with the approved inspection agency before the sailing so the vehicle is not held up on arrival. Quoted separately from the shipping price.
UK Vehicle Collection & Delivery
We collect any vehicle from any UK address and deliver it to the departure port at £1 per mile, driven on DVLA plates or moved on a carrier, timed to meet the booked sailing.
Secure Vehicle Storage
Vehicles wait with us in a secure compound between purchase and sailing, so there is no rush to move a car the day you buy it and nothing accumulating in storage charges at the port. Quoted separately from the shipping price.
Paintwork Reconditioning
Where a car would arrive the better for it, we can recondition the paintwork before it ships — worth doing while the vehicle is with us rather than paying to sort it out after it lands. Quoted separately from the shipping price.
UK Vehicle Customs Clearance
We make export declarations directly on the UK customs system and prepare every document needed at the UK port of exit, including the Bill of Lading, export certificate and DVLA export documentation.