Car Shipping to Durban, South Africa
Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal on South Africa's Indian Ocean coast. UK Vehicle Exporters Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Durban, 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 Durban
Durban is South Africa's busiest port and its main container gateway, managed by Transnet National Ports Authority. Its largest container terminal, Durban Container Terminal Pier 2, has been run since January 2026 by a Transnet and ICTSI partnership under a 25-year agreement signed in December 2025, which aims to lift Pier 2's capacity from 2 million to 2.8 million TEU a year.
Area served: Durban serves KwaZulu-Natal and most of Gauteng's sea trade, and also handles significant traffic for neighbouring countries.
How Vehicles Are Handled at Durban
Vehicles are handled at the Durban Car Terminal, operated by Transnet Port Terminals and described by its operator as sub-Saharan Africa's largest automotive terminal. In the financial year to March 2026 it handled a record 695,686 fully built units from 386 car carrier calls, well above its installed capacity of 520,000 units a year. Transnet has said it wants to raise vehicle capacity at Durban to 1 million units a year, but in March 2025 it paused to review the plan after part of the area earmarked for expansion was leased to Fresh Produce Terminals.
- Port authority
- Transnet National Ports Authority
- Vehicle terminal
- Durban Car Terminal (Transnet Port Terminals)
- Vehicles handled
- 695,686 units (financial year to March 2026)
- Installed vehicle capacity
- 520,000 units a year (2026)
- Main container terminal
- DCT Pier 2, Transnet and ICTSI partnership from January 2026, 2 million TEU capacity rising to 2.8 million
Shipping a Car from the UK to Durban
We handle the whole UK side of an export to Durban: 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 2-6 weeks port to port, sailing from Southampton, London Gateway, Felixstowe, Liverpool, Newcastle and Bristol. Lines on the route include Höegh Autoliners, MSC, Sallaum Lines and Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
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 South Africa, see our South Africa shipping guide.
Upcoming Sailings to Durban
Dates are carrier estimates and must be reconfirmed before booking.
| Departs | From | Arrives | Vessel | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 1 Nov 2026 | Höegh Starlight | Höegh Autoliners |
| 13 Oct 2026 | London Gateway | 15 Nov 2026 | MSC Sara Elena | MSC |
| 14 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 24 Nov 2026 | MSC Fiammetta | MSC |
| 15 Oct 2026 | Liverpool | 24 Nov 2026 | MSC Fiammetta | MSC |
| 16 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 24 Nov 2026 | MSC Fiammetta | MSC |
| 17 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 20 Nov 2026 | Siem Edison | Sallaum Lines |
| 17 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 5 Nov 2026 | Traviata | Wallenius Wilhelmsen |
| 20 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 24 Nov 2026 | MSC Fiammetta | MSC |
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.