Car Shipping to Lyttelton, New Zealand
In Lyttelton Harbour on Banks Peninsula, linked to Christchurch, about 12 km away, by a road tunnel through the Port Hills. UK Vehicle Exporters Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Lyttelton, 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 Lyttelton
The South Island's largest port, run by Lyttelton Port Company, which is owned by Christchurch City Holdings on behalf of Christchurch City Council. It is home to New Zealand's largest coal export facility and handles containers, bulk fuel, logs and imported cars.
Area served: Christchurch, Canterbury and the wider South Island.
How Vehicles Are Handled at Lyttelton
Imported cars are handled as conventionally stevedored cargo on the port's wharves, and Lyttelton Port Company handled 39,138 vehicles in the year to 30 June 2026. Containers are handled at the Cashin Quay container terminal, which moved 427,462 TEU in the same year, with inland ports at CityDepot in Christchurch and MidlandPort in Rolleston.
- Operator
- Lyttelton Port Company
- Owner
- Christchurch City Holdings
- Vehicles (year to June 2026)
- 39,138 units
- Containers (year to June 2026)
- 427,462 TEU
- Inland ports
- CityDepot (Christchurch), MidlandPort (Rolleston)
Shipping a Car from the UK to Lyttelton
We handle the whole UK side of an export to Lyttelton: 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 7-13 weeks port to port, sailing from London Gateway, Felixstowe, Liverpool and Southampton. Lines on the route include MSC.
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 New Zealand, see our New Zealand shipping guide.
Upcoming Sailings to Lyttelton
Dates are carrier estimates and must be reconfirmed before booking.
| Departs | From | Arrives | Vessel | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2026 | London Gateway | 20 Dec 2026 | MSC Sasha | MSC |
| 14 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 20 Dec 2026 | MSC Sasha | MSC |
| 15 Oct 2026 | London Gateway | 27 Dec 2026 | APL Savannah | MSC |
| 15 Oct 2026 | Liverpool | 27 Dec 2026 | APL Savannah | MSC |
| 16 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 4 Jan 2027 | MSC Pamela | MSC |
| 17 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 20 Dec 2026 | MSC Sasha | MSC |
| 18 Oct 2026 | London Gateway | 11 Dec 2026 | MSC Davao III | MSC |
| 20 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 27 Dec 2026 | APL Savannah | 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.