Car Shipping to Manzanillo, Dominican Republic
At Pepillo Salcedo on Manzanillo Bay in Montecristi province, on the north-west coast of the Dominican Republic next to the Haitian border. UK Vehicle Exporters Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Manzanillo, 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 Manzanillo (Pepillo Salcedo)
Manzanillo was built in the 1950s by the Grenada Company, a US fruit company, to export bananas, and fruit exports remain its main trade alongside clinker, cement and general cargo. The Dominican Port Authority is rebuilding it as a combined cargo and cruise port, with Inter-American Development Bank financing of more than US$100 million. In September 2026 the government put physical progress at 52.9%, with the cargo terminal due in the first quarter of 2027.
Area served: Serves the north-west of the Dominican Republic, and the new port is intended to support exports from the free trade zones of Santiago, Moca and La Vega.
How Vehicles Are Handled at Manzanillo
No dedicated ro-ro or vehicle facility is documented at present, and the port mainly handles bananas and bulk cargo with occasional container calls. The new terminal includes a 242 m berth reached by a 183 m access bridge; the associated road from Navarrete has already been completed.
- Port authority
- Autoridad Portuaria Dominicana
- Built
- 1950s, for banana exports
- New berth
- 242 m, with 183 m access bridge
- Funding
- Inter-American Development Bank, over US$100 million
- Cargo terminal due
- First quarter of 2027 (government estimate, 2026)
Shipping a Car from the UK to Manzanillo
We handle the whole UK side of an export to Manzanillo: 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 2-3 weeks port to port, sailing from Portsmouth. Lines on the route include Geest Line.
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 Dominican Republic, see our Dominican Republic shipping guide.
Upcoming Sailings to Manzanillo
Dates are carrier estimates and must be reconfirmed before booking.
| Departs | From | Arrives | Vessel | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 2026 | Portsmouth | 7 Nov 2026 | CS Service | Geest Line |
| 25 Oct 2026 | Portsmouth | 14 Nov 2026 | Star First | Geest Line |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Portsmouth | 21 Nov 2026 | Hood Island | Geest Line |
| 8 Nov 2026 | Portsmouth | 28 Nov 2026 | Luzon Strait | Geest Line |
| 15 Nov 2026 | Portsmouth | 5 Dec 2026 | Lombok Strait | Geest Line |
| 22 Nov 2026 | Portsmouth | 12 Dec 2026 | CS Service | Geest Line |
| 29 Nov 2026 | Portsmouth | 19 Dec 2026 | Star First | Geest Line |
| 6 Dec 2026 | Portsmouth | 26 Dec 2026 | Hood Island | Geest Line |
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.