Car Shipping to Papeete, French Polynesia
At Papeete on the north-west coast of Tahiti, in the Society Islands. UK Vehicle Exporters Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Papeete, 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 Papeete
French Polynesia's only international port and the hub for redistribution to the outer islands, run by the Port autonome de Papeete, a public body created in 1962 that also manages facilities on Moorea and Raiatea. The port says it handles 90% of the territory's imported goods. In 2025 it handled 1.45 million tonnes and 84,062 TEU of containers, with 990 ship calls at the commercial port.
Area served: Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia.
How Vehicles Are Handled at Papeete
International cargo is worked at the international commerce terminal on Motu Uta, a reclaimed former islet, where a 453 metre deep-sea quay with three berths takes container ships and general cargo vessels and 140,000 square metres of yard hold containers and break-bulk. At the terminal entrance a four-level vehicle storage building holds 500 vehicles, beside a 3,700 square metre area with 130 spaces for heavy and oversized equipment, and loading and discharge is carried out by private stevedoring companies. Roll-on roll-off cargo came to 14,240 tonnes in 2025.
- Port authority
- Port autonome de Papeete (created 1962)
- Deep-sea quay
- 453 m, three berths, at Motu Uta
- Vehicle storage building
- Four levels, 500 vehicles
- Containers (2025)
- 84,062 TEU
- Roll-on roll-off cargo (2025)
- 14,240 tonnes
- Total traffic (2025)
- 1.45 million tonnes
Shipping a Car from the UK to Papeete
We handle the whole UK side of an export to Papeete: 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 5-8 weeks port to port, sailing from Liverpool, Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway. Lines on the route include MSC 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 French Polynesia, see our French Polynesia shipping guide.
Upcoming Sailings to Papeete
Dates are carrier estimates and must be reconfirmed before booking.
| Departs | From | Arrives | Vessel | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 2026 | Liverpool | 1 Dec 2026 | Etoile | MSC |
| 14 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 1 Dec 2026 | Etoile | MSC |
| 16 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 1 Dec 2026 | Etoile | MSC |
| 16 Oct 2026 | Liverpool | 1 Dec 2026 | Etoile | MSC |
| 20 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 1 Dec 2026 | Etoile | MSC |
| 20 Oct 2026 | London Gateway | 1 Dec 2026 | Etoile | MSC |
| 23 Oct 2026 | London Gateway | 8 Dec 2026 | MSC Lucia III | MSC |
| 24 Oct 2026 | Liverpool | 14 Dec 2026 | MSC Emden III | 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.