Car Shipping to Santander, Spain
On the Bay of Santander in Cantabria, northern Spain, with the commercial docks at Raos south of the city. UK Vehicle Exporters Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Santander, 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 Santander
Santander is a major Spanish car port and ranks fourth in Spain for vehicle traffic, handling 244,212 vehicles in January to August 2026. Commercial activity moved to the Raos area in the second half of the 20th century, with the first Raos piers opening in 1985. The port is run by the Port Authority of Santander.
Area served: Serves Cantabria and northern and central Spain, with car traffic from plants across the Iberian peninsula.
How Vehicles Are Handled at Santander
The RoRo vehicle terminal at Raos covers 600,000 sq m, with 1,000 m of berths at Raos 8 and 9 for RoRo ships and car carriers, two ramps, and rail sidings for car trains. A vertical car silo beside the berths had 9,328 spaces in operation in 2026, rising to 14,600 when complete. Car carrier lines include Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Höegh Autoliners and K Line, and Brittany Ferries sails to Portsmouth and Plymouth.
- Port authority
- Port Authority of Santander
- Vehicle terminal
- Raos, 600,000 sq m
- RoRo berths
- Raos 8 and 9, 1,000 m
- UK ferry links
- Portsmouth and Plymouth (Brittany Ferries)
- Vehicles handled
- 244,212 (January to August 2026)
Shipping a Car from the UK to Santander
We handle the whole UK side of an export to Santander: 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 days to 3 weeks port to port, sailing from Southampton, Bristol and Newcastle. Lines on the route include Höegh Autoliners 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 Spain, see our Spain shipping guide.
Upcoming Sailings to Santander
Dates are carrier estimates and must be reconfirmed before booking.
| Departs | From | Arrives | Vessel | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 13 Oct 2026 | Höegh Starlight | Höegh Autoliners |
| 17 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 19 Oct 2026 | Traviata | Wallenius Wilhelmsen |
| 28 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 31 Oct 2026 | Morning Courier | Wallenius Wilhelmsen |
| 29 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 31 Oct 2026 | Höegh Seoul | Höegh Autoliners |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Southampton | 3 Nov 2026 | Carmen | Wallenius Wilhelmsen |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Bristol | 18 Nov 2026 | Höegh Rainbow | Höegh Autoliners |
| 14 Nov 2026 | Southampton | 16 Nov 2026 | Lake Saint Anne | Wallenius Wilhelmsen |
| 16 Nov 2026 | Southampton | 18 Nov 2026 | Höegh Rainbow | Höegh Autoliners |
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.