How to Ship a Luxury or Supercar Overseas: Premium Transport Guide

Shipping a luxury or supercar internationally is fundamentally different from shipping a standard vehicle. When your car is worth £100,000, £500,000, or even millions, every aspect of the shipping process must reflect that value.

Ship Cars RoRo provides a premium white-glove service specifically designed for high-value vehicles:
• Enclosed transport from door to port and port to door
• Dedicated container shipping with premium securing
• Agreed-value marine insurance covering the full collector or retail value
• Professional handlers experienced with high-value vehicles
• Real-time tracking and personal account manager

We regularly ship Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, McLarens, Aston Martins, Porsches, and other premium marques to collectors and owners worldwide.

For vehicles valued over £50,000, the only recommended shipping method is a dedicated container:

Dedicated 20ft Container (single vehicle):
• Exclusive use — your car is the only cargo
• Fully enclosed, weatherproof, and sealed
• Professional blocking and bracing with soft straps (never ratchet straps on painted surfaces)
• Protective covers over bodywork
• Cost: £2,500–£5,500 depending on destination

Dedicated 40ft Container (multiple vehicles):
• Can accommodate 2–3 vehicles depending on size
• Each vehicle individually secured
• Cost-effective for multiple high-value vehicles
• Cost: £4,000–£8,000 depending on destination

Why not RORO? While RORO is safe, luxury car owners prefer the additional protection of a sealed container. RORO exposes the vehicle to salt air, other cargo proximity, and multiple handling points. For a vehicle worth six or seven figures, the container premium is negligible.

Standard marine transit insurance may not adequately cover luxury vehicles. Ship Cars RoRo arranges agreed-value policies for all premium shipments:

How agreed-value insurance works:
• Before shipping, the vehicle's value is professionally assessed and agreed with the insurer
• In the event of a total loss, the full agreed amount is paid — no depreciation, no market value debate
• Cover includes all risks: damage during loading/unloading, transit damage, theft, fire, and total loss

Typical premiums:
• 0.5–1.5% of the declared value
• A £200,000 Ferrari: £1,000–£3,000 for comprehensive agreed-value cover
• A £1,000,000 classic: £5,000–£15,000

What to provide:
• Professional valuation or recent auction result
• Detailed photographs (minimum 50 images for high-value vehicles)
• Service history and provenance documentation
• Any restoration records

For more on coverage options, read our complete shipping insurance guide.

Premium vehicle preparation goes beyond standard guidelines:

Documentation (critical for high-value vehicles):
• Commission a professional pre-shipping inspection report
• Take 100+ high-resolution photographs of every panel, wheel, interior surface, and engine bay
• Record a video walkround with commentary noting any existing marks
• Photograph the odometer, dashboard, and any digital displays

Physical preparation:
• Professional detail and paint protection film (PPF) on vulnerable areas
• Wrap wing mirrors, door handles, and any chrome trim with protective film
• Fit wheel protectors to prevent kerbing during loading
• Reduce fuel to minimum (15–20%)
• Disconnect battery and disable alarm systems

Security:
• Remove any aftermarket tracking devices (they may drain the battery during transit)
• Provide two sets of keys in separate, labelled bags
• Confirm insurance cover is in place before the vehicle leaves your possession

Ship Cars RoRo ships luxury and supercars to collectors and owners across the globe:

- USA: The world's largest market for high-end vehicles. Classic British sports cars command premium prices.
• Dubai / UAE: Thriving supercar culture with excellent port infrastructure at Jebel Ali.
• Japan: Passionate collector community for British luxury and classic marques.
• Australia: Growing luxury car market with strong demand for Land Rovers and Bentleys.
• Singapore, Hong Kong, Monaco: Ultra-luxury markets with established import pathways.

Ready to ship your luxury vehicle? Request a premium quote — our team responds within 2 hours. See indicative figures for enclosed transport on our luxury car shipping costs page.

Before any international shipment, vehicles need to reach the loading port — and many customers ask us to handle the UK leg too. Our recovery and transport network covers every postcode, 24 hours a day.

Start with the main hubs: Car Recovery UK, Vehicle Recovery UK, 24/7 Breakdown Recovery and Nationwide Vehicle Transportation.

City coverage includes London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield and Bristol.

Pre-book a port run on a flatbed transporter from Southampton, Portsmouth, Liverpool or Felixstowe via Ipswich, or call 24/7 for breakdown recovery in London, Birmingham or Manchester.