Shipping a Car to Canada from the UK: Complete Import Guide

Canada is an increasingly popular destination for vehicles shipped from the United Kingdom, driven by demand for classic British cars, expatriate relocations, and commercial exports.

Canada's vehicle import regulations are managed by two key agencies:
• Transport Canada: Responsible for safety standards compliance
• CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency): Manages customs clearance, duties, and taxes

Additionally, the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) oversees the mandatory inspection programme for all imported vehicles. Understanding these requirements before shipping ensures a smooth, hassle-free import.

Canada has specific rules governing vehicle imports that differ significantly from the USA import process:

15-Year Rule: Vehicles 15 years or older from the date of manufacture are exempt from Transport Canada safety standards. This is more lenient than the USA's 25-year rule, making Canada attractive for importing classic vehicles manufactured from 2011 or earlier (as of 2026).

Newer vehicles (under 15 years): Must meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). Some US-spec vehicles qualify, but most UK-spec vehicles require modifications including:
• Daytime running lights
• Speedometer in km/h
• French/English labelling
• Specific lighting and mirror configurations

RIV Inspection: All imported vehicles (except 15+ year exemptions) must undergo a federal inspection within 45 days of import. The inspection verifies safety compliance and emissions standards.

RORO Shipping (most common):
• Cost: £1,400–£2,600 from Southampton
• Transit time: 10–16 days to Halifax, 14–21 days to Montreal/Toronto
• Available ports: Halifax, Montreal, Toronto (via Hamilton), Vancouver

Container Shipping:
• Dedicated 20ft: £2,500–£4,200
• Shared container: £1,600–£2,800
• Transit time: 12–22 days

Canadian import costs (approximate):
• Customs duty: 6.1% (most vehicles)
• GST: 5% of (value + duty)
• Provincial sales tax: varies (0% Alberta to 10% BC)
• RIV fee: CAD 295–400
• Air conditioning tax: CAD 100

For a personalised estimate, use our cost calculator.

Here's how the UK to Canada shipping process works with Ship Cars RoRo:

1. Confirm eligibility — We verify your vehicle meets Canadian import requirements or qualifies for the 15-year exemption.

2. Get a quote — Comprehensive quotation including shipping, documentation, and estimated Canadian charges.

3. Prepare the vehicle — Follow our preparation checklist: clean thoroughly, reduce fuel, disconnect battery.

4. UK export processing — We handle collection, export customs declaration, and port delivery.

5. Ocean transit — Your vehicle sails to Canada with full tracking and marine insurance.

6. Canadian customs clearance — Our Canadian customs broker handles CBSA clearance, duty payment, and RIV registration.

7. RIV inspection — Vehicle undergoes federal safety inspection (if required).

8. Provincial registration — Register with your provincial licensing authority.

The entire process typically takes 3–6 weeks from UK collection to Canadian registration.

- Check the 15-year exemption carefully: Calculate from the exact date of manufacture, not model year.
• Right-hand drive is legal: Canada permits RHD vehicles. No conversion required, though some provinces have specific lighting requirements.
• Budget for provincial taxes: These vary significantly — Alberta has no PST while BC charges 10%.
• Winter shipping: Book RORO sailings early for winter months as Canadian port schedules can be affected by ice conditions.
• Personal effects: With container shipping, you can include personal belongings inside the vehicle.

Ship Cars RoRo handles hundreds of UK-to-Canada shipments annually. Contact us for expert guidance tailored to your vehicle. Halifax and West Coast pricing is detailed on our car shipping costs guide.

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.