How to Ship a Truck from the UK: HGV & Commercial Vehicle Export Guide

The United Kingdom is one of Europe's largest exporters of used commercial vehicles. British-built trucks from manufacturers like DAF, Scania, Volvo, MAN, and Mercedes are in strong demand across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. For passenger vehicle shipping, see our car shipping methods guide.

Ship Cars RoRo specialises in shipping all types of commercial vehicles:
• Rigid trucks (7.5 tonne to 26 tonne)
• Articulated tractor units
• Flatbed and curtainside trailers
• Tipper trucks and skip loaders
• Refrigerated vehicles
• Fire engines and specialist vehicles
• Buses and coaches

Whether you're a dealer exporting multiple units or a private owner shipping a single truck, we provide competitive rates and expert handling. Also see our guide to shipping heavy machinery.

RORO Shipping (most common for trucks):
• Best for: any truck that can be driven onto the vessel
• Trucks are driven onto multi-deck RORO vessels via the stern ramp
• Cost: £1,200–£3,500 depending on size and destination
• Trailers can be shipped separately — towed onto the vessel

Flat Rack Container:
• Best for: non-running trucks or specialised vehicles
• Cost: £3,000–£6,000
• Required when the truck exceeds standard container height

Drive-on/Drive-off (Towage):
• Non-running trucks can sometimes be towed onto RORO vessels
• Subject to port and shipping line approval
• Additional towage charges of £200–£500

For most commercial vehicle exports, RORO is the most practical and cost-effective method. The vehicle is driven directly onto the ship and secured on dedicated vehicle decks.

Exporting commercial vehicles requires specific documentation:

Standard documents:
• V5C registration document (or V5C/2 export notification)
• Commercial invoice with declared value
• Bill of Lading (issued after loading)
• Export customs declaration (filed electronically)

Additional for commercial vehicles:
• Operator licence details (for tractor units)
• MOT certificate (if the vehicle is less than 3 years old)
• Weight certificate (for oversized or overweight vehicles)
• Tachograph records (may be required by some destinations)

For specialist vehicles:
• Fire engines: decommissioning certificate
• Ambulances: equipment removal confirmation
• Military vehicles: Ministry of Defence export clearance

Ship Cars RoRo prepares all documentation and manages the entire export customs process.

West Africa (largest market):
• Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal
• Strong demand for tippers, flatbeds, and tractor units
• Weekly RORO services from Tilbury and Southampton

East Africa:
• Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda
• Growing construction sector drives demand
• Regular sailings via Mombasa and Dar es Salaam

Middle East:
• UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq
• Demand for heavy-duty trucks and specialist vehicles
• Excellent port infrastructure at Jebel Ali

South Asia:
• Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
• Popular for rigid trucks and buses
• Regular services from Southampton

Each region has specific age and emission requirements for imported trucks. Ship Cars RoRo advises on destination regulations before booking.

Typical RORO prices for trucks from UK:
• West Africa (Lagos, Tema): £1,200–£2,500
• East Africa (Mombasa): £2,000–£3,500
• Middle East (Jebel Ali): £1,500–£2,800
• South Asia (Colombo, Karachi): £1,500–£2,800
• Europe (Spain, Italy): £900–£1,800

Transit times:
• West Africa: 14–21 days
• East Africa: 25–35 days
• Middle East: 14–21 days
• South Asia: 18–24 days
• Europe: 5–12 days

Volume discounts: Shipping multiple trucks? We offer competitive rates for bulk consignments. Many commercial vehicle dealers ship 5–20 trucks per month with Ship Cars RoRo.

Contact us for a free quotation — we respond within 2 hours during business hours.

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.