How Much Does it Cost to Ship UK Cars? 2025 Savings Guide

If you’re moving across the UK or even to the continent, chances are you’ll drive your car to your new home. But, for those planning moves further afield or across an ocean, you may need some extra assistance to get your vehicle to your new location.

Our guide will be covering:

• How much it costs to ship a car
• What affects the cost of shipping a car
• How to save money on shipping a car
• What’s involved in shipping a car
• How to know if shipping a car is the best choice for you
• How to find a car shipping service

To find out the best way of getting your car shipped from A to B in the most cost-effective way possible, keep reading.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car in the United Kingdom?

Let’s take a look at some sample costs associated with car shipping. For this, the figures have been estimated based on a 120-mile journey from Birmingham UK to London UK.

Service	Distance Travelled (Approx.)	Journey Duration (Approx.)	Cost per Hour (Approx.)	Total Estimated Cost (Approx.)
Car Transporter	120 miles	2 - 4 hours	£30 - £50	£100 - £300
Vehicle Delivery	120 miles	2 - 4 hours	£20 - £40	£50 - £200
DIY Car Trailer Hire	120 miles	2 - 4 hours	£10 - £20	£30 - £100
Professional Driver	120 miles	2 - 4 hours	£20 - £30	£70 - £200
Car Shipping Company	120 miles	2 - 4 hours	£25 - £40	£80 - £250

As you’d expect, the more DIY the route, the cheaper the cost – with DIY car trailer hire coming in at around £30 to £100 for the journey. For something a little more autonomous on the mover’s side, opting for vehicle delivery can cost up to £200, while the use of a car transporter can cost between £100 to £300.

It’s worth noting that supply and demand can impact these costs, with fees being higher during seasonal holiday periods such as summer. Whether or not you choose enclosed or exposed storage also dictates the price, with enclosed heralding higher prices due to the increased security and protection it gives your vehicle.

What Affects the Cost of Hiring a Car Shipping Service?

Generally speaking, there are four main areas that affect the cost of shipping a car. Let’s take a closer look.

Your Location and the Distance For Transport

The distance the car needs to be transported and the specific locations you are travelling to and from play a significant role in the cost you’ll be faced with. As expected, longer distances or remote locations will often result in higher shipping fees due to increased fuel, labour and logistical expenses.

While you can’t help the start and end locations, it’s a good idea to factor in higher costs the more remote and far apart the two destinations are. 

Which Method of Shipping You Choose

The chosen shipping method – such as open transport or enclosed transport – will impact the cost. Enclosed transport offers better protection from weather and road debris, and as such, tends to be more expensive than open transport.

Enclosed transport might be the best choice for those with expensive vehicles or classics, with materials that need to be properly protected to avoid damage during the journey.

The Size of Your Vehicle

As you’d expect, the size, weight, and dimensions of the vehicle in question affect the cost of the transport. Larger and heavier vehicles typically require more space and resources, which can result in higher shipping rates, compared to smaller vehicles.

The Time of Year and Customer Demand

Lastly, the time of year and overall demand for car shipping services can influence the cost. Peak seasons when many people are relocating, such as summer, might lead to higher prices due to increased demand for shipping services – conversely, off-peak seasons could offer more competitive rates.

How Can I Save Money When Shipping My Car?

While it may seem like costs are spiralling and there’s nothing you can do about it, you actually have more control over your finances when transporting your car than you may first realise. 

If your schedule allows, you should consider flexible shipping dates, and avoid peak moving seasons. As we’ve already mentioned, when demand is high, prices tend to follow suit, whereas during off-peak times they are more competitive which can lead to cost savings as shipping companies may offer discounts to fill their schedules during these seasonal lows.

Wherever possible, opt for open transport instead of enclosed transport. While enclosed transport offers your vehicle more protection, open carriers are more cost-effective – and if your car doesn’t require extra protection from weather or road debris, this option can save you considerable money.

While it might require some additional logistics on your end, choosing terminal-to-terminal shipping means dropping off and picking up your car at designated terminals, and is often a far cheaper option than a door-to-door service where the carrier comes directly to your location. This requires more movement on your part, but it can save you money.

Lastly, if you have multiple vehicles to transport or know someone else who’s moving a car, you can consider shipping them together. Shipping multiple cars at once might lead to volume discounts from the shipping company, reducing the cost per vehicle, resulting in savings for you.

What Does Car Shipping Involve?

If you’ve never shipped a car before, the process can seem daunting. Knowing where to start, or finding out what is even possible, can be hard at first.

To begin with, you’ll want to gather quotes from different car shipping companies to find something that suits your needs. Just like shopping around for the best deals with other shopping, this step helps you see what options are out there and what they’ll cost you.

When you get quotes in, you’ll see a distinction in price based on the format your transport takes – and this means that the next step will be picking the ‘right’ way to ship your car. This is a purely individual choice, based on your personal circumstances, but generally speaking, there are two main options: open transport and enclosed transport.

Open transport is the budget-friendly choice – your car is loaded onto an open truck along with other vehicles. On the other hand, if you want extra protection, enclosed transport will put your car in a closed trailer, shielding it from weather and road debris, and giving it more protection.

Once you’ve found a company and transport method you like, it’s time to book your slot. Before your car gets picked up, it’s a good idea to take pictures of its current condition in case you need them for reference later if your vehicle gets damaged at any point on the journey.

The next and final step will be the driver coming to pick up your car. When it’s delivered to your new location, make sure that you check it over to see if it’s in the same shape as when it left – and if everything’s good, you’re all set!

How To Decide If A Car Shipping Service Is Right For You

If it’s not something you’ve done before, car shipping can seem confusing, and perhaps, like a service you don’t necessarily need. Let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of the service to help you decide.

Advantages of a Car Shipping	Disadvantages of Car Shipping
Convenience and time-saving – you don’t need to worry about getting your car from A to B	Damage can happen on the road – you’re not driving, so can’t comment on the actual driver’s ability
Reduced wear and tear – you won’t have to drive the vehicle, so your mileage won’t be affected and you are less likely to damage your car	It can cost more than the value of the fuel to get from A to B
Multiple vehicles can get group discounts if you’re transporting more than one vehicle at a time	Less control over the timing of the service – during peak times you may struggle to be fitted in when you want to be

The advantages come in the form of convenience – you won’t have to drive the vehicle yourself from A to B when you enlist the help of a car shipping company. This means the wear and tear you’d normally encounter as well will be avoided – but there are some drawbacks to car shipping.

You don’t know the skill of the driver, and accidents can happen on the road to anyone. It is also a costly option, and if you choose enclosed shipping your costs will rise even more, which is something to bear in mind to help you decide if the service is for you.

How Do I Find a Car Hauling Company?

To find a car shipping company, you can simply start by researching online and reading reviews to find reputable companies. Request quotes from multiple companies, comparing their services, pricing, and customer feedback to make a well-rounded choice.

It’s worth asking your friends, neighbours or colleagues to see if they have any suggestions if they’ve used a similar service before. This can also be a good way to avoid any suspicious companies they might have had a bad experience with before. 

Once you’ve found a suitable trader, make sure they’re available on the dates you require and get them booked in, ready for the big day.

Making sure the car transportation company is the best fit for you is like finding a good pair of shoes – you need the right fit for you. Before booking, read reviews and check their track record online to see what other customers are saying.

Also, it’s a good idea to ask questions about things that matter to you – like delivery times and insurance coverage – so you’re comfortable with your choice before booking. Double-check that they’re available for your chosen date and get things booked as soon as possible to ensure that availability.

Final Checklist

When you’ve settled on your chosen company and are sure that the transportation service is right for you, make sure you take note of our final checklist to ensure everything runs smoothly during your move:

• Research transport types – do you need enclosed or open transport?
• Consider if the service is right for you – is the extra cost and organisation worth the convenience?
• Look at potential companies, checking their reviews and what other customers have said about them
• Gather quotes to compare
• Find out their availability
• Book in your service!

Frequently Asked Questions