Motorhome and Campervan Shipping

Why motorhomes need specialist handling

A motorhome is not simply a large car: its height, length and weight distribution all affect which vessel deck it can travel on and which trade lane can accept it at all. Roof-mounted air conditioning units, solar panels, satellite domes and awnings all add height that a standard quote based on the base vehicle model would miss entirely.

We ask for actual measurements — height with any roof fittings raised or removed, overall length including a tow bar or rack, and laden weight — before quoting, rather than relying on a manufacturer's brochure figure. This avoids the awkward situation of a vehicle arriving at the port and being turned away because it exceeds the deck clearance booked.

Touring, relocation and overland expedition moves

Three distinct types of customer use this service: tourists shipping a motorhome out for a season and bringing it home again, people relocating permanently and importing the vehicle for good, and overland travellers moving an expedition vehicle between continents as part of a longer trip.

Each of these has a different customs and paperwork route. Touring moves usually rely on temporary admission or a carnet, permanent relocations go through full import clearance with duty and VAT assessed, and overland expedition vehicles often need a carnet de passage plus proof of onward travel or return shipping.

• Seasonal touring with planned return to the UK
• Permanent relocation and full import registration
• Overland expedition vehicles moving between continents
• Dealer stock and pre-owned motorhome sales exports

RoRo and container options compared

Most motorhomes travel RoRo, driven aboard in the same way as a car, provided the vessel deck has enough headroom for the vehicle's full height. Where a route does not offer suitable RoRo space, or where the motorhome is carrying overland equipment inside that cannot travel on a RoRo deck, a container becomes the alternative — though this usually needs a flat rack or open-top unit given the size involved.

Container shipment allows genuine personal effects and expedition kit to travel inside the vehicle, which RoRo does not permit, so overland travellers with roof tents, spares and camping equipment loaded often find container shipping the more practical route despite the higher cost.

Preparing gas, fuel and battery systems

Gas bottles must usually be disconnected and, on many routes, removed from the vehicle entirely or emptied before shipment, since pressurised gas is treated as dangerous goods by most carriers. We confirm the specific requirement for your route at quote stage rather than leaving it as a surprise on collection day.

Leisure batteries should be isolated to prevent any parasitic drain over a multi-week voyage, and fuel levels kept low in the same way as for car shipments. Fridges running on gas or 12V need to be switched off and ideally left open to prevent mould developing during transit.

Customs paperwork for temporary and permanent moves

A carnet de passage acts as a passport for the vehicle, allowing it to enter and later leave a country without the owner paying full import duty, and is commonly required for overland routes through parts of Africa, Asia and South America. We advise on whether your destination requires one and help arrange it through the issuing body.

Permanent imports are treated differently: duty and VAT are calculated on the vehicle's value, and registration in the new country follows local roadworthiness rules that can include emissions testing or right-hand-drive restrictions. We set these out clearly before you commit to a permanent move, since reversing the decision after shipment is far harder than planning for it in advance.

Pricing and what drives the rate

Motorhome freight is priced on actual dimensions rather than a flat rate per vehicle, so a compact panel van conversion will cost noticeably less to ship than a coach-built motorhome with a garage and slide-out. Route scarcity plays a part too, since fewer vessels accept tall vehicles, which can push rates higher on some lanes even over a shorter distance.

Additional costs to budget for include gas removal and refilling, any crating needed for a container move, carnet issuing fees, and destination handling charges that vary by port. We include all of these in the written quote so the total reflects what you will actually be asked to pay.

Transit times, insurance and destination handling

Transit times mirror general RoRo and container schedules for the trade lane in question, typically ranging from under two weeks within Europe to four to eight weeks for long-haul destinations. Insurance is worth arranging separately from the vehicle's normal motor policy, since standard cover rarely extends to ocean transit or the higher declared values that motorhomes often carry.

At destination, our agent coordinates import clearance, checks the vehicle against the temporary admission or carnet paperwork, and hands over to the consignee with guidance on any local registration steps that remain outstanding.