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Moving to the UK with East Coast Shipping

Your Expert International Shipping Partner

Moving to the UK? Whether you’re relocating permanently, shipping a vehicle, or moving belongings to a vacation home, East Coast Shipping provides reliable and cost-effective solutions. With years of experience handling international moves, we make the process seamless, stress-free, and affordable.

Shipping Options to the UK

We offer a variety of shipping options tailored to your needs:

1. Full Container Load (FCL) Shipments

Best for: Large households, businesses, or high-value shipments.
Container sizes: 20ft & 40ft available.
Advantages:

Faster transit times.
Exclusive use of the container.
Secure and private transport.

2. Less than Container Load (LCL) / Groupage Shipments

We offer weekly LCL services to the UK, making it one of the fastest ways to ship smaller volumes.

LCL is typically faster than groupage, but costs are higher due to premium handling and priority shipping.

Best for: Smaller shipments that don’t require a full container.
Advantages:

Cost-effective for personal effects.
Secure and professional handling.
Flexible consolidation schedules.

3. Shared Container (Groupage) Service

Best for: Cost-effective shipping for non-urgent moves.
Advantages:

Lower costs than FCL.
Environmentally friendly.
Reliable departures to UK ports.

4. Vehicle Shipping to the UK (RORO & Containerized)

We provide secure shipping options for cars, motorcycles, and classic vehicles.

Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) Shipping

Best for: Standard vehicles and motorcycles.
How it works: Vehicles are securely driven onto a RORO vessel.
Advantages:

Most cost-effective method.
Minimal handling reduces risk of damage.
Frequent departures to UK ports.

Containerized Vehicle Shipping

Best for: Classic cars, luxury vehicles, and motorcycles needing extra protection.
How it works: Vehicles are loaded into a dedicated or shared container.
Advantages:

Added protection from weather and handling.
Ability to include personal items inside the container.
Custom crating available for motorcycles.

Customs & Import Process for Moving to the UK
UK Customs & Import Process

1. Transfer of Residence (ToR) – Duty-Free Import

If you qualify for ToR relief, you can import personal belongings duty and VAT-free.

To qualify for ToR, you must:

Have lived outside the UK for at least 12 months.
Have owned and used the items for at least 6 months.
Be moving to the UK permanently.

Apply for ToR (Transfer of Residence) here:
Apply for transfer of residence UK

Official UK Government Import Guide:
UK import guide

2. If You Don’t Qualify for ToR (Vacation Homes, Short-Term Moves)

If you do not qualify for ToR, your shipment will be subject to import duty & VAT.

UK Customs Declarations for Imported Goods:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/customs-declarations-for-goods-brought-into-the-uk

UK Prohibited & Restricted Items:
https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/overview

If you do not qualify for ToR, your shipment will be subject to import duty & VAT.

Who Does NOT Qualify for ToR?

Those moving items for a vacation home in the UK.
Those who have not lived outside the UK for 12 months.
Shipping new goods (less than 6 months old).

Customs Duty & VAT Breakdown:

UK Customs calculates duty & VAT based on the declared value.
Estimated total duty & VAT: 20%-30% of the total declared value.

Example Calculation:

Declared inventory value: £1000
Estimated duty & VAT (20-30%): £200-£300
Additional fees:
- Customs entry fee: Approx. £50
- Customs admin fee: Varies per shipment

Estimated Transit Times to the UK

FCL (Full Container Load): 3-5 weeks from East Coast USA.
LCL / Groupage: 5-8 weeks, depending on consolidation.
RORO Vehicle Shipping: 4-6 weeks to major UK ports.

Additional Moving Services

Professional Packing & Crating – Secure handling for fragile or high-value items.
Storage Options – Secure short-term & long-term storage in both the US & UK.
Marine Insurance Coverage – Protection against loss or damage.
Customs Clearance Assistance – Guidance on all required documentation.