Motorhome Shipping FAQs
Answers to the Questions Motorhome Owners Ask Us Most
Costs, ports, preparation, temporary import and shipping home: short answers, each with a link to the full guide. Prices are our Instant pricing results from November 2026.
Costs
How much does it cost to ship a motorhome?
From the UK by RoRo, a 6 m campervan costs from about GBP 2,880 to Uruguay or Argentina, GBP 3,180 to Canada, GBP 3,320 to South Africa and GBP 3,530 to the USA, up to about GBP 6,170 to New Zealand (Instant pricing, November 2026). A 7.5 m motorhome costs about a third to a half more.
Why does a bigger motorhome cost more to ship?
RoRo freight is priced on the space your vehicle takes on the ship: its length, width and height, measured with roof boxes, solar panels, bike racks and tow bars fitted. Height and length change the price the most.
What is included in the price?
Export port fees, terminal handling, export customs clearance, carrier documents, the bunker surcharge and the sea freight, plus the destination port and entry costs the quote lists for your route. Import duty and taxes, customs bonds, insurance and a carnet are not included.
Do I pay import duty on my motorhome?
Not normally, when you import it temporarily as a visitor and it leaves again on time. Each country sets its own time limit and documents.
Will my price change before I sail?
Your quote is priced for your motorhome and sailing date. The price is subject to the carrier pricing and bunker surcharge (BAF) in force at the time of sailing.
Ports and routes
Which US ports can my motorhome go to?
Baltimore, New York / Newark and Brunswick, Georgia, with Galveston on some routes. RoRo to the West Coast is temporarily unavailable.
Which port in Canada does my motorhome arrive at?
Halifax, Nova Scotia. We ship there from Liverpool and Southampton in the UK, Antwerp and Zeebrugge in Belgium, and Hamburg and Bremerhaven in Germany.
Which port in South Africa does my motorhome arrive at?
Durban. Instant pricing quotes Durban for RoRo motorhomes from the UK, Belgium and Germany.
Montevideo or Zárate: which port should I choose?
Montevideo suits a trip that starts in Uruguay or southern Brazil; Zárate, near Buenos Aires, puts you straight onto Argentina’s roads. Both are in the Instant pricing form.
Does my motorhome travel on deck?
No. On RoRo your motorhome is driven onto the ship and travels in the enclosed hold of a vehicle carrier.
Preparing your motorhome
Can I ship my motorhome with gas bottles?
Removable gas bottles must be taken out. A bottle or fixed tank that stays in the motorhome must be completely empty with a gas-free certificate no more than 5 working days old, and declared before booking. Some sailings accept an empty tank with no pressure instead; your booking confirmation gives the rule for your sailing.
Can I ship a motorhome with a lithium leisure battery?
On RoRo, lithium batteries are accepted only case by case. Tell us in writing before the booking is placed and send the battery data sheet. The battery must be fully installed and isolated. Loose e-bike batteries, e-scooters and power banks are generally not accepted.
How much fuel can be in the tank?
Less than a quarter of a tank for RoRo. Spare fuel cans are not allowed unless they are brand new, unused and labelled with the receipt attached, and you check with us first.
Can I leave belongings in my motorhome?
On some sailings, yes: items you need for the trip, such as bedding, cutlery and camping gear, locked in cupboards and out of sight. Acceptance is at the shipping line’s discretion. Belongings travel at your own risk and are not covered by us or the carrier.
Why do the height and length matter so much?
The RoRo price is set by your motorhome’s measured size. Declare the longest length, widest width and highest height with roof boxes, solar panels, bike racks and tow bars fitted. If the port measures it larger than declared, you pay for the measured size.
Does stink bug season affect my motorhome?
Australia’s seasonal measures cover vehicles shipped from 1 September to 30 April. A motorhome shipped from Belgium or Germany in that window must be treated; one from the UK may be inspected at random. New Zealand has its own rules for vehicles from the same risk countries.
Temporary import and customs
Do I need a carnet de passages for my motorhome?
Only for some destinations. Australia requires one for a tourist’s vehicle, South Africa uses one for vehicles from outside the Southern African Customs Union, and New Zealand accepts one instead of a cash deposit. The USA, Canada, Uruguay and Argentina do not use a carnet.
How long can my motorhome stay in the USA?
Up to one year from entry under the EPA nonresident exemption, or until you leave the USA, whichever comes first, with no extension.
How long can my motorhome stay in Canada?
Up to 12 months for a visitor, and only the visitor who brought it in may drive it.
How long can my motorhome stay in Australia or New Zealand?
Up to 12 months in both. Australia needs a carnet; New Zealand takes a carnet or a refundable cash deposit for the full duty.
How long can my motorhome stay in Uruguay and Argentina?
One year from entry in Uruguay, and up to 8 months in Argentina, extendable if immigration extends your own stay.
Can I sell my motorhome at the end of the trip?
No. A temporarily imported motorhome must leave the country again; selling it would make it a permanent import with duty and vehicle standards to meet.
Do I need a customs broker in South Africa?
Customs clearance goes through our broker, a local agent we introduce, or your own broker. We tell you which documents to bring.
Shipping home
How much does it cost to ship a motorhome home to the UK?
A campervan from Halifax costs from about USD 3,610, from the USA about USD 3,430, from Durban about USD 4,620, from Montevideo about USD 5,310, and from Australia or New Zealand about USD 8,210 to 8,330 (Instant pricing, November 2026).
How much does it cost to ship a motorhome from the USA to the UK?
From a US East Coast port to Southampton, about USD 3,430 for a 6 m campervan and USD 4,510 for a 7.5 m motorhome by RoRo (Instant pricing, November 2026). To Belgium or Germany it is about the same. Your quote depends on size, weight, port and date.
How much does it cost to ship a motorhome from Canada to Europe?
From Halifax to Liverpool, about USD 3,610 for a 6 m campervan and USD 4,860 for a 7.5 m motorhome; to Hamburg or Antwerp about USD 3,620-3,700 and USD 4,840-4,910.
Can you ship my motorhome back to Europe afterwards?
Yes. We ship from Melbourne back to the UK or Germany and from Auckland back to the UK; Melbourne to the UK starts at about USD 8,330 for a campervan.
Still have a question?
Get Instant pricing for your motorhome, route and date: your quote lists every cost line by line, and our team answers anything it does not cover. Instant pricing runs on the quote system of our parent company, IVSS.