Specialist vehicle shipping agent — UK to 190+ destinations worldwide
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- WhatsApp +44 7717 769925
Tilbury Port
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Tilbury Port
Specialist vehicle shipping agent — UK to 190+ destinations worldwide
If you need reliable vehicle shipping from Tilbury Port, you are in the right place. At Ascope Shipping, we have spent 15 years moving cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, household goods, and commercial freight from Tilbury to destinations across Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and beyond.
Tilbury is one of the UK’s most connected international ports and we know it inside out. Whether you are shipping a single car to Nigeria, a container of personal effects to Jamaica, or a fleet of trucks to Kenya, our team handles every step from collection to customs clearance to destination delivery.
The Port of Tilbury sits on the north bank of the River Thames, just 22 nautical miles east of central London. It is the largest Thames port and one of the most strategically positioned departure points in the whole of the UK for international sea freight.
In the last decade alone, the Port of Tilbury has doubled its cargo volume. It now handles everything from automotive exports to construction materials, grain, food and drink, and consumer goods. For vehicle and cargo shipping from the UK, it offers fast, reliable weekly sailings to destinations worldwide, particularly across East and West Africa.
For customers in London, Essex, Kent, and the wider South East, Tilbury is often the most practical and cost-effective departure point in the country.
We offer a complete range of international shipping services from Tilbury port, tailored to your vehicle type, cargo, budget, and destination.
Roll-on/Roll-off is the most popular and budget-friendly method for shipping vehicles internationally from Tilbury. Your vehicle is simply driven onto a purpose-built RORO vessel, safely secured, and driven off at the destination port.
RORO from Tilbury is ideal for:
Cost advantage: RORO shipping from Tilbury is typically 20–30% cheaper than container shipping for standard vehicles. Weekly sailings operate to West Africa, East Africa, the Caribbean, the USA, and beyond.
Need extra security for your vehicle? Want to ship personal belongings alongside your car? Container shipping from Tilbury gives you a fully sealed, secure unit, loaded at the port and locked until it reaches your destination agent.
Container options available:
You can also pack personal belongings, tools, spare parts, and commercial goods inside your container, making it the most flexible all-in-one shipping solution from Tilbury Port.
Not shipping a full container’s worth? Our Tilbury groupage service lets you share container space with other customers, so you only pay for what you actually use. No compromise on safety or transit time, just a smarter, lower-cost way to ship smaller loads.
Groupage from Tilbury Port is perfect for:
Don’t want the hassle of getting your vehicle to the port yourself? Our door-to-door service takes care of everything, from your UK address straight through to your destination overseas.
Here’s how it works:
This is our most popular service for customers relocating abroad and for exporters shipping vehicles to Africa and the Caribbean.
We handle a wide range of vehicles and cargo from Tilbury via RORO or container.
RORO or Container: Cars, vans, 4x4s, SUVs, motorcycles, classic and vintage cars, electric and hybrid vehicles, trucks, HGVs, buses, coaches, motorhomes, and caravans.
Container Only: Heavy plant and machinery, household goods and personal effects, commercial freight, furniture, equipment, and business cargo.
Not sure which method suits your shipment? Call our team. We’ll give you clear, honest advice within minutes.
Tilbury’s position on the Thames gives it fast, direct access to the Atlantic and Indian Ocean shipping lanes, making it one of the UK’s most efficient departure points for long-haul routes, particularly to Africa.
We ship to over 150 countries worldwide. If your destination is not listed above, call us, we’ll find the best route and sailing for you.
Tilbury Port shipping rates depend on several factors: your chosen method (RORO vs container), destination port, vehicle dimensions and weight, container type, and whether you need door-to-door or port-to-port service.
Rough cost guide from Tilbury Port:
These are indicative figures. The most accurate way to get your Tilbury Port shipping price is to request a free quote. Our team will come back with a clear, all-inclusive figure with no hidden extras.
Hidden costs to watch out for elsewhere: Some shipping companies quote low and add port handling fees, documentation charges, and export clearance costs later. At Ascope, every quote we give is all-inclusive. What you see is what you pay.
This is one of the most common questions we get. The answer depends on your vehicle, your budget, and what you need to ship.
Choose RORO if you are:
Choose Container if you are:
Both options are available from Tilbury. We will help you choose the right one for your specific situation.
Getting your paperwork right from the start avoids delays, protects your shipment legally, and keeps things moving at the port. Here is exactly what you need.
If you are permanently exporting a UK-registered vehicle, you must notify the DVLA. Complete section V5C/4 of your logbook and return the green slip to the DVLA before the vehicle leaves the UK. This removes it from UK records and closes your road tax liability. We walk every customer through this process as part of the booking.
Our in-house team manages UK export customs clearance on your behalf. You never have to deal with HMRC paperwork, CDS submissions, or export declarations yourself.
For imports at the destination country, we work with trusted local agents to manage customs clearance, import duties, and all local compliance requirements.
One promise we make: we give you clear, all-inclusive rates before you book. No surprise charges once your cargo is on the water.
Import taxes vary by destination country, vehicle type, age, and engine size. Here is a practical guide:
| Destination | Indicative Import Duty |
| Nigeria | Up to 35% levy + 5% VAT (varies by engine size) |
| Ghana | 30–45% total import duties |
| Kenya | 25–35% depending on vehicle age |
| South Africa | 18–25% customs duty + 15% VAT |
| USA | 2.5% base duty (UK-origin vehicles may qualify for preferential rates) |
| Cyprus (EU) | 6.5% customs duty + 19% VAT for non-EU origin |
| Australia | 5% customs duty + 10% GST |
| Canada | Typically 6.1% duty (varies by vehicle age and origin) |
Modern RORO vessels and sealed containers are safe, but standard shipping line liability rarely covers the full market value of your vehicle. Marine cargo insurance closes that gap.
What marine insurance covers:
We arrange competitive marine insurance cover as part of your booking. For high-value vehicles like classic cars, EVs, and luxury vehicles. We strongly recommend it. For standard vehicles, it remains an excellent value for the peace of mind it provides.
We are not a comparison site or a middleman. We are a specialist UK shipping company with 15 years of real, hands-on experience moving vehicles and cargo across the world.
We know Tilbury Port, the terminals, the sailing schedules, the documentation, and the small details that keep shipments on track. Every quote we give is fully transparent and all-inclusive. No nasty surprises. No fees appear after you have committed. We manage export customs clearance in-house, arrange marine insurance, and offer UK-wide door-to-door collection, so the whole process is as simple for you as possible.
Customers shipping to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the USA, and Australia keep coming back to us because we do exactly what we say we will. Straight answers, competitive rates, and a team that genuinely cares about your shipment.
Ready for vehicle shipping from Tilbury Port? Getting an accurate quote takes under 60 seconds. Simply tell us what you’re sending, your destination, and preferred timeline. We’ll come back with an easy, all-inclusive price you can genuinely rely on. No hidden charges, no nasty surprises, no obligation whatsoever.
Whether you’re shipping a single car to Cyprus or a full container to Nigeria, our experienced team delivers honest advice and competitive rates tailored to your needs. Call us on 01482 228366, WhatsApp us on +44 7717 769925, or email sales@ascopeshipping.co.uk
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Need to tell us more? Ask us a question or get a free quote here. Or simply give us a call: