Yes — Jetrans Movers provides complete door-to-door relocation, freight forwarding, vehicle towing, and container shipping between the USA and London and the rest of the United Kingdom. Here is everything you need to know about customs clearance, transit times, container/flatbed options, and pricing before planning your move.
If you are looking for an international moving company for the UK, container shipping to the UK, or vehicle shipping from the USA to the UK, this guide covers the process, the paperwork and the price.
Moving & Vehicle Towing Services from the USA to London, UK — How It Works
Your household goods and your vehicle are collected in the USA, with photo condition reports, soft-strap tie-down loading and a winch for non-running vehicles. We tow or haul the vehicle to the port and ship it by ocean, either in its own container or in your household container where the rules allow it.
Ocean transit to the UK and Western Europe is about 14–25 days port to port, and air freight for urgent essentials takes about 3–5 days. Allow 6–10 weeks door to door, including export clearance, UK customs and delivery. Cargo insurance is available up to $500,000 USD.
Choose your service: household, towing or bundle
When you request a quote you pick one of three options, so you only pay for what you need.
- Household Move Only: residential and commercial relocation
- Vehicle Towing Only: flatbed towing, enclosed transport or emergency recovery
- Combined Household + Vehicle Bundle: save 25% by shipping furniture and vehicles together, with the saving confirmed in your written quote
Tell us whether the vehicle runs or needs a winch, and whether you want an open flatbed or an enclosed carrier. The quote form asks for both.
Customs clearance and importing a car to the UK
Jetrans prepares the Bill of Lading, the export and import inventory lists and the customs declarations, and checks the vehicle title before it ships. The UK government sets out the steps for bringing in a vehicle permanently:
- An import declaration, usually made by the shipping company or customs agent
- Import VAT and customs duty paid at the border, unless a relief applies; check the GOV.UK conditions for people moving their residence to the UK
- Notify HMRC within 14 days of the vehicle arriving
- Vehicle approval to show it meets UK safety and environmental standards
- Registering and taxing the vehicle with the DVLA, and insuring it before it is driven on UK roads
- Do not drive the vehicle on public roads until these steps are complete, apart from a pre-booked test
For household goods, used items that you have owned for six months or more are the usual basis for relief, so list what you own and how long you have owned it. Banned and restricted items vary, so we check your inventory first.
Pricing: costs in USD and GBP
- 20-foot container (FCL) for a one to two bedroom home: from about $3,800 USD to $6,500 USD (approximately £2,840–£4,850 GBP)
- 40-foot container (FCL) for a three to four bedroom home: from about $5,500 USD to $9,500 USD (approximately £4,110–£7,090 GBP)
- Shared container (LCL): about $220–$420 USD per cubic metre (approximately £165–£315 GBP)
- Vehicle shipping to the UK is quoted individually by route and vehicle size, and sharing a container with your household goods can reduce the cost
- Relocation bundle: 25% off when you bundle household moving with vehicle transport, confirmed in your written quote
Figures are estimates, not quotes, converted at about 1 USD = GBP 0.747 (1 November 2026). Your final price is fixed in USD at booking.
FCL vs LCL vs air freight
A full container (FCL) protects your goods with a single seal and suits larger homes or a vehicle sharing the box. Shared containers (LCL) suit small volumes. Air freight suits only urgent essentials.
Equipment and safety standards
- Hydraulic flatbed tow trucks for cars, SUVs and pickups
- Soft-strap tie-downs that hold wheels without touching the frame or bodywork
- Hard-sided enclosed auto haulers for classic, exotic and high-value vehicles
- Winch-equipped heavy rigs for non-running vehicles
- Live GPS tracking and status updates on our tracking page
- Cargo insurance available up to $500,000 USD, with the cover explained at booking
Appliances and electronics: power differences
The UK runs on 230V and 50Hz with three-pin plugs, while the USA uses 120V and 60Hz. Phones and laptops usually work with an adapter, but hair dryers, kitchen appliances and TVs without universal power supplies are better sold and replaced in the UK.
Is It Worth Towing Your Car and Hiring Professional Movers from the USA to the UK?
You cannot drive a car across the Atlantic, so shipping is the only option for taking it with you. The question is whether to ship it or sell it. Shipping makes sense for a car you value and can register in the UK, while an ordinary car may be cheaper to sell and replace. Furniture and household goods are commonly estimated to cost 40–60 percent more to replace in the UK, so shipping what you own usually pays off.
Bundling the car with your household move saves 25% compared with booking a mover and a vehicle service separately, and gives you one coordinator and one tracking ID.
Insurance and trust
Cargo and transit insurance is available up to $500,000 USD. We confirm exactly what cover applies before your vehicle or goods move, and we keep a photo condition report from pickup to delivery. A dedicated coordinator is your single point of contact.
Request a free quote with your origin city, UK destination and vehicle details.