Shipping Your RV or Fifth Wheel from the USA to the UK with YFT Logistics Ltd


Thinking of bringing your American RV, motorhome or fifth wheel over to the UK? Whether you’re heading here for a long holiday exploring the Lake District, the Cotswolds and the Highlands, or you’re actually moving over and want your own home-on-wheels ready to go, shipping it makes a lot of sense.



At YFT Logistics Ltd in Southampton we regularly arrange these moves across the Atlantic. We’ve shipped everything from big Class A diesel pushers and huge fifth wheels down to smaller travel trailers and campervans, and we know exactly what works best on this route.

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Why RoRo is Usually the Smart Choice.

For most proper RVs and fifth wheels, Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) is the way people go – and for good reason.

You (or one of our drivers) take the RV to a US East Coast port – Baltimore, Jacksonville, New York or Charleston are the most popular and cheapest – drive it straight onto the vessel, it gets lashed down securely, and then it rolls off in Southampton (our home port) or Liverpool.

  • Transit time: 10–21 days depending on the sailing and weather
  • No faff with loading into boxes
  • Frequent departures
  • Generally the lowest cost for anything that drives and is road-legal in the US


We’ve found RoRo works brilliantly for almost all motorhomes and the majority of fifth wheels (we handle the hitch setup and any overhangs carefully). The only time we tend to suggest container instead is if it’s a smaller Class B van, a classic that needs maximum protection, or you really want to pack personal bits and spares inside.

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Temporary or Permanent? The UK Side Made Simple

Most people coming over for holidays or extended stays use Temporary Admission:

  • Up to 6 months in any 12-month period
  • No customs duty or VAT to pay
  • Simple entry paperwork (we handle most of it)
  • No need to register with DVLA during the temporary period in the vast majority of cases

If you’re moving permanently or staying longer, it becomes a full import:

  • Customs duty ~10%
  • VAT 20% (on value + freight + duty)
  • Possible reliefs for older vehicles over 30 years old
  • Fifth wheel trailers are 5% VAT
  • Full NOVA notification to DVLA and eventual UK registration


Either way, most US RVs need a few bits doing to be UK road-legal: headlight converters, rear fog lamp, speedo in mph, sometimes extra mirrors. We can put you in touch with trusted workshops near Southampton who specialise in this – costs normally £1,000–£4,000 depending on what’s needed.


How We Make It Easy for You


  1. You send us the details: make, model, year, exact dimensions (with photos if possible), value, and where you’re picking up in the US
  2. We quote RoRo vs container side-by-side
  3. We book the space, sort the paperwork, and arrange US pickup if you need it
  4. RV gets cleaned, tanks drained (LPG tank purged).
  5. We track the crossing and handle UK customs clearance on arrival
  6. You collect in Southampton (or we deliver further) and get it workshop-ready if required


The main docs we need to start:
  • US title / registration
  • Bill of sale or value proof
  • Your passport copy
  • Good photos and measurements they need to be accrete or the price will change.



US Ports with RoRo Services to the UK

We can arrange departures from a wide range of major US ports that offer reliable RoRo services to the UK (and Europe generally). East Coast ports are the most common and cost-effective for this route, as they give shorter transit times and lower rates compared to West Coast options.

Here are the key US ports we frequently use for RoRo vehicle shipments (including RVs and fifth wheels) to the UK:


  • Baltimore, MD – Often the fastest and most popular for Southampton sailings
  • Newark / New York / New Jersey – Great for Northeast pickups, frequent transatlantic routes
  • Charleston, SC – Strong RoRo facilities, especially for larger vehicles
  • Savannah, GA – Busy port with solid RoRo services to Europe/UK
  • Brunswick, GA – Dedicated vehicle handling, popular for exports
  • Houston / Galveston, TX – Handy for Central/Southern states, though slightly longer transit
  • Long Beach / Los Angeles / Tacoma, CA – West Coast options (via longer routes or transshipment, so higher cost and time)



Interested in our services? We’re here to help!

If you’d like a proper no-obligation quote for your RV or fifth wheel from the USA to the UK, just give us a ring on 023 8047 2696, drop an email to sales@yftlogistics.co.uk

. We’re right next to Southampton port so we know the quickest ways through customs.

We’ll compare the options, give you realistic timings and prices, and take care of the heavy lifting so you can focus on planning your UK adventures


Looking forward to hearing from you

YFT Logistics Ltd
Southampton, UK
www.yftlogistics.co.uk