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Eastern Europe Shipping Blog

Expert tips on smarter shipping between the U.S. and Eastern Europe, including shipping of heavy goods.

What’s the Shipping Cost of Moving from the US to the UK?

 

If you’re soon to be an expat from US shores with plans to live in the UK, there are a lot of details to keep track of, what with planning, packing and paperwork. Among the many considerations, of course, is the shipping cost of moving from the US to the UK. Let’s explore strategies you can use to make your transition as smooth as possible, but keep the total cost down.

 

What Mode of Shipping?

shipping cost of moving from USA to UKShipping personal belongings by sea in a container, either 20-foot or 40-foot, is the most cost-effective, efficient method for an overseas move to the UK. While it’s significantly cheaper than air freight, you should expect a longer transit time. A trip from the US East Coast to the UK can take 10 to 17 days, depending on port of origin and destination, weather, and the amount of port congestion.

Standard container weight limits are 36,000 lbs for a 20-foot unit and 44,000 lbs for a 40-foot unit. But for most household moves, your goods will fill the container (“cube out”) well before hitting the weight limit, so it won’t be an issue. In terms of space, a 20-foot container has 1,165 cubic feet, while a standard 40-foot container holds 2,400 cubic feet. A 40-foot, high cube container holds even a bit more cargo at 2,700 cubic feet.

 

Logistics, Routes and Ports

A variety of logistical factors affect the cost of moving from the US to the UK. Different ocean carriers have different pricing structures based on their network and lanes available. The point of departure from busy East Coast ports like New York/New Jersey, Norfolk, or Charleston can affect the price based on the carrier’s port preferences, number of sailings, etc.

UK port fees differ by location. Larger, busier ports like London Gateway or Southampton are typically more cost-efficient, while smaller, less-trafficked ones may incur higher charges.

The total cost of moving from the US to the UK also depends on the distance from your residence here in the US to the departure port, and from the UK port of discharge to your new home. The further you are from either, the more you’ll pay for inland transport.

For example, if you’re moving to Birmingham, the Port of Liverpool seems like the obvious choice in terms of distance. But that port might be more expensive based on the carriers and lanes available. It could actually be cheaper to sail to London, 200 miles south of Liverpool, and have the container go by truck to your new home.

A knowledgeable freight forwarder can walk you through all the different scenarios to find the most efficient, cost-effective option to ship personal belongings overseas, based on your specific needs.

 

Avoid Excess Fees Through Preparation

Once you’ve chosen your international moving specialist, you’ll make an appointment with that company to deliver a container to your home. The cheapest option is to keep the container for three hours before having the shipping partner haul it to the port. The shipping company generally gives you that much free time before charging a driver detention fee. But you can pay for extra hours or even days, if necessary.

It pays to be fully prepared when the container arrives. Pack up and stage all your goods for loading ahead of time so that all you must do on move day is to load and secure the cargo in the container. At your final destination in the UK, the same three-hour limit applies. Plan on having adequate manpower available to help you unload so that the process goes quickly and smoothly to minimize costs.

Having all your import paperwork completed properly is also a way to reduce the cost of moving from the US to the UK. Paperwork errors can hang up your container. This can lead to detention and demurrage fees from the carrier, charged when a container isn’t returned on time, or takes too long to get out of port. The Gov.UK website has a wealth of information on moving personal items, including which goods are restricted and when to make customs declarations.

To help you through the planning process for your move, check out our Guide to Shipping Personal Items Overseas, as well as our International Moving Checklist. Or, you can partner with the right international moving partner, who can guide you through all of the logistical aspects of your move.  

 

Take Advantage of Tax and Duty Deferral in the UK

One surefire way to save on the cost of moving from the US to the UK is by taking advantage of a program that provides relief from import duties or taxes on household goods, provided certain conditions are met. Here is the application form for the Transfer of Residence Relief (TOR) in the UK. 

In general, UK customs officials want to see proof that you were a US resident for at least 12 months prior to the move, and owned the goods for personal use for at least six months. This is to prevent cases where people purchase high-value goods or goods used in commerce just prior to the move to avoid duty and tax payments.

Here are more tips on a US-to-UK move, including documenting goods for TOR relief and loading your container.

 

Shipping Your Car to the UK

Just like other personal belongings, your car can enter the UK duty free as long as you can provide documented evidence that you have lived overseas for at least one year and you’ve owned your vehicle and kept it registered for at least six months. 

While sending your car via roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) is the least expensive option, it does have drawbacks, which you can read about here. A better option could be to ship it in a container along with your other belongings, paying the one price. For most moves, a 40-foot container makes sense. Just be sure to load all your other property first and then back the car in so the customs inspector can see the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) through the windshield when they open the container doors. 

In case you were wondering, you can put other items in the car if it’s inside a container. But that’s not an option when shipping your car on a RO/RO vessel.  

 

Using a Freight Forwarder vs. a Moving Company

You can save on the shipping cost of moving from the US to the UK by booking your container  with an experienced freight forwarder like I.C.E. Transport vs. a moving company. In a door-to-door arrangement, it’s much cheaper to use a forwarder and handle the loading and unloading yourself (or even hire movers for just that piece) than to book a moving company for the entire process. That’s because the moving company will farm out the ocean transport to someone else anyway, and add their profit on top.

A freight forwarder will confirm if there are any road access restrictions to your neighborhood in the US for container drop off, especially in an urban setting. But you must secure any required parking permits for the truck and container. On the UK end, it’s sometimes necessary to haul your container to a nearby lot or commercial property where goods are unloaded, transferred to a smaller truck and delivered to your home. This is due to the tight street layouts.

For an extra fee, many UK carriers offer side loader trucks with a built-in crane for lifting the container to the ground for easy off-loading. Again, these are all details the freight forwarder can manage on your behalf. You don’t need to be the expert.

 

A Partner Who Knows the Ropes and Saves You Money

Moving from the US to the UK can be complex and costly, but partnering with a seasoned freight forwarder that specializes in shipping personal effects overseas can save you time, money and hassle. I.C.E. Transport, a family-owned business headquartered in New Jersey, was founded in 1987 and is a licensed Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC). We’ve handled many moves involving individuals and families relocating to the UK, guiding them through the planning process, handling paperwork, and arranging door-to-door transport of the container.  

By choosing I.C.E., you benefit from an experienced operator with a large carrier network on land and sea, providing both peace of mind and volume-based discount rates. Let ICE Transport simplify your UK relocation through expert guidance and cost-efficient solutions. Contact us today to learn more.

 

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