Based in the US? Here's how shipping works
Buying or commissioning a Defender from the UK is one thing. Getting it safely across the Atlantic, through US customs and ultimately to your door can seem like a much more complicated part of the process.
In reality, it doesn’t need to be.
What tends to be less clear is what actually happens once you've commissioned a build or bought a Defender. How does the vehicle get from our workshop in the UK to your door? What does it cost? How long does it take? Here’s how the process works.
We handle it. All of it.
The most important thing to understand is that you don’t need to navigate the shipping and import process yourself.
It’s a process we manage regularly. We work with a US-based customs broker, prepare and manage the import paperwork, coordinate shipping from the UK and can arrange onward transport once the vehicle arrives in the US.
Your job is to choose your Defender. Ours is to get it to you.
Shipping from the UK
Every vehicle we send to the US departs from Southampton.
We ship via Ro-Ro, or Roll-on, Roll-off. Your Defender is driven directly onto a purpose-built vehicle carrier, secured for the crossing and driven off again when it reaches the destination port.
It’s the standard method used for transporting vehicles internationally and is widely used by manufacturers, dealers and specialist vehicle exporters.
We ship to ports across the US, with typical port-to-port transit times of:
New York / New Jersey: approximately 11 days
Charleston, SC / Brunswick, GA: approximately 15 days
Galveston, TX: approximately 20 days
Exact timings depend on vessel schedules and routing, but these are useful figures for planning purposes.
Once your Defender is on the water, we’ll also provide the vessel details and tracking information so you can follow its progress across the Atlantic.
Shipping, port handling and delivery to the chosen US port is a fixed fee of $3,950.
Marine insurance is charged at 2.2% of the vehicle’s value. On a $60,000 Defender, for example, that would be $1,320. The cover is for total loss and, given the value of the vehicle, we always recommend it.
Arrival in the US
Once the vessel arrives, your Defender is discharged into the port and the customs clearance process begins.
Customs clearance is typically completed within around 48 hours of arrival, although timings can vary depending on the port and customs processing.
We’ll keep track of the vehicle throughout and let you know as soon as it has been released and is ready for collection or onward transport.
Customs and import duties
We work with a US-based customs broker who handles the import clearance on our behalf.
We prepare the vehicle documentation, coordinate directly with the broker and manage the import duties and associated handling charges as part of the process.
Import duties are calculated as a percentage of the vehicle’s declared value, alongside the applicable customs and harbour fees. We also handle the customs entry and bond requirements through our established US import account, so these costs are calculated and confirmed before your Defender ships. There are no hidden costs or surprise customs charges when the vehicle reaches the US.
You don’t need to find a broker, brief one or manage the clearance process yourself. We take care of that for you.
Your documentation
Once your Defender has cleared customs, we provide a complete document pack containing the import documentation and vehicle paperwork required for the titling and registration process.
This includes the relevant customs paperwork, the vehicle’s registration document and the documents relating to its import into the US.
We also provide clear instructions explaining what you need to do next, together with a state-specific guide to help you through the titling and registration process where your Defender will be registered.
Getting your Defender home
Once the vehicle has been released from the port, you have several options.
You can collect it from the port yourself, arrange your own vehicle transport, or we can arrange onward delivery directly to you.
Most customers choose enclosed or open vehicle transport for the final leg, particularly when the arrival port is some distance from home. Once the vehicle has cleared customs and we have a release date, this is straightforward to coordinate.
How long does the whole process take?
From leaving our workshop in the UK to arriving with you, the shipping and import process typically takes around three to six weeks, depending on the destination port, vessel schedule, customs clearance and onward transport.
As your Defender Build approaches completion, we’ll be able to give you a much more accurate estimate based on the available sailings and your chosen destination.
A note on California
California has its own emissions requirements for imported vehicles, regardless of age.
If you intend to register your Defender in California, it’s important to discuss this with us before commissioning a build or purchasing a vehicle. The process is more involved than in most other states, and we can advise on the requirements that apply to your particular vehicle.
If you have questions about the shipping and import process, get in touch at Sales@PangaeaClassics.com or take a look at our Defender Builds page.