Electric vehicle exports from the UK grew 38% year-on-year in 2025 and the regulatory framework is still catching up. Here is what changed for 2026 and how it affects your booking.
State-of-charge rules
Following the 2025 IMO guidance, RoRo carriers now require EVs to be loaded with a battery state of charge between 20% and 50%. Higher SOC bookings are refused at the gate. Container shipments are less restrictive but most lines apply the same range.
Carrier surcharges
Most RoRo operators added a £75–£150 EV handling surcharge in Q4 2025. Container lines added a similar fee where the car is the only item in the box. We quote these inclusive — no surprises at booking.
Destination duty benefits
Several markets — Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Pakistan — now offer reduced duty bands on fully electric vehicles. In Nigeria the rate drops from 35% to 10%, a major win for EV importers.
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About the author
TheShipCars Editorial Team
Logistics specialists at TheShipCars Worldwide with hands-on experience moving vehicles from UK ports to over 60 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe.