How do I export a used truck from the UK to Africa? Find the right truck with a UK supplier and get it inspected, or ask for a full video, before you pay. Check the paperwork, agree who handles export and shipping, and get it to port. After UK formalities it sails, and your clearing agent handles customs and registration on arrival.
Quick summary
- UK suppliers can source used trucks for African markets.
- The process runs from selection and inspection to paperwork and shipping.
- UK export rules and destination import rules are separate.
- Documents, duties and clearance depend on the destination country.
- Calculate the full landed cost before you buy.
Buying used trucks for export to Africa from the UK takes more than picking a truck.
Who can export used trucks from the UK to Africa?
Usually a UK dealer or broker, or the buyer through an agent. Under GOV.UK’s export guidance, exporters from Great Britain need a GB EORI number and can make export declarations themselves or appoint an agent.
How do I choose a used truck for export?
Step 1: Define the vehicle requirement
Before you open a single listing, write down what the truck has to do. Is it pulling a trailer on long runs, or tipping sand on a building site? That decides the truck type and axle layout (4×2, 6×2, 6×4 or 8×4). Set limits for age, mileage and spend, and check your country’s import rules now. Some limit how old an imported vehicle can be.
Step 2: Find a suitable UK vehicle
Mileage on its own says very little. If you’re looking at a used truck for sale in the UK for export, ask the seller for the service history and whether there are any faults they already know about. Ask for a video too.
You can browse RPC Trading’s yard by type: tractor units, rigid trucks, tippers and trailers.
Step 3: Inspect the vehicle
If you can’t see the truck in person, send someone who can, or get a detailed video walkaround. A cold start is the first thing to ask for. Then have them look along the chassis for cracks and old welds, and check tyres, brakes and suspension. On a tipper, watch the body go all the way up and down. RPC Trading says it inspects vehicles before listing them and will film walkarounds for overseas buyers.
Step 4: Confirm vehicle and purchase documents
The chassis number (VIN) stamped on the truck should be the same one printed on its documents. Check that first. One point people miss: GOV.UK says that when a vehicle is bought to be taken abroad, the seller should give the buyer the whole V5C log book. Get the deal in writing.
How is a truck collected and prepared for export?
It’s taken from the seller’s yard to a UK port and loaded for the sailing.
Step 5: Arrange UK collection and export preparation
According to RPC Trading’s website, the company delivers trucks to Felixstowe, Tilbury, Southampton or Liverpool. Its own team does the container loading, and it prepares the export and customs paperwork for buyers. If your seller doesn’t offer that, you’ll need a freight forwarder to arrange it.
What documents are needed to export a used truck from the UK?
Usually the V5C, a commercial invoice, export customs paperwork and shipping documents, depending on the vehicle.
Step 6: Complete UK export requirements
- DVLA: for a vehicle leaving the UK for 12 months or more, GOV.UK says the V5C’s ‘permanent export’ section goes to DVLA. The rest is kept for registration abroad.
- Customs: an export declaration is made, and the commercial invoice travels with the goods.
- VAT: zero-rating applies only when HMRC’s VAT Notice 703 conditions, including evidence of export, are met.
Document checklist
| Document | Requirement |
|---|---|
| V5C, with ‘permanent export’ section sent to DVLA | UK (GOV.UK) |
| Commercial invoice | UK (GOV.UK) |
| Export declaration | UK (GOV.UK) |
| Shipping documents, such as the bill of lading | Shipping-dependent |
| Chassis/VIN and specification details | Supplied by the seller |
| Import documents | Destination-specific: check with that country’s customs |
How are used trucks shipped from the UK to Africa?
Almost always by sea. The two main options are roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) and container.
Step 7: Ship the truck
Landlocked countries are served through a regional port, then by road. RPC Trading’s Zambia and Zimbabwe pages explain this for two landlocked markets.
What is the difference between RoRo and container shipping?
RoRo means the truck is driven on and off the ship. In a container, it’s strapped down inside a steel box.
| Factor | RoRo shipping | Container shipping |
|---|---|---|
| How it’s shipped | Driven onto a vehicle deck | Inside a shipping container |
| Vehicle suitability | Larger trucks, tractor units, rigids | Vehicles that fit the container |
| Loading process | Driven aboard at port | Loaded and secured before shipping |
| Potential advantages | No need to fit inside a box | Enclosed in transit |
| When to consider it | Driveable trucks | Smaller vehicles or plant |
Neither is always cheaper; it depends on size, route and current freight rates.
What happens when the truck arrives in Africa?
The buyer’s clearing agent normally takes over, clearing customs and getting the truck released.
Step 8: Destination-country clearance
Import duties, taxes, age restrictions, inspection requirements, customs procedures and registration requirements vary by country. RPC Trading’s Nigeria and Tanzania pages show how markets differ. For one country in depth, see the guide to importing a used truck into Nigeria.
Step 9: Final delivery
Once released, the truck is driven or carried to where it will work, after any registration.
How much does it cost to export a used truck from the UK to Africa?
It varies too much for one number, as it depends on the truck and the destination. Budget for:
- UK side: truck, preparation, transport to port, port charges, paperwork, freight, insurance
- Destination side: port charges, duty and taxes, clearance, inland transport, registration
Where does RPC Trading fit in?
RPC Trading is a family-run UK truck and plant supplier exporting vehicles to customers in Africa and other international markets. It helps buyers who export trucks to Africa with sourcing, port delivery, loading, export paperwork and shipping support.
FAQs
How do I export a used truck from the UK to Africa?
First make sure your country will accept the truck you want. Have it inspected and check its papers before paying. The seller or exporter tells DVLA it’s leaving and handles UK customs. It’s then shipped, either RoRo or in a container. When it lands, your clearing agent takes it through customs and registration.
What documents are needed to export a used truck from the UK?
Expect the V5C, with its permanent export section sent to DVLA and the rest kept for registering the truck abroad. You’ll also need a commercial invoice, UK export customs paperwork and shipping documents such as the bill of lading. Each destination adds its own import paperwork, so ask your clearing agent early.
Can I buy a used truck in the UK and ship it directly to Africa?
Yes. RPC Trading and other UK suppliers sell to overseas buyers, and trucks can be shipped from UK ports to African seaports. In a landlocked country, the truck lands at a neighbour’s port and finishes the trip by road. Before paying, find out whether your country limits vehicle age.
Is RoRo or container shipping better for used trucks?
There’s no single right answer. A full-size tractor unit or rigid that drives is often shipped RoRo. A container can suit a smaller vehicle that fits inside, and keeps it covered on the way. Price changes with size, route and what freight costs that month, so get both quotes.
How much does it cost to export a used truck from the UK to Africa?
Nobody can give you one honest figure. Start with the truck price, then add haulage to port, paperwork, freight and insurance. At the other end come port charges, duty and taxes, the agent’s fee, road transport and registration. A clearing agent in your country can tell you the duty on that truck.
Who handles customs clearance when a truck arrives in Africa?
You do, as the buyer, which in practice means a licensed clearing agent in your country. They lodge the import declaration, pay duties and taxes, handle any inspections and get the truck released. The UK supplier’s part is supplying the export and shipping papers your agent asks for.
The Short Version
Most export problems come from something nobody checked early: an age limit, a missing log book, a bigger duty bill than expected. The UK end is set out clearly on GOV.UK. The African end depends on the country, so speak to a clearing agent there before you commit, and work out what the truck will cost by the time it reaches your yard.
After a tractor unit, rigid or tipper? Message RPC Trading with the vehicle type, spec, destination country and budget, and they’ll check current stock and export options. Or call +44-7745 690912.
