How much does boat transport cost?
Road transport in the UK runs from about £1 to £4 per mile depending on the size of your boat, and a yacht moved from the UK to the Mediterranean typically falls between £5,000 and £10,000. Below are honest, up-to-date figures, the factors that move the price, and how to get an accurate quote.
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The short version
Boat transport by road in the UK runs from about £1 to £4 per mile depending on the size of your boat: roughly £1 to £2 per mile up to 20 ft, and £4+ for wide loads over 40 ft. A yacht moved from the UK to the Mediterranean typically falls between £5,000 and £10,000.
For a typical sailing yacht or motor boat of 30 to 45 feet, a UK road move costs roughly £1.50 to £3.00 per mile, so a 100-mile trip is usually £800 to £1,600. Real quotes we have seen: a 34 ft yacht for £1,295 to £1,800, and a 38 ft yacht from Windermere to the Hamble for about £2,500. A full UK to Mediterranean move is more, typically £5,000 to £10,000 or more, depending on the boat and the destination. Every boat is different, so a tailored quote is the only way to a firm figure.
Cost per mile
Boat transport cost per mile (UK, 2026)
Price per mile falls as distance rises (the fixed cost of loading and craneage is spread over more miles), and climbs with the width and weight of the boat:
| Boat length | Indicative cost per mile |
|---|---|
| Up to 20 ft (on its trailer) | £1.00 – £2.00 |
| 20 – 30 ft | £1.50 – £2.50 |
| 30 – 40 ft | £2.00 – £3.50 |
| Over 40 ft (wide load) | £4.00+ |
Indicative UK road rates, July 2026. A minimum charge usually applies to short trips. Prices have risen sharply since 2022 (fuel, escorts and haulage capacity), so older online figures understate today’s cost.
By size
Typical prices by boat size
Real-world examples for UK road moves, to set your expectations before you request a quote:
| Boat | Route / distance | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| Sailing yacht, 34 ft | Short UK move | £1,295 – £1,800 |
| Sailing yacht, 38 ft | Windermere to the Hamble | ~£2,500 |
| Motor yacht, 40 ft | 100 miles | £800 – £1,600 |
| Yacht, 40 – 50 ft | UK to the Mediterranean | £5,000 – £10,000+ |
Figures exclude lifting in and out of the water, and VAT. See hidden costs below.
Get my tailored quotePrice factors
What affects the cost
Six things drive the final figure:
Dimensions and weight. Length matters, but width matters more: once a boat is over the legal limit it becomes a wide load, which changes everything (see below).
Distance and route. Longer trips cost more in total but less per mile. Low bridges, narrow lanes and a difficult marina access can add time.
Lifting. Craning or travel-lifting the boat on and off the trailer at each end is usually charged separately by the boatyard.
Insurance. Cover to the full agreed value of the boat (ad valorem) costs more than a basic goods-in-transit policy, but is essential for a high-value yacht.
Season. Spring and autumn are busiest; booking in the quieter months, or with flexible dates, brings the price down.
Escorts and permits. Wide loads may need police notification, a self-escort or a private escort vehicle.
Wide loads
Abnormal and wide loads
In the UK a load up to about 2.55 m wide travels normally. Beyond that it becomes an abnormal load: over 2.9 m the haulier must notify the police (two clear days’ notice), over 5 m and over 6.1 m the requirements step up again, and self-escort is now the norm rather than a police escort. In continental Europe the threshold is 2.5 m, with an escort generally required above 3 m. Most sailing yachts with the mast removed, and many motor boats, stay under 3 m, but the transporter always checks the beam first and arranges any permits. Expect a surcharge of several hundred pounds for a wide load.
Road vs sea
Road vs RoRo vs LoLo
There are three ways to move a boat a long distance. Choosing the right one is the biggest single lever on price:
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Road | On a trailer, door to door | Up to ~50-60 ft, UK and Europe. Fastest, most flexible. |
| RoRo (roll-on roll-off) | Driven or towed onto a ship | Larger boats, intercontinental. From ~£250 per foot. |
| LoLo (lift-on lift-off) | Craned onto a cargo ship or yacht carrier | Large yachts, worldwide. From ~£800 per foot. |
For a boat under about 50 ft heading to the Mediterranean, road is almost always the fastest and best-value option. Sea freight comes into its own for very large or intercontinental moves.
To the Med
UK to the Mediterranean
Moving a boat from the UK to the Med by road means crossing the Channel and driving south through France or Spain. The ferry charges an oversize trailer as two lanes, and a load over 2.5 m wide needs advance arrangement. Count on a few days door to door and a total in the region of £5,000 to £10,000 or more for a 40 to 50 ft yacht, depending on the destination. Since Brexit there are also customs formalities to handle, which we cover on our yacht transport by road and corridor pages.
Hidden costs
Costs people forget
A headline quote rarely tells the whole story. Budget for these too:
Lifting in and out. Craneage or travel-lift at the boatyard, at each end, is usually billed separately.
Un-stepping the mast. On a sailing yacht the rigger’s fee to remove and re-step the mast is extra.
VAT. UK quotes are typically shown before 20% VAT.
Customs and VAT abroad. Since Brexit, taking a UK boat into the EU may involve temporary admission or import VAT depending on the boat’s status.
A good transporter itemises all of this up front, which is exactly what we ask of the specialists in our network.
Getting a quote
How to get an accurate quote
To price a move properly, a transporter needs the boat’s length, beam (width), draft and weight, the collection and delivery points, and whether the boat is on its own trailer or needs lifting. The more precise you are, the tighter the quote. Rather than an anonymous bidding war, we put your request to vetted, fully insured specialists who quote on the real job, so you compare like for like. It is free and there is no obligation.
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Boat transport cost: your questions
How much does it cost to transport a boat in the UK?
Around £1.50 to £3.00 per mile for a 30 to 45 ft boat, so a 100-mile move is typically £800 to £1,600. Small boats on their own trailer cost less; wide loads over 40 ft cost more.
How much to move a yacht from the UK to the Mediterranean?
Usually £5,000 to £10,000 or more by road for a 40 to 50 ft yacht, depending on the destination, plus lifting and any customs formalities since Brexit.
Is road or sea transport cheaper?
For a boat under about 50 ft within the UK or to Europe, road is almost always cheaper and faster. Sea freight (RoRo from ~£250/ft, LoLo from ~£800/ft) suits very large or intercontinental moves.
What is not included in a boat transport quote?
Lifting the boat in and out of the water, un-stepping the mast on a yacht, VAT, and any customs or import VAT abroad are usually extra. Ask for an itemised quote.
Why have boat transport prices risen?
Fuel, escort and haulage costs have climbed sharply since 2022, so quotes are well above older online figures. Always work from a current, tailored quote.
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