Truck Export Terms Explained:
A Plain-English Glossary
Buying a truck for export means wading through terminology that’s rarely explained anywhere in one place. Here’s what the terms you’ll encounter actually mean, in plain English.
Shipping terms
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) A shipping method where vehicles are driven directly onto and off the vessel, rather than being placed in a container. RoRo is generally the cheaper and faster option for shipping trucks and is the standard method for most used commercial vehicle exports.
Container shipping Vehicles are loaded into a standard shipping container rather than driven onto the vessel. More expensive than RoRo, but offers extra security and is sometimes preferred for higher-value vehicles or when shipping additional cargo (such as spare parts) alongside the truck.
Bill of Lading (BoL) The shipping document issued once a vehicle is loaded onto the vessel. It confirms the vehicle’s chassis number, make, model, and year, and acts as proof of shipment — your clearing agent will need this to process customs at the destination.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) A pricing term meaning the quoted price includes the vehicle cost, insurance, and freight (shipping) to the named destination port. Most customs authorities calculate import duty based on the CIF value, not just the vehicle’s purchase price.
FOB (Free on Board) A pricing term meaning the quoted price covers the vehicle up to the point of loading onto the vessel, with the buyer responsible for arranging and paying for shipping and insurance separately
Documentation terms
V5C (Logbook) The UK vehicle registration document, showing registered keeper details and vehicle specifications. Required to transfer ownership and typically needed for export documentation. Export certificate A document confirming a vehicle has been officially deregistered for UK road use and is intended for export. Often required by the destination country’s customs authority as proof the vehicle won’t also remain registered in the UK.
Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) / Pre-shipment inspection certificate A certificate confirming a vehicle has passed a roadworthiness inspection, typically issued by an agency authorised by the destination country’s standards body before the vehicle ships. Requirements and terminology vary by country, Kenya’s KEBS, for example, requires a CoR from an approved inspection agency, while other countries use different certifying bodies and slightly different names for a similar document.
Commercial invoice The invoice detailing the sale price of the vehicle, used by customs authorities in the destination country to calculate duty and VAT.
Form 47 / Customs Declaration Form A general term for the customs declaration form required when importing a vehicle — the specific form name and number vary by country (Zimbabwe’s ZIMRA, for example, uses “Form 47”).
Vehicle and drivetrain terms
RHD / LHD (Right-Hand Drive / Left-Hand Drive) Refers to which side of the vehicle the steering wheel is on. RHD vehicles are built for countries that drive on the left (including the UK); LHD vehicles suit countries that drive on the right. See our full guide on RHD vs LHD trucks for a market-by-market breakdown.
6×4 / 8×4 (axle configuration) Describes a truck’s total wheels and driven wheels, a 6×4 has six wheels with four driven (two axles), commonly used for medium-duty haulage; an 8×4 has eight wheels with four driven, offering higher payload capacity for heavier work.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) The maximum permitted weight of a vehicle including its payload, fuel, and driver, a key figure customs authorities and import regulations often use to categorise vehicles into different duty or age-limit bands.
Tractor unit The powered front section of an articulated lorry, designed to be coupled to a separate trailer. Sold and shipped separately from the trailer in many export transactions.
Customs and duty terms
CoO (Certificate of Origin) A document certifying the country in which a vehicle was manufactured, sometimes required for customs classification or to claim preferential duty rates under trade agreements.
VDP (Value for Duty Purposes) The value customs authorities use as the basis for calculating import duty, typically the CIF value plus any additional charges incurred up to the point of import, rather than simply the purchase price.
Excise duty / Surtax Additional taxes applied on top of standard customs duty, often scaled by engine size, vehicle age, or emissions, terminology and calculation methods vary significantly by country.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, RoRo is the standard, well-established method for shipping commercial vehicles internationally and is used by the vast majority of exporters and buyers.
Typically yes for UK exports, the V5C evidences UK registration and ownership, while the export certificate confirms the vehicle has been deregistered for UK road use ahead of export.
Each country’s standards authority sets its own requirements and appoints its own inspection agencies, so the certificate name, issuing body, and exact process vary even though the underlying purpose, confirming roadworthiness before import, is similar everywhere.
CIF includes shipping and insurance in the quoted price; FOB doesn’t, leaving the buyer to arrange these separately. Always check which basis a quoted price is on before comparing options.
Still unsure what a term in your paperwork means? Get in touch with our export team, we’re happy to walk you through any documentation before you buy
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Saltworks
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Church Minshull
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