Carports — Live UK Pricing by Size

What is a carport?

A carport is an open-sided covered structure designed to protect a vehicle from the weather — rain, frost, UV, hail, bird droppings, and light snow. Unlike a garage, a carport has no walls and no door, which makes it far cheaper to install, planning-friendlier, and quicker to build. A modern aluminium carport is typically fabricated from 6063-T6 architectural-grade aluminium with either a glass or polycarbonate roof, and installed either as a freestanding structure on its own posts or attached to the side of the house.

Our range covers two carport models: the Dutch-built Portico (entry-level polycarbonate) and the British-built Harbour (premium, with a choice of glass or polycarbonate roof and a 60-year design life). Every price on this page includes installation and VAT.

Types of carport

UK carports vary by three main dimensions:

• By roof material — glass carports (premium finish, silent in rain, UV-stable, matches the look of glass verandas) or polycarbonate carports (lighter, cheaper, the practical standard for pure vehicle protection). The Harbour offers both; the Portico is polycarbonate only.
• By configuration — attached (wall-mounted, running directly off the side of the house, giving a covered walk from door to vehicle) or freestanding (self-supporting on four or more posts, placed anywhere on the drive). The Harbour supports both up to 12m length per structure; the Portico is designed primarily as a freestanding structure up to 6m per unit — but multiple Porticos can be installed side-by-side or end-to-end when you need longer coverage.
• By country of origin — British-built (Harbour) with QUALICOAT Seaside marine-grade coating and a 60-year design life, or Dutch-built (Portico) with standard polyester coating and a 25–30 year design life at a lower price point.

Benefits of a carport

A well-specified aluminium carport pays for itself through vehicle protection and convenience. Specifically:

• Paint and interior protection — UV exposure fades paintwork and cracks dashboards. Frost and bird droppings eat lacquer. A covered vehicle holds its resale value better.
• Comfort — you get in and out of the car without getting rained on. Groceries and passengers stay dry. Windscreens don't freeze.
• Property value — a covered parking space adds marketable value, especially in areas where off-street parking is at a premium.
• Speed and planning — most carport installations take 1–2 days and in most cases fall under Permitted Development rights, with no planning application required.
• Lower cost than a garage — typically a third to half the price of a brick garage, with none of the damp/ventilation issues that affect enclosed structures.
• Low maintenance — aluminium doesn't rust, rot or need repainting. An annual rinse with water keeps it looking new.

Glass or polycarbonate roof for a carport?

For most UK carport buyers, polycarbonate is the practical pick. It's lighter, around 40–50% cheaper than glass, and perfectly capable of protecting a vehicle from everything the British weather throws at it. Polycarbonate also cuts more of the UV spectrum than untinted glass, which marginally slows paint fade. The downsides: rain hitting polycarbonate is audibly noisier than glass, and the panels can yellow slightly over decades of UV exposure.

Glass carport roofs make sense when you want the architectural finish — particularly if the carport sits next to a glass veranda and you want them to match visually, or if the carport is closer to the house and visible from living spaces. Glass is silent in rain, UV-stable, and lasts indefinitely. The Harbour offers glass roofs up to 4m wide. The Portico is polycarbonate only.

Do I need planning permission for a carport?

In most cases, no. Open-sided aluminium carports usually fall under Permitted Development rights, meaning you don't need a full planning application. The main exceptions:

• Forward of the principal elevation — if the carport will sit on the front drive, forward of the house facing a highway, planning permission is typically required.
• Listed buildings and conservation areas — stricter rules; permission usually needed even for structures that would be allowed elsewhere.
• Height — the carport must generally be under 4m in height, or 3m if within 2m of a boundary.
• Footprint limits — combined with other outbuildings, the structure must not cover more than 50% of your plot (excluding the original house).

We check your specific property during the survey before you commit. For the broader planning guidance, our Veranda planning permission UK guide covers the same Permitted Development rules that apply to carports.

How much does an aluminium carport cost in the UK?

UK carport prices depend on size, roof material, post count, and whether the carport is wall-mounted or freestanding. Indicative starting prices (installed, VAT included):

• Portico — from around £1,600 for the smallest Dutch-built polycarbonate configuration. Standard polyester coating, 5-year warranty, 25–30 year design life.
• Harbour — from around £3,600 for the smallest British-built configuration. QUALICOAT Seaside marine-grade coating, 10-year warranty, 60-year design life. Glass or polycarbonate roof.

Use the size picker on each model card above for a live UK quote at your exact dimensions. All prices include installation and VAT with no hidden extras.

Is there a maximum size for a carport?

Each individual carport structure has per-unit limits — the Harbour tops out at 12 metres in length per structure, the Portico at 6 metres — but there is no practical cap on overall length or width. Multiple carports can be installed side-by-side (to cover wider drives) or end-to-end (to cover longer drives) as one continuous run. If you have a large drive or want shelter for three or more vehicles, we'll install two or more units as a single combined structure. This approach also works if you want to mix models: a wall-mounted Harbour attached to the house with a freestanding Portico further down the drive, for example.

How long does carport installation take?

End-to-end, from first enquiry to installed carport, the typical timeline is 4–6 weeks. Quote and survey takes 1–2 weeks, manufacturing 2–3 weeks once ordered, and physical installation 1–2 days on site. The Harbour is British-built so typically ships quicker than the Dutch-built Portico. Your survey confirms the exact timeline before you pay any deposit.

Harbour or Portico — which should I choose?

The two carports are built for different buyers:

• Choose the Harbour if you want premium British-made quality, glass-roof option, longer lengths (up to 12m), marine-grade coating, and a 60-year design life. It costs more but lasts significantly longer and can be specified wall-mounted or freestanding.
• Choose the Portico if you want affordable, stylish, entry-level vehicle protection. Polycarbonate roof only, up to 6m per unit (combine multiple for longer runs), Dutch-built, 25–30 year lifespan. Our most affordable carport.

If you're still unsure, the side-by-side comparison table above puts both models' specifications next to each other — warranty, lifespan, max size, roof options and coating. Or call us on 0800 654 69 64 for an honest chat.