Plenty of people take their car with them when they move abroad, and plenty bring it back again. If that is you, the good news is that a car that used to be UK-registered can be one of the simplest imports there is, and it may not cost you anything in tax.
Can it come back tax free?
It may. If you exported the car from the UK and are now bringing it back, you can usually return it without paying import VAT or duty, as long as you can show two things:
- The UK purchase invoice from when you bought the car
- A copy of its old UK V5C logbook
It is HMRC's decision, based on that evidence. If you cannot find the paperwork, normal rates apply, unless you qualify for Transfer of Residence, which works on its own rules.
Getting it back on UK plates
A returning car still needs to be re-registered with the DVLA, and depending on its age and what was changed while it was away, it may need a test first. We handle the testing and the DVLA application on the same site, and our dealer-level account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days.
Shipping it home
The shipping is the same as for any other car: we collect it, ship it, clear it through customs and unload it at our site in Castle Donington. When you fill in the quote form, tell us it was UK-registered before, because it changes how we clear it.
Welcome home!
