The Viper was never built with the steering wheel on the right. If you want one in Britain, it is almost certainly coming from America, with left-hand drive, American lights and a V10 that makes its presence known. It is also a valuable car, so the way it travels matters as much as the paperwork. The good news is that the route is well worn, and the build date tells you most of what will happen.
- Shipping from the USA
- From £1,450, shipping only
- Time at sea
- Around 2 to 4 weeks
- Import tax
- 10% duty + 20% VAT
- Test
- MOT for most, IVA for the very latest
Five generations, by age
Viper owners talk in generations, from the original RT/10 roadster to the last cars built in 2017. Each one lands in a different age band here, and the band decides the test and the tax. These are worked out from today, 12 October 2026, so they move a little every year.
| Feature | Built | UK test | Import tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen I (RT/10) | 1992 to 1995 | MOT | 5% VAT, no duty, if it qualifies as historic |
| Gen II (RT/10 and GTS) | 1996 to 2002 | MOT | 5% VAT and no duty only if built before October 1996 |
| Gen III (SRT-10) | 2003 to 2006 | MOT | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
| Gen IV (SRT-10) | 2008 to 2010 | MOT | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
| Gen V | 2013 to 2017 | MOT or IVA, check the build date | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
The Gen V is the one to watch. A car built before October 2016 is over 10 years old and takes an MOT. One built after that is still under 10, and because a US-market Viper has no European approval, it goes through Individual Vehicle Approval. At the other end, every Gen I is now over 30, so an original car can come in at the lower tax rate. No Viper is old enough yet to skip the MOT.
What to check before you buy
A Viper is a simple car in some ways and an expensive one in every way. Plenty have been modified, plenty have been tracked, and a few have been rebuilt after a crash. The paperwork and the history are worth as much attention as the paint.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
Our guide to buying a car abroad safely covers the general checks, and buying a car from a US auction covers auction stock, where history checks matter even more.
Left-hand drive and lighting
The DVLA registers left-hand drive cars without asking for the steering to be moved, so a Viper stays as it is. What changes is mostly lighting. US cars often flash red at the rear and have no rear fog light, and the headlights are set for driving on the right. All of that is sorted before the test.
Many Vipers have their exhaust exiting through the sills, just ahead of the rear wheels. That is part of the car and we do not change it as standard. If yours has a louder aftermarket system, tell us when you ask for a quote, as noise and condition still count at the test. American cars normally read in mph already, so the speedometer is rarely a job.
The details are in our guides to converting an American car for UK roads and left-hand drive cars in the UK.
Looking at a late Gen V? A few months either side of October 2016 decides whether the car takes an IVA test or an MOT. Send us the VIN before you buy and we will tell you which.
Shipping a valuable car
A Viper sits low and wide, and the side exhausts get in the way of careless loading. Tell us about ground clearance when you ask for a quote, so the collection driver turns up with the right equipment. We recommend enclosed transport to the port for a car like this.
Most cars from the USA travel in a shared container, packed in with other customers' cars. For a Viper, a dedicated container is worth thinking about: nothing else goes in with it, and the doors stay shut until it reaches our site. It costs more. Our guides to shipping a high-value car and shared or sole containers explain the choice, and marine insurance covers the car up to its full value while it travels.
US Customs and Border Protection treats the title as the core export document. The original, or a certified copy, has to be at the port at least 72 hours before a sea shipment leaves, with a lender's letter if there is a loan on the car. The full journey is in our guide to shipping a car from the USA.
Shipping costs and tax
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping a car from the USA starts from £1,450, shipping only. Enclosed collection and a dedicated container add to that, so ask us for a full quote. The sea passage is around 2 weeks from the East Coast and around 4 from the West, with about 2 weeks before sailing for paperwork and loading.
A Viper under 30 pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price plus shipping, with the VAT charged on top of the duty. On a car at this price, that is a big number, so run it through the import tax calculator before you commit. A qualifying car over 30 pays 5% VAT and no duty. If you are moving to the UK and qualify for Transfer of Residence, it can come in with no tax at all.
Testing and registration
Most Vipers take an MOT once the lighting is done. A late Gen V under 10 years old goes through IVA. We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so it is tested on our own lane in Castle Donington without waiting for a government slot. Once it passes, our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register it within 10 working days. See the IVA test explained and MOT for imported cars for what each test looks at.
Questions people ask
Can I register a left-hand drive Viper in the UK?
Yes. The DVLA registers left-hand drive cars without the steering being moved. The car needs lighting changes first, mainly amber rear indicators, a rear fog light and headlights set for driving on the left.
Does an imported Viper need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old, which today means a late Gen V built after October 2016. Every other Viper takes an MOT instead.
Are the side exhausts a problem?
Not on their own. They are part of the car and stay as they are. A loud or tired aftermarket system is a different matter, so tell us about any exhaust changes when you ask for a quote.
How much tax will I pay on a Viper from the USA?
Usually 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping. An original Gen I over 30 years old that qualifies as historic pays 5% VAT and no duty. Transfer of Residence can make it nil if you are moving here and qualify.
Should a Viper go in its own container?
It is worth considering. A shared container is safe and costs less, but a dedicated one means nothing else travels with your car and it sails when you are ready.
Found your Viper? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the whole journey, from the US address to UK plates.
