The Mustang has been on sale in America since the 1960s, and there is one for almost every taste and budget, from early classics to the latest V8. Buying one in the US and bringing it here can feel like a big step: a left-hand drive car, American lights and a lot of paperwork. In practice it is one of the most common imports we handle. My Car Import brings in hundreds of Fords a year, from Mustangs to F100 pickups.
- Shipping from the USA
- From £1,450, shipping only
- Time at sea
- Around 2 to 4 weeks
- Import tax
- 10% duty + 20% VAT
- Over 30 years old
- 5% VAT, no duty
The generations
Mustang fans talk in generations, and each one is a different proposition when it comes to importing. The age of the car decides the tax it pays and the test it takes here.
| Feature | Built | UK test | Import tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | 1964 to 1973 | No MOT needed, if not substantially changed | 5% VAT, no duty |
| Mustang II | 1974 to 1978 | No MOT needed, if not substantially changed | 5% VAT, no duty |
| Fox body | 1979 to 1993 | MOT, or none once over 40 years old | 5% VAT, no duty |
| SN95 | 1994 to 2004 | MOT | Check the build date |
| S197 | 2005 to 2014 | MOT | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
| S550 | 2015 to 2023 | MOT or IVA, check the date | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
| S650 | 2024 onwards | IVA | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
Classic Mustangs
The first-generation cars are the ones most people picture, and they are among the most popular American classics to bring over. Being over 30 years old, they pay 5% VAT and no duty. Being over 40, they do not need an MOT, as long as the main parts have not been substantially changed. Our guide to importing a classic car covers the extra points for older cars.
Modern Mustangs
Ford has sold right-hand drive Mustangs in the UK since the sixth generation, so a modern American car is competing with UK-supplied ones. People still import them for a particular colour, spec or edition, or because they already own one and are moving here. A newer car will usually need an IVA test, and it pays the standard rate of tax.
What to check before you buy
Before you pay a deposit
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Title is the big one. Generally speaking, a UK registration really needs a clean title to go smoothly, so a cheap car with a branded title may not be the bargain it looks. If you are buying at auction, read our guide to buying a car from a US auction first, and see buying a car abroad safely for the general checks.
US export
US Customs and Border Protection treats the certificate of title as the core requirement for exporting a vehicle. The original title, or a certified copy, has to be presented with the car at the port, and for a sea shipment the documents and car must be there at least 72 hours before it leaves. If there is a loan on the car, CBP also wants a signed letter from the lienholder allowing export.
We collect from anywhere in the USA, whether that is a dealer, an auction yard or a private seller's driveway, and truck the car to the port. We ship from ports on both coasts, mainly New York, Savannah, Houston and Oakland. You do not need to be there.
Your paperwork
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Shipping and tax
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping a car from the USA starts from £1,450, shipping only. 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. Most Mustangs come over in a shared container, which is sealed at the US end and opened by our own team in Castle Donington. Our guide to the cost of shipping a car from the USA covers what moves the price.
A Mustang under 30 years old pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price plus shipping. A car over 30 years old 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. The import tax calculator will run your own numbers.
Left-hand drive and conversions
A US Mustang is left-hand drive, and that is fine. The DVLA registers left-hand drive cars without asking for the steering to be moved. What matters is that the car meets UK standards, and on an American car that mostly means lighting.
- Amber rear indicators, because many US cars flash red at the back
- Side repeaters that meet UK rules
- A rear fog light, on cars first used on or after 1 April 1980
- Headlights adjusted or replaced for driving on the left
American cars normally read in mph already, so the speedometer is rarely a job. We fit custom LED lighting made for the shape of the car, aiming for a finish that looks like it left the factory that way. Our guides to converting an American car for UK roads and left-hand drive cars in the UK go through each change.
Close to 10 years old? On an S550, the build date decides whether the car takes an IVA test or an MOT. Check it with us before you buy.
Testing and registration
Once the lighting is done, a Mustang under 10 years old takes an IVA test, and an older one takes an MOT. We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so the car is tested on our own lane without waiting for a government slot. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register it within 10 working days. See the IVA test explained for what the examiner checks.
Before you commit, get an insurance quote. Cover for left-hand drive and imported cars varies between insurers, and our guide to insuring an imported car explains what they look at.
Questions people ask
Can I import a left-hand drive Mustang to the UK?
Yes. Left-hand drive cars can be registered here without converting the steering. The car needs some lighting changes first, mainly amber rear indicators, a rear fog light and headlights set for driving on the left.
Does an imported Mustang need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old. Older cars take an MOT, and cars over 40 years old that have not been substantially changed do not need an MOT.
How much tax will I pay on a Mustang from the USA?
Usually 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, and Transfer of Residence can make it nil if you are moving to the UK and qualify.
What do I need to export a Mustang from the USA?
The title above all. US Customs needs it at the port at least 72 hours before the car sails, along with the bill of sale and your ID. A lienholder letter is needed if there is a loan on the car.
Is it worth importing a modern Mustang when they are sold in the UK?
It depends on the car. Ford has sold right-hand drive Mustangs here since the sixth generation, so people usually import a modern one for a particular spec or edition, or because they are moving here with it.
Found your Mustang? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the whole journey, from the US address to your drive.
