---
title: "How to import a car to the UK, step by step | Shipping a Car"
url: https://shippingacar.co.uk/how-to-import-a-car-to-the-uk/
description: "How to import a car to the UK in ten steps: checks before you buy, the full cost, paperwork, shipping, customs and NOVA, UK changes, testing and registration."
---

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- How to import a car to the UK, step by step

# How to import a car to the UK, step by step

The same ten steps every time, in the same order. The whole import on one page, with a link to the detailed guide for each step.

By My Car Import, 19 October 2026 · 9 minute read

Importing a car looks like a mountain from the bottom. Shipping lines, customs, HMRC, the DVSA,
the DVLA, forms with numbers instead of names. The worry is that one missed step leaves your car
stuck in a port or unregistrable in a shed.

In practice it is the same ten steps every time, in the same order. This page walks through
them and points you to the detailed guide for each one, so treat it as the map and the other
guides as the close-up.

Sea shipping guide price

£1,450 to £4,000

Time at sea

Usually 4 to 8 weeks between continents

Tell HMRC

Within 14 days of arrival

Registration

Within 10 working days of a pass, with us

## The steps GOV.UK sets out

For a car that is shipped to you, GOV.UK lists six things that have to happen. An import
declaration is made by a shipping company or customs agent, and the VAT and duty are paid at the
border. HMRC is told the car has arrived within 14 days. The car gets vehicle approval, is
registered and taxed with the DVLA, and is insured before it is driven.

Everything else on this page is either preparation for those six or the practical work that
makes them possible. Here is the whole run, from choosing the car to driving it.

## 1. Check the car before you buy it

The car you pick decides most of the cost and most of the work. Its age matters most, because
it sets which test it takes and what tax it pays.

A general guide. Some cars have exceptions, and we confirm yours when we quote.

| Feature | Test before registration | Import tax |

| Under 10, from outside Europe | IVA, plus an MOT if over 3 | 20% VAT and 10% duty |
| Under 10, built in the EU | Certificate of Conformity, plus an MOT if over 3 | 20% VAT, no duty if EU origin is shown |
| 10 to 30 years old | MOT | As above, by where it was built |
| Over 30 years old | MOT | 5% VAT, no duty |
| Over 40, not substantially changed | No MOT needed | 5% VAT, no duty |

Before you pay, read [buying a car abroad safely](https://shippingacar.co.uk/buying-a-car-abroad-safely/) and
[car shipping scams](https://shippingacar.co.uk/car-shipping-scams/). Buying at auction has its own pages:
[US auctions](https://shippingacar.co.uk/buying-a-car-from-a-us-auction/) and
[Japanese auction grades](https://shippingacar.co.uk/japanese-auction-grades-explained/). For the history,
[checking the mileage](https://shippingacar.co.uk/checking-the-mileage-on-an-imported-car/) covers km readings
and title brands. If the car has been changed from standard,
[importing a modified car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-modified-car-to-the-uk/) is worth reading
first.

## 2. Work out the full cost

There are four parts to the bill: shipping, import tax, UK changes and testing, and
registration. Our guide prices for shipping alone run from £1,450 to
£4,000 by sea, depending on where the car starts, and they are on the
[shipping costs](https://shippingacar.co.uk/shipping-costs/) page. European cars come by road and are priced per
job.

Tax is worked out on the price plus the cost of getting the car here, with VAT charged on top
of any duty. The [import tax calculator](https://shippingacar.co.uk/import-tax-calculator/) runs your numbers,
and [import tax worked examples](https://shippingacar.co.uk/import-tax-worked-examples/) shows the sums in full.
Two guides cover the cases that catch people out:
[duty on cars bought in the EU but built elsewhere](https://shippingacar.co.uk/rules-of-origin-and-duty-on-eu-cars/), and the [5% rate for historic vehicles](https://shippingacar.co.uk/historic-vehicle-5-percent-vat-rules/).

Moving to the UK yourself? [Transfer of Residence](https://shippingacar.co.uk/transfer-of-residence/) can take
the tax to nil if you meet the conditions, and you apply to HMRC before the car ships. For a
breakdown of what moves the shipping price, see
[what affects the cost of shipping a car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/what-affects-the-cost-of-shipping-a-car/).

## 3. Gather the paperwork

We need the car's current registration document, proof of purchase and photo ID. Some countries
add their own documents, all listed in [documents to ship a car to the UK](https://shippingacar.co.uk/documents-to-ship-a-car-to-the-uk/).

- From Japan, the [export certificate](https://shippingacar.co.uk/japanese-export-certificate-explained/)
- From the USA, the title, under the [US export rules](https://shippingacar.co.uk/us-export-rules-for-shipping-a-car/)
- Money still owed on the car? See [shipping a car with finance outstanding](https://shippingacar.co.uk/shipping-a-car-with-finance-outstanding/)
- Importing for a business? You will need a GB [EORI number](https://shippingacar.co.uk/eori-number-for-importing-a-car/). A private import usually does not

## 4. Choose how it travels

Most cars go in a shared container, some go RoRo, and a few fly. The trade-offs are in
[container, RoRo or air](https://shippingacar.co.uk/container-roro-or-air/) and
[shared or sole container](https://shippingacar.co.uk/shared-container-vs-sole-container/). Our service pages
cover [container shipping](https://shippingacar.co.uk/service/container-shipping/) and
[RoRo shipping](https://shippingacar.co.uk/service/roro-shipping/) in more detail.

Then get the car ready. [Preparing your car for shipping](https://shippingacar.co.uk/preparing-your-car-for-shipping/) has the list, and [belongings in a shipped car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/personal-belongings-in-a-shipped-car/) explains what can travel inside it. If the car does not run, is electric or is
worth a lot, read [shipping a non-running car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/shipping-a-non-running-car/),
[shipping an electric car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/shipping-an-electric-car-to-the-uk/) or
[shipping a high-value car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/shipping-a-high-value-car/). Cover at sea is explained
in [marine insurance](https://shippingacar.co.uk/marine-insurance/).

## 5. Collection, loading and the voyage

The car is collected, taken to the port and strapped down inside its container, which
[how cars are loaded](https://shippingacar.co.uk/how-cars-are-loaded-into-a-shipping-container/) shows step by
step. The shipping line issues a [bill of lading](https://shippingacar.co.uk/bill-of-lading-explained/), the
receipt that gets the car released here.

Time at sea is usually 1 to 4 weeks within the same continent, 4 to 8 weeks between continents,
and around 6 to 10 weeks from Australia and New Zealand.
[How long shipping takes](https://shippingacar.co.uk/how-long-does-it-take-to-ship-a-car-to-the-uk/) breaks that
down, and [which UK port](https://shippingacar.co.uk/which-uk-port-will-my-car-arrive-at/) explains where it
lands.

## 6. Customs clearance and NOVA

When the car lands, the import declaration is made and the tax paid. We are HMRC CDS authorised
agents with our own customs staff, so we do this ourselves. The detail is in
[customs clearance for imported cars](https://shippingacar.co.uk/customs-clearance-for-imported-cars/).

Separately, HMRC must be told the car has arrived within 14 days. That is
[NOVA](https://shippingacar.co.uk/nova-explained/), and the DVLA will not register the car without it. If
things slow down at the port, [customs delays](https://shippingacar.co.uk/customs-delays-when-importing-a-car/) and [port storage charges](https://shippingacar.co.uk/port-storage-and-demurrage-charges/) explain
why and what it costs. If the car arrives damaged, see
[damage in transit](https://shippingacar.co.uk/damage-in-transit-and-marine-insurance-claims/).

## 7. UK changes

Most imports need a few changes to pass a British test. The usual ones are a rear fog light, a
speedometer in mph, and on left-hand drive cars, headlights that dip the right way. We do this
work in our own workshop at Castle Donington.

[Speedometer and headlight conversions](https://shippingacar.co.uk/speedometer-and-headlight-conversions/)
covers the common jobs. American cars have their own list in
[converting an American car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/converting-an-american-car-for-uk-roads/), and
[left-hand drive cars in the UK](https://shippingacar.co.uk/left-hand-drive-cars-in-the-uk/) covers living with
one. Tinted glass is a separate rule, in [window tint rules](https://shippingacar.co.uk/window-tint-rules-for-imported-cars/).

## 8. Testing

This is GOV.UK's vehicle approval step, plus an MOT for most cars over 3 years old. Newer cars
from outside Europe take the [IVA test](https://shippingacar.co.uk/iva-test-explained/), newer EU cars usually
use a [Certificate of Conformity](https://shippingacar.co.uk/certificate-of-conformity/), and older cars take
an [MOT](https://shippingacar.co.uk/mot-for-imported-cars/). Motorbikes take the
[MSVA test](https://shippingacar.co.uk/msva-test-explained/).

We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain and the only privately
owned MSVA centre, and the DVSA tests on our site every week. How a car proves it meets the
standard is in [IVA model reports and manufacturer letters](https://shippingacar.co.uk/iva-model-reports-and-manufacturer-letters/), and if a test does not go to plan, see
[what happens if an import fails its test](https://shippingacar.co.uk/what-happens-if-my-import-fails-its-test/).

**Not on the road until it is registered.** GOV.UK says using an import on a
public road before these steps are done can lead to prosecution. The only exception is
driving, insured, to a pre-booked MOT or approval test. With testing on our site, that
journey never happens.

## 9. Registration and plates

Once the car passes, the DVLA application goes in on form V55/5, explained in
[registering an imported car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/registering-an-imported-car-v55-5/). Our dealer-level
DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days of a pass. Classics and older
cars can take longer, and [how long registration takes](https://shippingacar.co.uk/how-long-to-register-an-imported-car/) explains why.

Then come plates and tax. [Number plates](https://shippingacar.co.uk/number-plates-for-imported-cars/) covers
age-related and Q numbers, and [road tax for imported cars](https://shippingacar.co.uk/road-tax-for-imported-cars/) explains how the rate is set.

## 10. Insure it and drive

The car needs insuring on its new registration before you drive it. Tell the insurer it is an
import and list the changes made. [Insuring an imported car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/insuring-an-imported-car/) and [Japanese import insurance](https://shippingacar.co.uk/japanese-import-car-insurance/) go through it.

After that it is a car like any other, with a few things worth knowing:
[ULEZ](https://shippingacar.co.uk/ulez-and-imported-cars/), [recalls](https://shippingacar.co.uk/recalls-on-imported-cars/),
[parts and servicing](https://shippingacar.co.uk/parts-and-servicing-for-imported-cars/) and, one day,
[selling it on](https://shippingacar.co.uk/selling-an-imported-car/).

## The whole run at a glance

- 1

Before you buy

### Check and cost the car

Age, condition, paperwork and the full bill: shipping, tax, changes, testing and registration.

- 2

Before it ships

### Paperwork and booking

Registration document, proof of purchase and ID to us, and Transfer of Residence approved if you are moving here.

- 3

Usually 4 to 8 weeks

### Collection and shipping

Collected, loaded, and at sea. Around 6 to 10 weeks from Australia and New Zealand.

- 4

On arrival

### Customs and NOVA

We clear the car as HMRC CDS authorised agents and tell HMRC it has arrived within 14 days.

- 5

At our site

### Changes and testing

UK changes in our workshop, then IVA or MOT on our own lanes.

- 6

Within 10 working days

### Registration

Our dealer-level DVLA account registers the car, and it is ready to tax, insure and drive.

## Guides by where the car is now

Every origin has its quirks. The busiest routes have their own guides:
[the USA](https://shippingacar.co.uk/ship-a-car-from-the-usa-to-the-uk/),
[Japan](https://shippingacar.co.uk/import-a-car-from-japan-to-the-uk/),
[Australia](https://shippingacar.co.uk/ship-a-car-from-australia-to-the-uk/),
[New Zealand](https://shippingacar.co.uk/ship-a-car-from-new-zealand-to-the-uk/),
[Canada](https://shippingacar.co.uk/ship-a-car-from-canada-to-the-uk/),
[Dubai](https://shippingacar.co.uk/ship-a-car-from-dubai-to-the-uk/),
[South Africa](https://shippingacar.co.uk/ship-a-car-from-south-africa-to-the-uk/),
[Europe](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-car-from-europe-to-the-uk/) and
[Ireland](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-car-from-ireland-to-the-uk/). The rest are on our
[countries page](https://shippingacar.co.uk/destinations/).

## Guides by what you are bringing

- [Classic cars](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-classic-car-to-the-uk/) and [classic American cars](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-classic-american-car/)
- [Motorbikes](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-motorbike-to-the-uk/) and [quads](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-quad-bike-or-atv-to-the-uk/)
- [Motorhomes](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-an-american-motorhome-to-the-uk/), [vans](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-van-to-the-uk/) and [pickups](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-pickup-truck-to-the-uk/)
- [Race and track cars](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-race-or-track-car-to-the-uk/) and [project cars](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-car-for-parts-or-restoration/)
- [JDM cars](https://shippingacar.co.uk/jdm-cars-to-import/) and [kei cars](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-kei-car-to-the-uk/)
- [An inherited car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-an-inherited-car/) or [a car for a business](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-car-as-a-business/)

## Moving to the UK with your car

If the car is coming with you, start with [moving to the UK with your car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/moving-to-the-uk-with-your-car/). Bringing back a car that was once UK-registered is different again, in
[bringing a UK car back home](https://shippingacar.co.uk/bringing-a-uk-car-back-home/) and
[returning from a forces posting](https://shippingacar.co.uk/returning-from-a-forces-posting-with-your-car/).
If you only need to use a foreign car here for a while, see
[driving a foreign-registered car](https://shippingacar.co.uk/driving-a-foreign-registered-car-in-the-uk/).

Weighing up whether to do this at all? [Importing yourself or buying from a UK importer](https://shippingacar.co.uk/importing-a-car-yourself-vs-buying-from-a-uk-importer/) sets out both sides, and the
[car import checklist](https://shippingacar.co.uk/car-import-checklist/) turns this page into boxes to tick. For
the jargon, there is the [glossary](https://shippingacar.co.uk/glossary/).

## Questions people ask

For a shipped car, GOV.UK lists an import declaration and payment of VAT and duty at the border, telling HMRC within 14 days that the car has arrived, vehicle approval, registering and taxing with the DVLA, and insuring it before you drive.

You can arrange the purchase yourself, but GOV.UK says the import declaration for a shipped car is made by a shipping company or customs agent. We are HMRC CDS authorised agents and can handle the whole import, or just the parts you need.

Our guide prices for sea shipping run from £1,450 to £4,000 depending on the origin, shipping only. Import tax is usually 20% VAT plus 10% duty from outside the EU, and changes, testing and registration are on top. The quote prices the whole job.

Time at sea is usually 4 to 8 weeks between continents and around 6 to 10 from Australia and New Zealand. After arrival, customs, changes and testing follow, and we register imported cars within 10 working days of a pass.

No. GOV.UK says you can be prosecuted for using it on a public road before the import steps are done, unless you are driving it, insured, to a pre-booked MOT or approval test.

No. Age changes the test and the tax, not whether the car can come in. A new car from outside Europe can be imported as long as it passes its IVA test.

Ready to start? Tell us about the car on the [quote form](https://shippingacar.co.uk/quote/) and we will price
every step.

Shipping is half the job

## Then My Car Import puts it on UK plates.

Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, so when the container is unloaded the car is already where it needs to be. It goes straight into testing and registration on the same site, with no extra transport and no waiting for a test slot somewhere else.

[Quote for the whole import](https://shippingacar.co.uk/quote/) [Registration at My Car Import](https://mycarimport.co.uk)

- **One of only seven** privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain
- **The only privately owned** MSVA test centre in Great Britain
- A **dealer-level DVLA account**, so we register imported cars within 10 working days
- **In-house conversions** and test preparation, from lights to speedos

## More guides

- [The car import checklist The whole import on one page, in eight stages from buying the car to driving it on UK plates. Tick things off as you go. Read it](https://shippingacar.co.uk/car-import-checklist/)
- [What to do if your shipped car is delayed Most shipping delays have an ordinary cause, from a rolled booking to a paperwork hold at the port. How to work out where your car is stuck, what to ask your agent and when storage charges become a risk. Read it](https://shippingacar.co.uk/what-to-do-if-your-shipped-car-is-delayed/)
- [Temporarily importing a car for a show or event A car coming for a show and going home again need not pay UK import tax, as long as the right customs route is set up before it arrives. Read it](https://shippingacar.co.uk/temporarily-importing-a-car-for-a-show-or-event/)

## Tell us about your car

Where it is, what it is and when you need it here. We will price the whole import, from collection abroad to UK registration with My Car Import, not just the boat.

Rather talk it through? Call 01332 810442