Somewhere in the paperwork for an imported car, you will meet four letters: NOVA. It sounds like one more government form to worry about, with a deadline attached. In practice it is a short notification, and when you ship with us, it is one we send for you.
- Stands for
- Notification of Vehicle Arrivals
- Goes to
- HMRC
- Deadline
- 14 days from arrival
- Who sends it
- We do
What NOVA is
NOVA is how HM Revenue and Customs is told that a vehicle has been brought into the UK permanently. It lets HMRC confirm whether any VAT or duty is due on the car, and that it has been paid.
It is not the same as the customs declaration itself. Customs clearance happens when the car comes in; NOVA is the separate notification that tells HMRC the car is here to stay.
Why it matters for registration
NOVA is linked to the DVLA. GOV.UK is clear that you cannot register your vehicle with the DVLA until HMRC has processed your NOVA. If it has not been done, the DVLA will reject the registration application, and the car cannot go on UK plates.
So although NOVA is an HMRC matter, it is really the first step towards your registration number. Everything after it, from testing through to the DVLA application, depends on it being in place.
The 14-day deadline
GOV.UK gives you 14 days to tell HMRC after you bring a vehicle into the UK permanently. That applies whether the car was shipped or you drove it over yourself on a ferry or through the Channel Tunnel. The clock starts on the day the car lands.
Late NOVA can cost you. GOV.UK states that you may be fined if you are late telling HMRC. It is one of the reasons we send it ourselves as soon as the car has arrived.
Who has to make one
Anyone importing a vehicle permanently into the UK needs a NOVA. GOV.UK lists only a couple of exceptions: vehicles with an engine of 48cc or less (or 7.2kW or less if electric), and vehicles registered in the Isle of Man.
That means a classic, a camper, a motorbike or a nearly new car all need one. It also applies if you are moving here under Transfer of Residence and paying no import tax at all. Nil tax still needs telling HMRC.
Who submits it
GOV.UK allows shipping companies and customs agents to make the NOVA declaration on your behalf. VAT-registered businesses can use HMRC's online service; private individuals who are not VAT registered would otherwise need to go through HMRC's own team.
We are HMRC CDS authorised agents with our own customs staff, and NOVA is part of what we do for every car we import. We send the car's details to HMRC through our portal within 14 days of arrival. You do not need to log in anywhere or chase a reference number.
What HMRC needs
The information comes mostly from the customs clearance and the purchase. GOV.UK lists the following, and we put most of it together from the paperwork you have already sent us.
Evidence for a NOVA
0 of 4 done
If you are not sure what to send, our guide to the paperwork you need to ship a car covers the lot, and it is the same pile we use for NOVA.
Where NOVA fits in
-
Arrival
Customs clearance
We clear the car as HMRC CDS authorised agents and work out the import tax due.
-
Within 14 days
NOVA
We send the car details to HMRC through our portal. Without it, the DVLA will not register the car.
-
Next
Changes and testing
Any UK changes, then an IVA, MSVA or MOT on our own site, depending on the car.
-
Within 10 working days
DVLA registration
Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days of a passed test.
Tax and NOVA
NOVA is where HMRC checks the tax side of the import. Any VAT and duty due has to be paid before the DVLA can register the car. For most cars that means 20% VAT, plus 10% duty on cars from outside the EU, and 5% VAT with no duty on cars over 30 years old. Our import tax calculator gives you a figure before you commit.
Questions people ask
What does NOVA stand for?
Notification of Vehicle Arrivals. It is how HMRC is told a vehicle has been brought into the UK permanently.
How long do I have to submit a NOVA?
GOV.UK gives you 14 days after the vehicle arrives in the UK. When you import with us, we send it within that window.
What happens if NOVA is late?
GOV.UK states you may be fined if you are late telling HMRC. You also cannot register the car with the DVLA until your NOVA has been processed.
Do I need a NOVA if I pay no import tax?
Yes. A car coming in under Transfer of Residence still needs a NOVA, even though no VAT or duty is due.
Can someone else submit NOVA for me?
Yes. GOV.UK allows shipping companies and customs agents to do it on your behalf. We are HMRC CDS authorised agents and include it with every import.
The official detail is on GOV.UK's page on telling HMRC about an imported vehicle, and My Car Import explains its customs work on its customs page. Or hand us the lot: start with a quote and we will take care of NOVA along with everything else.
