Sweden looks a long way up the map, and people wonder whether a car from there means a long sea voyage and a pile of forms. It usually means a few days on a transporter and one customs entry, which we make ourselves. Then the car comes to our site to be converted, tested and registered.
- Usual method
- Road freight
- Price
- Priced per job
- Transit time
- Usually 1 to 4 weeks door to door
- Import tax
- 20% VAT, no duty if EU or UK-built
How the car gets here
More often than not, we bring Swedish cars over by road. The car travels south through Denmark and Germany to the Channel, and the road leg takes approximately 2 to 4 days. Sea transport, by container or RoRo, takes around 3 to 7 days and can suit some cars and locations better.
| Feature | Road freight | Sea (container or RoRo) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical time | 2 to 4 days | 3 to 7 days |
| How often we use it | Most Swedish cars | When it suits the car or location |
Door to door, once collection and customs are allowed for, European moves usually take 1 to 4 weeks. Our guide to container, RoRo or air compares the methods in more depth.
Import tax from Sweden
Sweden is in the EU, so a car coming from there pays 20% import VAT. There is no duty as long as the car was built in the EU or the UK. VAT is worked out on the price you paid plus the cost of transport, or on a recent valuation if the invoice is more than 3 months old.
Where the car was built matters more than where it was sold. A Swedish-registered car built in, say, the US or Japan would pay 10% duty as well. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. Our import tax calculator gives a rough figure, and the worked examples show the sums in pounds.
Moving to the UK
If you have lived in Sweden for at least 12 months and owned and used the car for at least 6, Transfer of Residence means no import tax at all. Apply to HMRC before the car ships. A car that was UK-registered before may also come back tax free with its UK purchase invoice and a copy of the old V5C; see bringing a UK car back home.
Customs and NOVA
We clear the car through UK customs ourselves as HMRC CDS authorised agents. HMRC needs to be told within 14 days that the car has arrived, through the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals, or NOVA. The DVLA will not register the car without it, and we submit it for you as part of clearance.
Making it UK road legal
Swedish cars are left-hand drive and set up for driving on the right, so a few changes come with the territory:
- Headlights adjusted or replaced for driving on the left
- A speedometer reading in mph
- A rear fog light where needed
We do this work on our own site. Our guide to speedometer and headlight conversions explains how it is done, and left-hand drive cars in the UK covers living with one.
Testing and registration
For an EU-built car under 10 years old, a Certificate of Conformity can often take the place of a full IVA test. If you do not have one, we can source it, and if one cannot be found the car takes an IVA test instead. Our Certificate of Conformity guide explains when you need one.
- Under 10 years old: a Certificate of Conformity or an IVA test
- Over 10 years old: an MOT, with changes generally coming down to the rear fog light
- Over 40 years old: no MOT needed, and the car can be delivered before registration
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain and test on site every week, so there is no wait for a government slot. Once the car is ready, our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days.
Check where the car was built. No duty applies only to cars built in the EU or UK. If the Swedish car you are buying was made elsewhere, budget for 10% duty on top of the VAT.
Your Sweden paperwork
0 of 6 done
What it costs
We do not publish a guide price for Sweden, because European routes are priced per job. Where the car is, the transport method and what it needs at this end all make a real difference. The estimator gives you the tax side, and the Europe guide covers the wider picture.
Questions people ask
Do I pay import tax on a car from Sweden?
Yes, usually 20% import VAT, with no duty if the car was built in the EU or UK. A car built elsewhere pays 10% duty as well. Cars over 30 years old pay 5% VAT, and Transfer of Residence can make it tax free if you are moving here.
How long does it take to bring a car from Sweden?
By road, approximately 2 to 4 days in transit, and by sea around 3 to 7 days. Door to door, allowing for collection and customs, European moves usually take 1 to 4 weeks.
Does a Swedish car need an IVA test?
An EU-built car under 10 years old can often use a Certificate of Conformity instead, which we can source. Without one it takes an IVA test. Over 10 years old it needs an MOT, and over 40 years old no MOT.
What changes does a Swedish car need for the UK?
Headlights adjusted or replaced for driving on the left, a speedometer reading in mph, and a rear fog light where needed.
How much does it cost to bring a car from Sweden?
Sweden is priced per job, because the location, transport method and work needed vary. Send us the details on the quote form for a full price.
Found the car in Sweden? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
