Buying a car in America and getting it onto a British road sounds like a long list of strangers, forms and waiting. In practice it is one journey with a clear order to it. We collect the car in the US, ship it, clear it through customs, convert it, test it and register it, and most of that happens on our own site in Castle Donington.
This guide walks through each stage in the order it happens, so you know what to expect and what we will need from you.
- Guide shipping price
- From £1,450
- Time at sea
- Around 2 to 4 weeks
- Usual method
- Shared container or RoRo
- Import tax
- 10% duty + 20% VAT
Collection in the US
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. You do not need to be there. Give us the address and a contact, and we arrange the rest.
The inland leg is part of the price, so a car close to a port costs less to move than one halfway across the country. Our guide to the cost of shipping a car from the USA goes into what changes the figure.
US ports and time at sea
We ship from ports on both coasts, mainly New York, Savannah, Houston and Oakland. The coast makes the biggest difference to timing:
- East Coast sailings, around 2 weeks at sea
- West Coast sailings, around 4 weeks at sea
- Paperwork and loading before sailing, around 2 weeks
Those are sea times only. Customs and the trip from the UK port to us come on top, so plan around the whole journey rather than the sailing. There is more on each route on our USA destination page.
Container or RoRo
Most American cars come over in a shared container. The car is strapped down inside, sealed at the US end and opened by our own team when the container reaches our site. That makes it the safer choice for classics and anything valuable.
RoRo, where the car is driven onto the ship, is generally a little quicker because there is less handling. The car has to run and drive for it. If you cannot decide, our comparison of container, RoRo and air sets out the trade-offs.
The car travels under full marine insurance, which covers it until it reaches you in the UK. See marine insurance for how that works.
US export paperwork
The US side is lighter than people expect. The document that matters most is the car's title, the American proof of ownership, and it has to travel with the car. Without it, a car cannot leave the country.
Your USA paperwork
0 of 5 done
Get these together before collection day and the US end tends to run without a hitch. The full list for every country is in documents to ship a car to the UK.
Arrival and customs
When the car lands, we clear it through customs ourselves. We are HMRC CDS authorised agents, so the customs entry is made in-house, not passed to a third party. For a car from the USA, the standard rates are:
- 10% import duty on the price of the car plus the shipping
- 20% import VAT on top, worked out on the price, shipping and duty together
Three exceptions can change that a great deal. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for at least 12 months and owned the car for at least 6, Transfer of Residence means no import tax at all. And a car that was UK-registered before it left may come back tax free with its UK purchase invoice and old V5C.
The import tax calculator gives you a rough figure before you buy, and your quote will have the exact one.
Apply for Transfer of Residence before the car ships. We need the HMRC reference to clear the car tax free. If it is not in place when the car arrives, duty and VAT are due.
NOVA
Once the car is in the country, HMRC has to be told it has arrived, through a system called NOVA. GOV.UK says this must be done within 14 days, and the car cannot be registered with the DVLA until it is. We handle the NOVA notification as part of the import, so it is one less thing on your list. Our guide to NOVA covers what it is and why it matters.
Making an American car UK road legal
American cars are built for American rules, so most need some lighting work before they can be tested here. The usual list:
- Amber indicators, because US cars usually flash red at the back
- Side markers at the front of the doors
- A rear fog light
- Headlights adjusted or replaced for driving on the left
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. The speedometer may need attention too. Our guide to converting an American car for UK roads covers each change in detail, and left-hand drive cars in the UK covers living with one day to day.
IVA or MOT
Which test the car takes depends on its age.
| Feature | Test needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 years old | IVA test | Done on our own lane, plus any changes it needs |
| 10 to 40 years old | MOT | Plus the lighting changes above |
| Over 40 years old | No MOT needed | Can go straight to registration |
Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and we run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain. The car never leaves our site for its test, so you are not waiting for a slot at a government centre. The IVA test explained sets out what the examiner checks.
DVLA registration
With the car tested, we send the paperwork to the DVLA. Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days. The car gets its UK registration number, we make up the plates, and then you tax it, insure it and collect it or have it delivered.
Until it is registered, GOV.UK is clear that it should not be driven on a public road, other than to a pre-booked MOT or approval test. That is one reason it makes sense for the car to stay with us until the plates are on.
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Step 1
Collection
We collect the car anywhere in the USA and truck it to the port.
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Step 2
Loading
Around 2 weeks for paperwork, loading and meeting the ship.
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Step 3
At sea
Around 2 weeks from the East Coast, around 4 from the West Coast.
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Step 4
Customs and NOVA
We clear the car through UK customs and notify HMRC.
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Step 5
Conversion and testing
Lighting work, then an IVA test or MOT depending on age.
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Step 6
Registration
DVLA registration, plates fitted, and the car is ready for you.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to ship a car from the USA to the UK?
As a guide, shipping starts from around £1,450. That is shipping only and does not include import tax, registration, other services or any remedial work the car needs.
How long does it take to import a car from the USA?
Around 2 weeks at sea from the East Coast and around 4 from the West Coast, plus about 2 weeks before sailing for paperwork and loading. Customs, conversion, testing and registration come after that.
What import tax do I pay on an American car?
Usually 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, and Transfer of Residence or a returning UK car can mean no tax at all.
Does an American car need an IVA test?
If it is under 10 years old, yes. Between 10 and 40 years old it takes an MOT instead, and over 40 years old it does not need an MOT.
What documents do I need to ship a car from the USA?
The car's title or registration, the bill of sale or purchase invoice, and your passport or driving licence.
Found the car already? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the whole journey, from the US address to your drive. Hand us the lot and we will keep you updated at every stage.
