Turkey sits between two worlds when it comes to import tax. It is outside the EU, yet it trades with the EU through a customs union, and people reasonably ask which side a Turkish car falls on. For the UK the answer is clear enough once you know where the car was built. The rest of the job is ordinary.
- Route
- By road or by sea
- Price
- Priced per job
- Transit time
- Usually 1 to 4 weeks door to door
- Import tax
- 20% VAT, duty depends on origin
How the car gets here
Cars from Turkey come by road freight or by sea. Overland, the car leaves Istanbul, crosses into Bulgaria and travels up through the Balkans and central Europe to the Channel. By sea, it travels by container or RoRo to a UK port.
Which suits depends on where in Turkey the car is and what it is, and we price both on the quote. Door to door, allowing for collection, the border and customs, moves from this part of Europe usually take 1 to 4 weeks. Our guide to container, RoRo or air explains the sea options.
The customs union question
Whilst the UK was in the EU, trade with Turkey ran under the EU-Turkey customs union. Since Brexit that arrangement no longer covers the UK. The UK and Turkey have their own trade agreement instead, which gov.uk describes as a traditional free trade agreement.
What that means in practice: preferential, lower tariffs apply only to goods that meet the UK-Turkey rules of origin. A Turkish-built car can qualify, but the preference has to be claimed with a declaration on origin from the exporter, on the invoice or another commercial document.
| Feature | Origin proved under the agreement | No proof of origin |
|---|---|---|
| Import VAT | 20% | 20% |
| Import duty | Preferential rate, which may be lower | 10%, our standard non-EU rate |
| What we need | A valid declaration on origin | The purchase invoice |
A car bought in Turkey but built elsewhere, in Japan or Korea say, does not become Turkish by being sold there. Duty follows where the car was made. And a private seller is rarely set up to issue a declaration on origin, which is why we treat each car on its own facts.
Budget for 10% duty until we confirm otherwise. Planning on 20% VAT plus 10% duty means the only surprise, if there is one, is a smaller bill.
Import tax from Turkey
Import VAT is 20%, worked out on the price you paid plus the cost of transport. If the invoice is more than 3 months old, a recent valuation is used instead. VAT is charged on top of any duty.
A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. If you have lived abroad for more than 12 months and owned the car for more than 6, Transfer of Residence means no import tax or duty at all, with HMRC approval before the car moves. A car that was UK-registered before may come back tax free with its UK purchase invoice and the old V5C. The worked tax examples show the sums in pounds.
Leaving Turkey
The Turkish export formalities and closing the car's Turkish registration happen in Turkey, and the owner or seller deals with them there. Requirements can vary, so check with the seller or a local agent early. Tell us what has been done, and we will tell you what we need at the UK end.
Our guide to documents to ship a car to the UK lists what we usually ask for.
Customs and NOVA
We clear the car through UK customs ourselves as HMRC CDS authorised agents, and that includes checking any origin paperwork. HMRC also needs to be told within 14 days that the car has arrived, through the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA). The DVLA will not register the car without it, so we submit it as part of clearance.
Making it UK road legal
Turkish cars are left-hand drive and set up for driving on the right, so the headlights need adjusting or replacing for the left, the speedometer needs to read in mph and a rear fog light may need fitting. We do the work on our own site. See speedometer and headlight conversions and left-hand drive cars in the UK.
Testing and registration
- Under 10 years old: an IVA test, which we carry out on site
- 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 every week, so there is no wait for a government slot. Once the car passes, our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days. Our IVA test guide explains what is checked.
Your Turkey paperwork
0 of 6 done
What it costs
We do not publish a guide price for Turkey, because routes from Europe are priced per job. The estimator below uses the standard non-EU rates, so it shows the cautious case for tax. The shipping costs page explains what goes into a quote.
Questions people ask
Do I pay import duty on a car from Turkey?
Turkey is outside the EU, so our standard rate is 20% VAT plus 10% duty. A Turkish-built car with a valid declaration on origin under the UK-Turkey trade agreement may pay a lower rate, and we confirm which applies on your quote.
Does the EU-Turkey customs union still apply to the UK?
No. Since Brexit, UK-Turkey trade runs under a separate free trade agreement. Preferential tariffs apply only to goods that meet its rules of origin.
How long does it take to bring a car from Turkey?
Door to door, allowing for collection, the border and customs, usually 1 to 4 weeks. Your quote gives the timing for your car and route.
Does a car from Turkey need an IVA test?
Under 10 years old, yes, and we carry it out on our own site. Over 10 years old it needs an MOT, and over 40 years old no MOT at all.
Can I bring my car from Turkey tax free?
If you are moving to the UK after more than 12 months abroad and have owned the car for more than 6 months, Transfer of Residence means no import tax or duty.
Send us the car's details on the quote form and we will price the whole job, duty check included.
