The ship docks, and most people think that is the hard part done. In truth it is where a lot of imports get stuck: in a port warehouse queue, waiting on customs, or held up by a missing form. Here is what happens to your car with us, in order.
1. Customs clearance
Every car coming into the UK has to be cleared through customs and the import tax paid. We are HMRC CDS authorised agents with our own customs staff, so we do it ourselves rather than passing it to someone else. We make sure you pay the right amount, with no unnecessary add-ons. Cars from the EU can usually be cleared the same day.
2. NOVA
NOVA is how HMRC is told a car has arrived in the UK, and it is linked to the DVLA: without it, the car cannot be registered. It has to be done within 14 days of the car arriving. We do it for you.
3. Unloading
Container cars come to our private facility in Castle Donington, Derby, and our own team unloads them. That gives us direct control from the port and cuts out the waiting at busy port warehouses. We take as long as it needs to get your car out safely.
4. Testing
If you want the car on UK plates, it needs to pass a test first. Which one mostly depends on its age:
- Under 10 years old: an IVA test, or a Certificate of Conformity for many EU cars.
- 10 to 40 years old: an MOT.
- Over 40 years old: no MOT needed.
Most cars need a few changes first. The usual ones are a rear fog light, a speedometer that reads in mph, and on left-hand drive cars, headlights that dip the right way. We do the work and the testing on the same site: we run the only privately owned MSVA test centre in Great Britain and one of only seven privately operated IVA centres, and the DVSA visits us every week.
5. Registration
Once the car passes, we apply to the DVLA. Our dealer-level account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days. Older and historic cars can take longer, and we know that paperwork well.
6. Keys
Collect the car from us, or we deliver it to any UK address on an open or enclosed trailer.
Only want the shipping? That is fine too. We will clear it, unload it and hand it over, and registration is there if you want it later.
