Private importers
Importing a car yourself? We’ll get it through customs.
Whether it’s coming from the EU, the USA, Japan or further afield, our portal shows you exactly which details and documents your import needs, in one simple checklist.
How it works
Three steps from the port to the DVLA.
- 1
Upload and sign
Upload the documents your import needs, answer a few questions and add your signature. We submit your vehicle to UK customs.
- 2
Pay any duty or VAT
If a customs payment is due we tell you how much, with a link to pay HMRC directly through their CDS system by debit card.
- 3
Get your NOVA
Once it’s paid, or if nothing was due, we process NOVA straight away and email you the document for your DVLA registration.
Car already in the UK?
No problem. If your car is already here, for example with a DVLA export marker, we can get it cleared and submitted to HMRC NOVA the very same day.
Costs
Know what you’ll pay.
Our fee is a fixed £150, NOVA included. Any duty and VAT is paid straight to HMRC. Use the estimator for a guide.
You’ll usually need
- The bill of sale or invoice
- The foreign registration document
- Your driving licence
Duty and VAT estimator
What will HMRC charge?
- Import duty (10%)
- £1,650
- Import VAT (20%)
- £3,630
- Estimated total to HMRC
- £5,280
Paid directly to HMRC. Our fee is a fixed £150, NOVA included.
An estimate using HMRC’s standard rates. Cars 30 years or older need to be in original condition to qualify for the lower rate. We confirm the exact amount when we prepare your customs entry. Moving to the UK? You may pay nothing under Transfer of Residence relief.
Questions
Importing a car yourself.
How much duty and VAT will I pay?
It depends on the car and where it’s coming from. As a guide, a car under 30 years old from outside the EU usually pays 10% import duty and 20% VAT. A car over 30 years old in original condition usually pays no duty and just 5% VAT.
If you’re a private individual buying a used car from the EU, you will usually pay 20% VAT. Cars manufactured in Japan can also come in with 0% duty, as long as the exporter provides a declaration of origin. We confirm the exact amount when we prepare your customs entry.
I’m importing a car from Japan. Will I pay import duty?
Usually not. Under the UK–Japan trade agreement, cars manufactured in Japan qualify for 0% import duty, as long as the exporter provides a declaration of origin. Without one, the standard 10% duty applies.
Import VAT is still due: 20%, or 5% for cars over 30 years old in original condition. Our checklist tells you exactly which documents to ask your exporter for.
I’m moving to the UK with my car. Will I pay tax?
You may not have to. If you’re moving your home to the UK and have owned and used the car abroad for at least six months, you may qualify for Transfer of Residence relief, with no duty or VAT to pay. We complete the ToR01 application for you as part of your clearance.
What is NOVA?
NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrivals) is how HMRC is told that a vehicle has arrived in the UK. It needs to be done within 14 days of arrival, and the DVLA won’t register an imported vehicle without it.
NOVA is included in our £150 fee. We submit it for you and email you the confirmation for your DVLA registration.
Which documents will I need?
Usually the bill of sale or invoice, the foreign registration document and your driving licence. Your online checklist shows exactly what your import needs, so there’s no guesswork.
Got a car to clear? Let’s get it on the road.
Start with a short online form. One fixed fee of £150, NOVA included.