Importing a Car to the UK – Process Explained

People shifting to the UK for work or studies prefer to bring their car, for convenience. When the exchange charge is favourable, importing can signify a good buy even with the extra time it takes to sort out the paperwork. The technique of importing an automobile can seem to be complex at first.

The UK authorities issue an imported pack to assist you via the steps, which you can download from the government website. This includes all the forms you need and instructions for filling them in. The enterprise accountable for importing or transporting your automobile may additionally be capable of taking care of the paper works for you.

It is very vital to take care of these important points earlier than driving the imported car in the UK. You must organize to have it transported from the port to your home, then use it, and do not take it into the road till it is taxed and registered.

Both new and used vehicles need to be declared to HM Revenue and Customs within 14 days of their arrival in the UK. You will want to pay any VAT or duty owed on the vehicle earlier than you can register it with the DVLA.

You additionally want car approval, to exhibit the automobile conforms to British security and environmental standards. For vehicles from the EU, it is applying to the manufacturer for a European Certificate of Conformity. You’ll additionally want a certificate of Mutual Recognition for left-hand force cars.

After finishing this process, you can register and tax your automobile with the DVLA. Once you have efficiently registered, you will be dispatched with a registration certificate (V5C). You’ll want the V5C to have UK number plates made. If you are a British citizen, you can’t use the car on the avenue till it has these. You will additionally want to take out an insurance plan policy, and older vehicles will require an MOT.

Some motor merchants have their system for importing new vehicles outside the UK, designed so that importing automobiles frequently can save time on their applications. If the vehicle of your desires is outside the UK, having it imported by using an agency specializing in car imports can save you time and trouble, too. To import a vehicle into the UK, you need to observe several steps. It is viable to pay an importer or transport agency to do them for you, however, ultimately, it’s your responsibility to make sure that every step is completed.

The UK automobile market is booming, and that’s why more people are searching to purchase a used automobile or even buy a new one from foreign countries especially when it comes to fashions and manufacturers that are uncommon and tougher to discover in Britain.

But what are the regulations and policies when it comes to completely importing a vehicle to the UK? 

Get the Individual Vehicle Approval

The Road Vehicle Regulations 1986 and the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 have to be met with any vehicles imported in the UK. Vehicles imported to the UK that haven’t been registered inside the EU earlier will want to follow the Individual Vehicle Approval scheme to show that they meet the protection and environmental policies required with the aid of British law. If you have done the checking out and approval process, you will obtain an Individual Approval Certificate to affirm that your car is UK roadworthy. Different policies may additionally follow for a vehicle that’s greater than 10 years historical. You should contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and order a car import pack for greater information.

VAT or duty you want to pay

You will want to pay VAT or tax or duty when you import a car to Britain. The important exceptions to this are if you qualify for alleviation due to the fact you’re completely shifting to stay in the UK, or due to the fact the vehicle was originally exported from the EU.

Cars with engines over forty-eight cubic centimetres or that are electrically propelled use of extra than 9.65 horsepower that doesn’t qualify for relief for whichever purpose will raise a duty charge.

You want to let HM Revenue and Customs recognize that you’re bringing a vehicle into the country and they will let you be aware of how much you will have to pay if it is required.

How is the registration of an imported car?

Once you have paid VAT and had your imported vehicle approved, it has to be registered. Here are the guidelines for registering a car.

DVLA provides an imported pack to register an imported vehicle. You will want to ship the unique overseas registration manufacturing certificates and you will now not get this back. You need to additionally ship original files not photocopies for an imported vehicle. If you don’t have this, you can also be in a position to show the date it used to be manufactured any other way, for instance with a letter from the manufacturer. You will additionally want to grant a mutual awareness certificate, shape V267 if the car is new and proof displaying the date that the car used to be collected. DVLA may ask for an inspection of the car. 

What are the Forms Required to Register an Imported Vehicle?

The DVLA car import pack is reachable as two separate packs. One is to import a new vehicle and another is for used vehicle imports. Each pack includes the forms needed.

New vehicles: Application to register a new imported automobile for use in the United Kingdom. If you have a newness certificate from the dealer you can use the new car import pack. This process applies to all automobiles that meet these conditions:

• The car had no everlasting registration in any country before.
• It is a present-day model or discontinued in the previous two years.
• It was the first time it was sold by a seller.
• It has a minimal mileage needed for delivery.

What are the extra supporting documents for imported cars?

The original documents that must be sent are

• Proof of automobile approval
• Evidence displaying the date the car was once collected, like the bill from the supplier
• The authentic overseas registration certificates show when the car was once manufactured. This document won’t be returned to you. If you are not having the original overseas registration certificate, proof of the manufacture date, a letter from the manufacturer also may be accepted by DVLA.

How to insure an imported car?

Remember that, till you’ve registered and insured the car, it’s unlawful to take it on public roads, until you’re on your way to a pre-arranged appointment to do with the registration. This indicates you want to transport your automobile from the port too, as you won’t be in a position to simply drive it away. If you need more data on this then you can go to the DVLA website.

You ought to be aware that as a section of this procedure you will want to deal with several Department for Transport (DfT) agencies. Information given to different corporations is no longer automatically shared with DVLA. What you want to do relies upon how you are bringing the car into the country whether or not it is a new or used vehicle. You can pay an importer or transport organization to do them for you.

What will DVLA do next?

Your vehicle can also want to be inspected by DVLA and they will let you know if it is required. If the application is approved, DVLA will give your car a registration number related to its age-based totally on the proof you have provided. If your non-UK registration report does not exhibit the full date of first registration you will need proof of the month and year of manufacture so it is possible to allocate the registration number accurately. If you can’t supply proof of the vehicle’s age, a ‘Q’ or ‘QNI’ registration number is allocated. Send you car registration certificates (V5C) a proof showing you as the registered keeper. Shipment will be done within 4 to six weeks of your application, it is shipped and returned your documents, other than the original non-UK registration certificate. If the documents have to be returned by special delivery then provide a special delivery envelope. The return can’t be expected on a precise date. If you do no longer get the documents again you should contact DVLA within one month of the date you made your application.

Importing a modified or damaged car

If your car has been modified or damaged in any other country, DVLA may give your car a Q registration number and will put a marker on your automobile log e-book (V5C) to indicate that your car has been altered or assembled by various parts.

How to notify HMRC?

The quickest way to get HMRC notified is by Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA).

• The purchaser or anybody on your behalf as the notifier ought to provide data about the car you import into the UK.
• As quickly as the online notification has been effectively processed within hours, the NOVA will calculate any VAT due, and as soon as this has been paid or accounted for, HMRC will give online affirmation that you can register your automobile with DVLA.
• Please permit forty-eight hours after receiving affirmation from HMRC earlier than you contact DVLA to register your vehicle. This is to permit time for DVLA to get entry to the NOVA information. 
• You can complete a paper notification by HMRC’s form NOVA, this will take longer for HMRC to process. 

Customs Clearance of your imported car

Your vehicle import is Customs cleared relying upon the instances it is getting into the UK, the foremost classes are:

Private import

A Private Import is the most frequent kind of import for private use. Import taxes are based on car type. 

Commercial import

As above, however, the automobile is being imported by way of a VAT registered trader. 

Transfer of Residence

The vehicle can also acquire tax alleviation to the importer fulfilling a few criteria, particularly the importer has lived overseas for 1year and the automobile has been owned and the importer used for over 6 months. 

Temporary import

A car for a duration of up to 6 months, tax-free on a Temporary import, usually for an importer touring in their vehicle, then returning with it.

Re-importation of a private car

For the UK registered car returning to the EC without change in ownership, the required files are a replica of the V5 and C179b completed forms. Customs form to achieve tax relief. Do not ship photocopies or faxed copies.

Type approval

We want to understand that an automobile is top designed and constructed and that it meets environmental standards. This is a legal requirement earlier than a car can be registered and taxed. The procedure is named ‘type approval’. You have to produce one of the following to furnish proof of type approval.

Certificate of Conformity: For UK registration, if you have a special European Certificate of Conformity it ought to point out the speedometer miles per hour and that the vehicle is suitable for use on the left-hand aspect of the road. If this is no longer mentioned then you will require extra approval. If the car used to be manufactured for the European market, however, you no longer have the European Certificate of Conformity, you have to contact the manufacturer as they may also be capable of issuing this certificate. There may additionally be a charge for issuing a European Certificate of Conformity. 

Mutual Recognition Certificate: If your Certificate of Conformity does not affirm that the automobile is appropriate for UK registration, you might also want Mutual Recognition. 

Evidence of preceding UK registration: This can be both the automobile registration certificates (V5C or V5CNI), or the ‘New keeper slip’ (green slip).

If you can’t grant any of these noted above, you will want an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) certificate for the vehicle.