Vehicle Services
How to import a vehicle
into the United Kingdom
INF106
11/23
Contents
Filling in the form
Section 1 – Introduction ........................................................................ 3
Section 2 – Telling HMRC .................................................................... 4
Section 3 – How to register a new vehicle
you have imported ...................................................... 5
Section 4 – How to register a used vehicle
you have imported ...................................................... 6
Section 5 – Proof of name and address .............................. 7
Section 6 – Getting vehicle type approval ......................... 9
Section 7 – First registration fee ................................................ 10
Section 8 – Where to send your application ................ 10
Section 9 – What happens next ................................................. 10
Section 10 – Further information or help ............................. 11
If you’re registering a new vehicle, including new imports
for the first time in the UK, download and print a:
• V55/4 application for first vehicle tax and registration
of a new motor vehicle (www.gov.uk/government/
publications/apply-for-first-vehicle-tax-and-
registration-of-a-new-motor-vehicle-v554) and follow
the instructions in the V355/4 guide to filling in the V55/4
• V267 declaration that a vehicle is new
(www.gov.uk/government/publications/declaration-
that-a-vehicle-is-new)
• you can calculate new car tax rates by going to
www.gov.uk/check-tax-rates-new-unregistered-
cars or download all vehicle tax rates at www.gov.uk/
government/publications/rates-of-vehicle-tax-v149
If you’re registering a previously used vehicle, including used
imports for the first time in the UK, download and print a:
• V55/5 application for first vehicle tax and registration
of a used motor vehicle (www.gov.uk/government/
publications/register-a-used-vehicle-for-the-first-
time-v555) and follow the instructions in the V355/5
guide to filling in the V55/5
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• you can calculate new car tax rates by going to
www.gov.uk/check-tax-rates-new-unregistered-
cars or download all vehicle tax rates at www.gov.uk/
government/publications/rates-of-vehicle-tax-v149
Alternatively, contact us by:
• using our Contact form – www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla
• phoning 0300 790 6802 for us to post out the forms for
a new or used vehicle to you
1 Introduction
As part of our vehicle registration process you’ll need
to deal with different Department for Transport (DFT)
agencies. Some information is not automatically shared
with DVLA and the process you follow will depend on how
you bring the vehicle into the country and whether it is a
new or used vehicle.
If you bring a vehicle permanently into the UK
You must complete the steps below or pay an importer
or shipping company to do this for you:
1. Tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) (www.gov.uk/
importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/telling-hmrc) within
14 days of the vehicle arriving in the UK.
2. Pay VAT and duty (www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-
into-the-uk/paying-vat-and-duty).
3. Register and tax the vehicle (www.gov.uk/importing-
vehicles-into-the-uk/registering-an-imported-
vehicle) with DVLA – they’ll give you a registration
number so you can get number plates made up.
DVLA cannot register and tax any imported vehicle
that has been seriously damaged. Visit www.gov.uk/
importing-vehicles-into-the-uk
After notifying HMRC about the vehicle, you must register,
tax and insure your vehicle (www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance)
before using it on UK roads. If you’re a UK resident you
must not drive a vehicle displaying foreign number plates.
To avoid difficulties, we advise you to:
• transport, rather than drive, your vehicle from the
port to your home or its first destination
• keep the vehicle off the road until it has been
registered, taxed and insured
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2 Telling HMRC
By law, you must provide HMRC with the necessary
vehicle information within 14 days of bringing a new or
used vehicle into the UK. HMRC will use the information
you provide to assess the VAT position. If you do not do
this within 14 days of the vehicle arriving in the UK, HMRC
may issue a late notification penalty.
DVLA will have access to relevant information you’ve
provided to HMRC about your vehicle.
We will not register your vehicle if the details in your
registration application do not match those provided
to HMRC.
How to notify HMRC
1. The quickest way to notify HMRC about the imported
vehicle is by using the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals
(NOVA) service (www.gov.uk/nova-log-in) within
14 days.
2. You (the purchaser) or someone on your behalf must
provide information about the vehicle you bring into
the UK.
3. As soon as the online notification has been
successfully processed (usually within hours), the
NOVA system will calculate any VAT due and once
paid or accounted for, HMRC will provide online
confirmation for you to apply to register your vehicle
with DVLA.
4. You need to allow 48 hours after receiving confirmation
from HMRC before you contact DVLA to register your
vehicle. This is to allow time for DVLA to access the
NOVA information.
You can find more information about notifying HMRC
and paying VAT:
• at www.gov.uk/nova-log-in
• by filling in a NOVA1 form, available from
www.gov.uk/nova-log-in but this will take longer
for HMRC to process
• by phoning HMRC’s VAT helpline on 0300 200 3701
• by textphone, if you’re deaf or hard of hearing,
0300 200 3719
The VAT helpline is open 8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to
Friday (closed weekends and bank holidays).
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If you’re a non-VAT registered company or private
individual
You do not need to notify HMRC using NOVA or the
NOVA 1 form. However, there are certain customs forms
you have to fill in before you can register your vehicle
with DVLA.
For more information go to www.gov.uk/importing-
vehicles-into-the-uk/telling/hmrc or phone HMRC’s
Customs International Trade and Excise enquiry line
on 0300 200 3700.
3 How to register a new vehicle
you have imported
A vehicle can only be registered as new in the UK if it:
• is registered within 14 days of the date you collected
it (normally the date of the invoice from the supplier)
• has the minimum mileage needed to deliver it
• has not been permanently registered before
• is a current model or a model that has stopped being
made within the last 2 years
To register a new vehicle send the following to DVLA:
• a V55/4 application form (the V355/4
leaflet will help you fill in this form)
• the first registration fee (see section 7)
• the fee for vehicle tax (see leaflet V149) or calculate
new car tax rates by going to www.gov.uk/check-tax-
rates-new-unregistered-cars
• a certificate of insurance or cover note for vehicles
registered with a Northern Ireland address (downloaded
copies are acceptable, photocopies are not) which is
valid on the date the vehicle tax comes into force
• form V267 – declaration that a vehicle is new
• evidence showing the date you collected the vehicle
(normally the date of the invoice from the supplier),
and how the vehicle was brought into the country
(either the temporary registration form if the vehicle
was driven, or evidence of transportation if it was
transported)
• photocopies of documents confirming your name
and address (see section 5)
• evidence of type approval (see section 6)
If you do not provide the documents we ask for we will
not accept your application.
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For GB and NI vehicles you’ll need to insure the vehicle
using the vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis
number. For more information contact the British Insurance
Brokers’ Association (BIBA):
• online at www.biba.org.uk
• by email to [email protected]
• by phone on 0370 950 1790
Vehicle registration schemes for the motor trade
You can apply to join the V55/2 secure vehicle registration
scheme if you’re:
• a car manufacturer
• an import concessionaire
• an independent import trader
Using the V55/2 scheme
Under the secure scheme, designed to help small
businesses regularly importing new vehicles, you do
not need to provide a vehicle type approval certificate.
Neither do you need to provide separate evidence of
newness, evidence of type approval, or notify HMRC using
the NOVA online service or by using HMRC’s paper form.
To apply to join the scheme send your details by email to
4 How to register a used vehicle
you have imported
To register a used vehicle send the following
to DVLA:
• a V55/5 application form (the V355/5 leaflet
will help you fill in this form)
• the fee for vehicle tax (see leaflet V149) or calculate
new car tax rates by going to www.gov.uk/vehicle-
tax-rate-tables
• an original non-UK registration document or certificate
for your vehicle (this document or certificate will not be
returned to you) – if you do not have a document or
certificate, send a letter to DVLA explaining why this is
not available together with a dating certificate from the
manufacturer or other acceptable source
• a certificate of insurance or cover note for vehicles
registered with a Northern Ireland address (downloaded
copies are acceptable, photocopies are not) which is
valid on the date the vehicle tax comes into force
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• proof of a valid MOT (electronic copies are acceptable)
or a Goods Vehicle Test (GVT) certificate (if appropriate).
For information about MOT or GVT testing, phone Driver
and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on 0300 123 9000
• photocopies of documents confirming your name
and address (see section 5)
• evidence of type approval (see section 6)
• the first registration fee (see section 7)
To register a used vehicle previously registered in the
UK that you have imported, send the following to DVLA:
• a V55/5 application form (the V355/5 leaflet will help
you fill in this form)
• the fee for vehicle tax (see leaflet V149) or calculate
new car tax rates by going to www.gov.uk/check-
taxrates-new-unregistered-cars
• an original non-UK registration document or certificate
for your vehicle (this document or certificate will not
be returned to you) – if you do not have a document
or certificate, send a letter to DVLA explaining why
this is not available
• a certificate of insurance or cover note for vehicles
registered with a Northern Ireland address (downloaded
copies are acceptable, photocopies are not) which is
valid on the date the vehicle tax comes into force
• proof of a valid MOT (electronic copies are acceptable)
or a Goods Vehicle Test (GVT) certificate (if appropriate).
For information about MOT or GVT testing, phone
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on
0300 123 9000
• photocopies of documents confirming your name
and address (see section 5)
Please note the first registration fee is not applicable.
For GB and NI vehicles you’ll need to insure the vehicle
using the vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis
number. For more information contact the British Insurance
Brokers’ Association (BIBA):
• online at www.biba.org.uk
• by email to [email protected]
• by phone on 0370 950 1790
5 Proof of name and address
Send in a photocopy of your UK photocard driving licence
with your application form to prove your identity.
If you cannot do this, you must send in photocopies
of one document that proves your name and another
document that proves your address.
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Documents you can use to confirm your name
include your:
• passport
• marriage or civil partnership certificate
• divorce or end of civil partnership document (decree
nisi, decree absolute, conditional order or final order)
• birth certificate or adoption certificate
• gender recognition certificate
• current GB paper driving licence (not paper counterpart)
Documents you can use to confirm your address
include a:
• recent utility bill (within the last 3 months) – for example,
gas, electricity, water or landline phone
• council tax bill for the current year
• recent bank or building society statement (within the
last 3 months)
• medical card or letter
You can fill in form V959 – ‘Notification of name and
address check’ (www.gov.uk/government/publications/
v959-notification-of-name-and-address-check) instead
of these documents to prove your identity if you’re a
current DVLA trade plate holder.
Identity documents from businesses and companies
(including fleet operators)
Send in 2 documents to show your current business
address:
• Companies House registration certificate (embossed)
• VAT registration certificate
• recent utility bill sent to your business (within the last 3
months) – for example, gas, electricity, water or landline
phone
• national non-domestic rate bill
• bank or building society statement for your business
(within the last 3 months)
• certificate of company insurance
• letter from HMRC showing your company details and
tax reference number
• your company mortgage statement
• property leasing agreement
• solicitor’s letter about buying the property the business
is run from
• consumer credit licence
Please send the relevant documents, with your V55/4 or
V55/5 application, to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BE or the
motor dealer.
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If you do not provide the documents we ask for we will
not accept your application.
6 Getting vehicle type approval
Before a vehicle can be registered and taxed, by law we
need proof your vehicle meets environmental and safety
regulations.
You must produce one of the following:
Certificate of Conformity
For UK registration, if you’ve got the original EU Certificate
of Conformity it must state that the speedometer shows
miles per hour (imperial units) and that the vehicle is
suitable for driving on the left-hand side of the road. If this
is not shown then you’ll require additional approval.
If the vehicle is registered (or manufactured) in the EU
If you do not have the EU Certificate of Conformity, contact
the vehicle manufacturer as they may be able to issue
this certificate. There may be a fee for issuing the EU
Certificate of Conformity.
Getting a certificate of GB Conversion IVA
If your Certificate of Conformity does not confirm that
the vehicle is suitable for UK registration, you may need
‘GB Conversion IVA’. Contact the Vehicle Certification
Agency (VCA) by:
• phone on 0300 330 5797
Type approval does not apply to certain vehicles
You might not need type approval for a vehicle that was
first registered or manufactured more than 10 years ago.
Check the exemptions at: www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/
exemptions-from-vehicle-approval
For more information:
• go to www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/individual
If your vehicle is over 10 years old and meets one of the
following criteria you may need type approval to enable
your vehicle to be registered and taxed correctly:
• if the vehicle was first registered on or after 1 March
2001 under the law of a country or territory outside of
the UK on the basis of an EU Certificate of Conformity
which identifies the vehicle as an M1 vehicle with a
CO2 emissions figure in g/km
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• if the vehicle was first registered on or after 1 March
2001 under the law of a country or territory outside of
the UK on the basis of an EU Certificate of Conformity
which identifies the vehicle as an N1 vehicle
For more information:
• go to www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/individual-
vehicle-approval
• visit www.vehicle-certification-agency.gov.uk/
vehicle-importing/vehicle-importing-information.asp
• phone VCA on 0300 330 5797
7 First registration fee
The fee is currently £55. You can pay by cheque or postal
order made payable to DVLA – do not send cash. We
cannot accept damaged or altered cheques. If you send
us a damaged or altered cheque, your application will be
rejected and returned to you.
You do not have to pay for some vehicles, including:
• vehicles first registered and taxed in the ‘Disabled’
tax class
• historic vehicles previously registered with the old
local authorities (late conversions)
• imported vehicles previously registered in the UK
under the Personal Export Scheme and New Means
of Transport Scheme
• visiting forces vehicles
• crown exempt vehicles
• vehicles registered under the Direct Export Scheme
• vehicles registered on the Off Road Scheme
8 Where to send your application
Send your application to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BE
9 What happens next
Your vehicle may need to be inspected. DVLA will contact
you if this is required.
If your application is approved:
• DVLA will allocate your vehicle a registration number
appropriate to its age (based on the evidence you’ve
provided)
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– if you’ve provided a non-UK registration document
showing the full date of first registration, we’ll use this
to allocate the registration number
– if your non-UK registration document does not show
the full date of first registration you’ll need to provide
evidence of the month and year of manufacture
so we can allocate the registration number more
accurately
– if you cannot provide evidence of the vehicle’s age,
we’ll allocate a ‘Q’ or ‘QNI’ registration number
• send you a V5C registration certificate (log book)
showing you as the registered keeper within 4 to 6
weeks of receiving your application
• return your documents, apart from your original
non-UK registration document or certificate (if you
would like your documents returned by special
delivery please provide a prepaid special delivery
envelope, we cannot guarantee to return
your documents by a specific date or event, for
example, a holiday)
If you do not receive your documents you must contact
DVLA within one month of the date you made your
application, otherwise we will not be able to carry
out an investigation.
If you do not get any of the above within the specified time,
please phone 0300 790 6802.
10 Further information or help
You can get general information on registering an
imported vehicle:
• at www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk
• by writing to Input Services Group, Correspondence
Team, DVLA, Swansea, SA6 7JL
• using our contact form at www.gov.uk/contactdvla
• by phone 0300 790 6802
Our Contact Centre opening hours are:
Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm
Saturday 8am to 2pm
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