Importing car to UK is a simple and straightforward process. Depending on the shipping service you use – either via a container or Roll On /Roll Off shipping option, you can get your UK car imports done swiftly and with minimum costs.
Containerized UK car imports are usually done in two ways; consolidated or individually. With the consolidated option, your vehicle will be shipped along with others in a 40ft container. This option effectively reduces the ocean transport cost as well as the destination and unloading fees.
An individual container option, on the other hand, will have your vehicle being transported alone inside a 20ft container. The fees will be more, however, the departure and arrival times will be less and you can carry along household goods and load them into the container as well.
The Roll On/Roll Off option is also a good method of importing car to UK. Your vehicle must be in good running condition as it will be driven on and off the hull of the shipping vessel. The rates for this option is usually lesser than containers, however, it may vary depending on the departure location and the arrival port that you use. Also, household goods are not allowed inside the vehicle and the sail times are usually longer than the containerized shipping option.
In essence, shipping times, costs and all other specifics is determined based on the shipping option you choose and the type of vehicle being transported. You will have to verify with your car shipping company to get accurate information.
Important things to know before importing car to UK
Before importing car to UK, you must ensure that it meets a number of specific regulations such as:
- The Road Vehicle Regulations 1986; and
- The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989
If you are importing the vehicle permanently into the UK, you must provide evidence that the vehicle meets all environmental and safety regulations. You can do this by making use of the Individual Vehicle Approval scheme. Details on this process can be found on the UK government’s website.
Necessary documents needed for importing car to UK
- Passport
- Bill of lading
- Proof of ownership (vehicle registration)
- Certificate of insurance
- Import document C 104A
Available ports in the United Kingdom:
- Bristol
- Felixstowe
- Grangemouth
- Liverpool
- London
- Newcastle
- Southampton
- Tilbury
Duties and Taxes
UK car imports require that you pay import duties and taxes, as well as VAT (Value Added Tax). However, you may qualify to have these fees waived in number of circumstances such as;
- If you’re making a permanent move into the UK
- If you’re importing a previously exported vehicle; or
- If you’re a non-European member and you intend staying in the country for no longer than 6 months (also known as a temporary admission relief)
If your UK car imports do not fall into any of these categories, you will certainly need to pay all taxes, duties, and VAT once the vehicle arrived the country. Ensure that you notify the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of your vehicle being imported by completing the “Notification of Vehicle Arrivals” service online.
After completing the online vehicle notification exercise by the HMRC, a bill of the VAT total owed will be sent to you and an instruction to pay immediately, failure of which will attract penalties. Also, before you import your vehicle, you will need to obtain a “Vehicle Import Pack” from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) from the Department of Transport Website.
Most UK car imports are normally of vehicles aged 10 years and younger. Restrictions are usually placed on vehicles older than 10 years, so you will need to contact the DVLA before attempting to ship a vehicle of that age range.
It is also extremely important that you insure and register your vehicle as soon as it arrives the port as you will not be allowed to drive the vehicle until it is properly insured and registered. Remember to keep copies and originals of all documents as well, as they may likely be needed to secure a proper registration.