Frequently asked questions about how to import a vehicle or car into the UK
1. What does MOT stand for ?
Mot stands for Ministry of Transport Test
2. How do i know if my vehicle requires an MOT ?
Any vehicle over 3 years old from the date of first registration in its country of origin will require an MOT.
3. Why do vehicles require an MOT ?
An mot is required to check that a vehicle is in a raod worthy condition and that the Co2 being ommitted from the vehicle is of an acceptable level.
4. How long does an MOT last ?
An MOT last one year from the date first tested in the UK.
5. What does COC stand for and what is it ?
COC stands for Certificate of Conformity and is a certicate that on some occassions can be used as proof that a vehicle conforms to UK
standards during thhe registartion process.
6. What does IVA/SVA stand for ?
IVA stands for Individual Vehicle Approval SVA stands for Single Vehicle Approval.
7. What is an IVA/SVA ?
An IVA/SVA is a test run by the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to check that vehicles imported without a COC
(Certificate of Conformity) conform to UK standards.
8. Will my vehicle require any modiciations to be registered in the UK ?
If you do not have a COC (Certificate of Conformity) your vehicle will be required to take SVA/IVA (Single/Individual Vehicle Approval) test and some modifications may be
needed to enable your vehicle to pass this test.
9. Will i have to pay Duty when importing a vehicle into the UK ?
This depends on where your vehicle has come from if it has been imported from outside of the European Union (EU) you will have to pay
duty if it has been imported from within the European Union you are not required to pay duty.
10. How is import duty calculated ?
Import duty is calculated on a percentage of the invoice value of the vehicle being imported the percentage varys depending on what type of
vehicle you are importing.
11. Will i have to pay VAT when importing a vehicle into England ?
This depends on where your vehicle has come from if it has been imported from outside of the European Union (EU) you will have to pay
VAT if it has been imported from within the European Union you are not required to pay VAT unless it is a new vehicle.
12. How much is VAT ?
VAT in the UK is charged at 15% and will be charged on the Duty,Invoice price and any shipping costs involved in getting your vehicle to the UK.
13. Where do i register my vehicle ?
Imported vehicles can be registered at any DVLA (Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority) local office found through out the UK.
14. Do i have to pay road tax in the UK ?
Yes any vehicle driving on UK roads must be displaying a valid road tax disc.
15. How is road tax calculated in UK ?
Road tax in the UK is calculated on a sliding scale depending on the Co2 emmissions of the vehicle being taxed.
