Importing a vehicle into the United Kingdom - registrations and licensing procedures
IMPORTING A VEHICLE
A vehicle which is permanently imported for use in Great Britain must be registered and licensed as soon as possible after it arrives in this country. The vehicle should not be used or kept on public roads until the licensing and registration formalities have been completed.
However, if the vehicle needs to have an SVA or MOT test in order to be registered, the vehicle may be driven to and from the pre-arranged test appointment. Thereafter, the vehicle must be kept off the road until the registration formalities have taken place. Application for registration should be made to your nearest DVLA Local Office.
N.B It is not possible to offer an 'over the counter service'; registration usually takes between 48 to 72 hours.
Type Approval
Non-type approved vehicles less than 10 years old that are personally imported are required to pass a Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) test. To qualify as a Personal Import [PI], the following conditions have to be met.
If the vehicle has been imported by a person entering the United Kingdom;
- That the person had, at the time the vehicle was imported, been normally resident in a country other than the United Kingdom for a continuous period of at least 12 months;
- That person intends to become normallyresident in the United Kingdom;
- That the vehicle has been in the possession of that person and used by him in the country where he has normally resident for a period of at least 6 months before its importation and
- That the vehicle is intended for his personal or household use in the United Kingdom.
- Personally imported vehicles over 3 years old, that meet the above criteria, will be subject to the MOT test.
The Vehicle Operator Services Agency will need to be satisfied that the person importing the vehicle complies with the above criteria.
A "brand new" vehicle can be driven to GB and registered as "new" provided the vehicle:
- is registered in GB quickly after collection - this is taken to be 14 days but may be extended to one calendar month at peak periods (e.g. prior to 1st March and 1st September)
- Only have reasonable delivery mileage and
- Not have been previously "permanently" registered.
N.B. UK law requires a vehicle to be UK licenced and registered for road use. To avoid difficulties, importers are advised to transport, rather than drive their vehicles from the port to home or first destination and to keep them off the road until they have been properly licenced and registered.
For most new vehicles you must present evidence of Type Approval from the supplier or vehicle manufacturer, usually in the form of a Certificate of Conformity. If the vehicle has not been subject to Type Approval it must pass a Single Approval (SVA) Test.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
The following documents will need to be submitted to the DVLA Local Office. (N.B. photocopies are NOT acceptable).
- Completed application form V55/4* (for new vehicles) or V55/5 (for used vehicles).
- # A £38 registration fee (if applicable).
- The required fee for the licence.
- A current British certificate of insurance.
- Foreign registration document and any other papers you have relating to the vehicle.
- Evidence showing the date the vehicle was collected (normally the invoice from the supplier).
- Evidence of type approval.
- The appropriate Customs and Excise form.
- A current British MOT test certificate (if applicable).
- A Declaration of Newness V267 (if applicable). The V267 is also available from the DVLA Local Office.
- Documentation confirming your name and address (view acceptable documentation)
*The V55/4 form has been introduced to distinguish between new and used vehicles coming forward for registration.
# Please make cheques, postal orders payable to "DVLA Swansea" or "Driver and Vehicle licensing Agency".
Registration and licensing will not take place unless you have the necessary documentation. In some cases the DVLA Local Office may wish to see the vehicle to check its identity.
Registration and licensing procedures
A vehicle imported into GB for use on the public road must be licensed and registered immediately after arrival. The vehicle must be in this country and available for inspection before you make the application. The inspection may be to establish the vehicle's category as well as its identity.
After arrival the only circumstances in which you can drive the vehicle before completing these formalities are to and from a pre-arranged SVA and /or MoT test and to and from a garage for remedial work following failure to pass the tests.
Thereafter the vehicle must be kept off road until the licensing and registration formalities have been completed. N.B. UK law requires a vehicle to be licensed and registered for road use.
To avoid difficulties, importers are advised by DVLA to transport rather than drive their vehicles from the port of entry to home or first destination and to keep them off the road until they have been properly licensed and registered.
Application for licensing and registration should be made to the DVLA Local Offices nearest your place of residence. Addresses and telephone numbers are given in Appendix 3. Please note this type of application is not dealt with 'over the counter'. These offices are open Monday to Friday 9:00 - 17:00 (except on the second Wednesday of each month when they open at 9:30).
What documents will I need?
In order to license and register your vehicle the following documents which must be originals, will need to be submitted to your DVLA Local Office:
a) New Vehicle
i. V55/4 application form
ii. Registration fee - currently £38 (not applicable for vehicles registered in the disabled taxation class)
iii. The duty payable for road fund licence (Vehicle Excise Duty)
iv. A current certificate of British motor insurance
v. Evidence of payment of duties to Customs & Excise or self-declaration
vi. Evidence of Type Approval
vii. Declaration of Newness
viii. Evidence showing the date the vehicle was collected (normally the invoice)
b) Used Vehicle
i. V55/5 application form
ii. Registration fee - currently £38 (not applicable for vehicles registered in the disabled taxation class)
iii. The duty payable for the road fund licence (Vehicle Excise Duty)
iv. A current certificate of insurance
v. Evidence to determine the age of the vehicle e.g. foreign registration document, letter from the manufacturer
vi. Evidence of payment of duties to Customs & Excise or self-declaration
vii. Evidence of Type Approval
viii. A current MoT certificate (if applicable)
If you are registering your vehicle using either form V55/4 or V55/5 you will need to produce documentation confirming both your name and address. This procedure was introduced on 1 January 2004 to ensure the keeper details provided at the time of registration are genuine, thereby preventing the fraudulant registration of vehicles. You must provide either your DVLA photocard driving licence or one original document from each of the lists below. Copies are not acceptable.
Documentation confirming your name:
Current DVLA paper driving licence
Passport
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Decree nisi/ absolute
Documentation confirming your address
Utility bill issued within the last 3 months - gas, electricity, water, landline telephone
Council tax bill for current year
Bank/ Building Society statement issued within the last 3 months
Medical card
Registration and licensing will not take place unless you have the necessary documentation (including a test certificate if appropriate). In some cases the Local Office may wish to see the vehicle to check its identity.
Postal Applications
Postal applications can be made by sending the completed V55/4 or V55/5 application form to your DVLA Local Office ensuring that you include all the documents required to license and register your vehicle. For the address of the nearest Local Office call 08702 43044 or see Appendix 3.
Returning Your Identity Documents
In most cases your documentation will be returned with your Vehicle Excise Licence (tax disc). If you would like your documents returned by special delivery please provide a prepaid self-addressed special delivery envelope. DVLA can not guarantee to return your documents by a specific date or event (eg a holiday).
Non-Receipt of Identity Documents
Unless you contact DVLA within 3 months of the date you sent your application they will not be able to carry out the necessary follow-up investigation both at the DVLA Local Office and with the Post Office. DVLA will not be liable to any claim after the three month period.
Further Information
For further advice on completing application forms V55/4 or V55/5 please refer to booklet V355/4 or V355/5. Alternatively, you may wish to contact your DVLA Local Office. The documents V55/4, V55/5, V355/4 and V355/5 are all available from DVLA Local Offices.
New vehicle previously driven (delivery mileage only)
A 'brand new' vehicle can be driven to GB and registered as 'new' provided
a. the vehicle is registered in GB quickly after collection - this is taken to be 14 days but may be extended to one calendar month at peak periods (e.g. prior to 1 March and 1 September);
b. it has reasonable delivery mileage;
c. it has not been previously 'permanently' registered.
Insurance against third party liability
You must obtain insurance cover before you drive in the UK. This can be arranged prior to arrival through an UK insurance company or broker. The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) should be able to provide you with information about insurance companies which provide the type of cover you will need. The BIBA can be contacted at: BIBA House, 14 Bevis Marks, London, EC3A 7NT, Tel: (0)20 7623 9043.
What customs forms do I need?
You will need one of the following:
Vehicle imported from outside the EU
C&E 386 - This form is issued by HM Customs for a vehicle of any age personally imported from outside the EU.
C&E 388 - This form is issued by HM Customs for a Customs restricted vehicle of any age personally imported from outside the EU.
C&E 389 - This is a self-declaration form which should be used by VAT registered traders for commercial imports from outside the EU.
These forms will show that the appropriate taxes have or will be paid. For more detailed advice about import duties please contact HM Customs and Excise. (see Appendix 2.)
How do I show compliance with technical requirements?
You will need to prove that your vehicle meets the appropriate technical standard described in Section 2. To do this you must present:
a. A Certificate of Conformity or
b. A Mutual Recognition Certificate or
c. A Single Vehicle Approval Certificate or
d. Evidence of previous British registration (including registration in Northern Ireland) or
e. A British National Type Approval Certificate or
f. Evidence of exemption from Type Approval. This may be because the vehicle is more than 10 years old or is an exempted class.
Please Note:
- All the documents must be originals.
- At least one of the documents must bear the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) officially.
- The other documents must refer to the VIN, but it will be acceptable if the VIN is added by the applicant.
- You will need to provide proof that the vehicle is a "personal import" at the time of applying for SVA under the "personal import" category. If accepted as proof that the vehicle is a "personal import", all the documents will be officially stamped. ou may then use them to apply for an SVA test and they will be accepted for registration.
- When the vehicle is registered, you will be required to surrender foreign registration documents but you will be given photocopies if you request them.
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