You may recall that I mentioned a number of “if, buts and maybes” for the process of importing your classic car – well, unsurprisingly the theme continues here!
It”s wisest to arrange your insurance as soon as possible, and in most cases this can be set up with your existing insurer, or you may choose to look elsewhere. If you have any doubts or specific questions concerning insurance, you should contact the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), who will be able to advise you on where to find the cover you need.
In order to arrange your car insurance, you”ll need to use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or chassis number of the car.
Then you”ll need to arrange for a MOT to be carried out on your classic car as you will need a GB MOT certificate. If you are unsure about this part of the process, you can contact the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
You will also need Type Approval for your car.
Your car may have a Certificate of Conformity. This needs to state that the vehicle is suitable for driving on the left-hand side of the road. If this is not stated, then you could contact the European manufacturer. For a fee, they may be willing to grant a certificate of conformity.
Otherwise, if your car has been imported from within the EU, then you will have to follow the Mutual Recognition Process AKA the Commission Notice Procedure.
This is basically a way to declare that your car is fit for UK roads, as it checks the suitability alterations which have been made to your car. You will pay a fee, and will be granted a Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) certificate once all of the paperwork has been checked.
If your car has been imported from outside the EU, such as Asia or North America, you will need to follow the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) process. In this case your car will be examined and you will receive a Individual Approval Certificate.
Next, contact your local DVLA office. It is quite a specialist registration process and takes about a week to complete. In some cases, the DVLA may request to see the vehicle. If this is the case, you are allowed to drive your car for the appointment – despite it not being registered.
You will need to take your conformity documentation, insurance and MOT certificate. You will also need to complete the V55/5 application form. The DVLA can provide a leaflet to help you complete this. In addition, you will need to provide :
- £55 registration fee (correct at the time of writing this article – Oct 2012) and payment for the tax disc (you will pay the First Year Rates for car tax if the car was registered abroad for less than six months, or if the car has completed less than 6,000 kilometres)
- The foreign registration document of your car
- Paperwork showing the date on which the vehicle was imported, plus the required HM Revenue and Customs documents
- Proof of your name and address (the usual strict rules apply here : passport, driving licence, utility bills etc). The DVLA website has a list of approved identification documentation, so it would be worth consulting this when you are putting your paperwork together.
Once approved, you will receive a registration number for your car which will reflect its age, plus a tax disc and also a number plate authorisation certificate so that you can get the plates made. You will also receive your registration certificate within four to six weeks.
At this point, you can start to think about the pleasure of driving your imported car in the UK – enjoy !
EMMA JONES
This article was written and published by Emma Jones. Emma works for Trade Classics as an in-house journalist and copywriter and has many years” experience in the classic car sector. Why not write a reply on this article below – she”d love to hear your thoughts on her thoughts!Google
Categories: Classic Car Blog, Government Policy
Truly tons of excellent facts.
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Hi Emma, Trying to find out if there are now any taxation fees when importing a 40 + year old car from the eu. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Brian
My car was imported from USA and has been fully restored and has an MOT. For registration purposes so I still need an IVA ??
I cannot remember doing this a few years ago .
Many thanks
Neil
Hello,
I am looking for somone to help with classic car registration brought from france plaese 07713476327
I am planning to buy a corvette 1960 from Spain and bring to uk is there any duty or vat applicable on import please ?
Hello everyone – so post Brexit it’s a bit tricky to find out the current rules for moving cars between UK and EU, i.e. the VAT / Duty due. We assume it’s international rules but we are trying to validate this for you. We’re trying to speak to people in HMRC to find out but it’s proving tricky to a. get hold of them and b. get hold of someone that really knows. Lydia from our team is trying her best and spent many hours on hold to them now. But sit tight as she’ll hopefully have the answers in… Read more »
Lots of questions no useful answers.
Hi where can I see the most upto date info re importing 1970 classic car from Holland please
Dvla reg fees etc vat or not
Duty to pay or not
With thanks
Robert
Hi Emma, Would it be straight forward to import my 2004 Clio into the UK ?.
Not quite correct for all classic vehicles, a registered car club can confirm it is a true reflection of type and then it can be registered with DVLA. It is not required to have a conformance certificate nor a MOT if it is of a certain production year, I import classic vehicles and use the following method, I ask an appropriate club ie if it’s a Jaguar then I will get a heritage certificate and get the Jag club to give me a letter confirming it is original, the same goes for many British made vehicles that may have made… Read more »
Hi Alan…I have just bought and imported a 1969 Bentley Corniche from Sweden to my home in London. It is a rhd car which was originally registered in England…I have the original chassis number and the original licence plate details ( but not the plates) It is currently on the Swedish plates it arrived with. Could I ask what the procedure is from here is as far as registering the car here and also whether it’s possible to get the car registration on the original H plates…many thanks…Fin Lacy..(Chelsea)
Emma
Great blog. But have a question if the car I am importing from Italy, is over the age of requiring an.
M. O. T. how does this effect the application process?
I want to get this car registered before we officially leave the EU
Kind regards
Mw
Hi Emma
Great blog really helpful! But I have one question for you as a classic car over the prescribed age for not requiring an M. O. T. are you saying that I will still require one or still register as.
M. O. T. Exempt?
Kind regards
Mw
Hello Emma. I bought a stolen/recovered motorcycle from an auction house used by police to sell on property. It’s a southern Irish bike, bought in Scotland. I have no documents other than receipts showing the purchase by me from the auction. I want to repair the bike and use it myself. It’s on Southern Irish plates at the moment. The chassis and engine numbers are intact. Do I just need insurance, a mot certificate and then fill in a v55/5? The bike is a 1998 Triumph, and was built in Hinckley. England
Would any one help me with my 1960 MGA imported from Texas.Purchased this car as running,from the guy that imported it.Im in the middle of restoring it and converting it to RHD.No paper work with the car.I need to start the registration process.Anybody know the number of the DVLA form i need to start ?
Does anyone have an idea about sending a vintage Austin 12/4 (1929) from Guernsey (British Isles but NOT an EU country) to a classic car dealer for a commission sale in the uk? The dealer wants it registered in the UK before he will accept it for sale. I do not have a property in the UK to register it to.
Bought a genuine 79 Ferrari gt4 rolling shell with no paperwork only receipt of sale , vehicle originally from Europe all chassis number complete and correct but no registration number or documents , please advise need registration before restoring , thanks
Hi Robert, where did you buy it from, country of origin and sales house?
my car was made in 1956 , I have no Documents or Registration ?
well if it is an import you wont be able to do it at the moment because the DVLA has effectively stopped personal imports by refusing to process paper applications . I applied to register a 1966 issilvisa in FEBRUARY. I got an email in MAY saying they were not accepting paper applications in the forseeable future THis is regardless of the fact that they had the application before there were any issues. TYpical DVLA any excuse to be a pain. ANd yes I understand covid etc but applications are supposed to take two weeks and mine was sent off… Read more »
Hi, Would anyone know how I would be able to obtain the logbook for a vintage Citroen H Van? No one knows where it came from, it has just been sat in a yard owned by a family friend for years on years and after purchasing the van from him we are now hoping to transform it into a catering vehicle. Any advice would be much appreciated, all we have is the registration plates and the chassis number.
I think you just make a claim for the vehicle to the DVLA https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/new-and-used-vehicles
Pretty poor article (at best )
Quite a few of your facts are wrong about importing cars over 40 years old and from outside the EU
you dont need an MOT if the car is over 40years old and it is registered as a historic vehicle
You dont need type approval either if the vehicle was never sold new in the uk
Hello Brian,
I like your response I have over 40 year old Mercedes registered in France – date of first registration January 1979. I have original log book – registration certificate – do I need to translate it and use V62 for registration ? Also I haven’t paid any tax or duties as I was able to use the car at the time and it wasn’t classic then. Can you advise, if possible, what do I need to put things into action please. Thank you so much. karolstafecki@hotmail.com,
07713476327
is this information written down anywhere ,dvla department for this shut down at moment.any firms will arrange?i have 1968-72 fiat 850 spider ,been in storage 40 years in uk,but never registered,can anyone help please!
thanks ,ian
Hello Brian,
You seem to have a good grasp on this, would you mind me getting in touch for a chat, you may be able to help me with a few questions I have.
Hi Emma,, Ive imported a 1967 MK2 jag from South Africa. I have a Duplicate Registration Document from South Africa . So this will accompany my V55/5 Application Form. However, I’ve read through the document & it states to refer to A certificate of Conformity Or IVA certificate, This vehicle is except from both for one reason or another as you go down there list. So you end up in a catch 22 situation. My question is what form do I require in replacement so I can make a vehicle registration application. Thanks so much for your assistance in this… Read more »
Can I , or do I, need to register a 1940s Cadillac , it has failed the uk mot, not really repairable, may be able to sell as spares or restoration project, what do I need to do ?.
Hi Steve, have you already imported the car in the UK and paid duties etc? If the answer is yes to the former, then you can sell the car “unregistered” to the next owner as a spares/repairs/restoration.
Yes all duties etc have been paid. what about if it was to be exported.
Is a certificate of conformity required for a 1987 USA-produced automobile? I.e., is there a cut-off date for the certificate of conformity requirement?
Hi Emma I have a triumph tr4 1962 from america I have bill of sale and nova number paid also stamped approval from mayor of alabama as after so long no paperwork, am converting it to right hand drive what forms do I require been on phone to dvla 1sf time got cut off think they did it on purpose 2nd time was told to go int Internet then that was me confused till I see your post
Hi Emma
I heave Chevrolet chevelle 1969
This car was import from USA to Poland and register in Poland but normal registration (no classic) and now I want to take this car to uk and Register as a classic car .
Question : will be possible ,and what document I need to register this car .
Thanks
Regards
Lukas
Hi Emma we have a 1970 vw beetle which is historic reg in spain and we want to import it to the UK but I’m finding the v55 very confusing on I don’t know where to find out the information which they ask for on the v55 is it still v55 if it’s a historic reg
Do we need to mot it in the UK first
Or can you recommend a company to do the paperwork as I find it very confusing
Thank you for your time
Tony
Hi Emma I’m buying a 1978 Classic Rolls Royce now Registered in Spain what do I need to register the car in my name in the Uk?
Hi Emma. Great article(s). If I import a 1950s Morgan from Sweden will it benefit from MOT and Road Tax waivers? Kindest, Michael
Hi Emma. Great article(s). if I important a 1950’s car from Sweden, will it benefit from the no Road Tax and MOT waivers? Kindest, Michael
Hello, My recent import will need restoring before any mot. It is a 1964 mk 2 Jaguar. Can I apply for a registration document before restoration. I have paid my taxes on the car. Also wouldn’t it be MOT exempt? Thanks
I have a 1978 corvette which was registered in the UK. I then took it to Spain for 5 years and was registered there. I have now brought it back to the UK and want to reregister here. Is the process the same as you describe. Thanks Bob.
What Docs do I ask the dvla for to register my 1923 Ford T.