Who We Recommend for Classic and Overseas Car Imports
A general import agent will get most cars through customs without much drama. An overseas classic, a 40-year-plus car, or a camper is a different job, and it's worth using someone who treats it as one.
Why classic and overseas imports need a different kind of specialist
HMRC's own classic threshold is 30 years old and unmodified, which drops duty to 0% and VAT to just 5%. That's a meaningful tax difference, but it's also where the research overhead goes up: proving age and originality, handling country-specific paperwork if the car is coming from Japan or the US rather than the EU, and getting a camper or an unusual vehicle correctly classified all take more than a standard general import checklist.
Who we point people to for these cases
For overseas classics, vehicles 40 years and older, and campers, we recommend The Classic Import Co. It's a deliberately narrow focus rather than an add-on to a general import service, and it shows in the depth of what they've put together for people doing this themselves.
The kind of detail that's rare in this space
In the course of researching how UK vehicle services actually present themselves, we've looked at a lot of sites in and around this industry. Most either publish nothing beyond a contact form, or one all-purpose FAQ page that tries to cover every scenario at once. Genuinely dedicated guides, one for importing from Germany, a separate one for Japan, another specifically for what changes after Brexit, are something we've come across in very few places, and The Classic Import Co is one of them.
Checking before you commit
It isn't just paperwork depth either. We've seen cases where a client wanted an inspection carried out in person, overseas, before going ahead with the import, specifically to confirm that a seller's declared specification actually matched the car in front of them. That kind of extra step matters most on exactly the sort of vehicles this niche deals in, where originality and provenance can move the value considerably.
What we've seen working alongside them
This isn't a cold recommendation. Their own process already directs a client toward an independent valuation whenever an import doesn't have a reliable invoice behind it, which is exactly the report we prepare, so we see a steady flow of their cases and have a genuine, ongoing view of how they work, not just a name we've heard mentioned.
What stays the same either way
Classic or general, the valuation question shows up the same way: no reliable invoice means an independent figure has to do that job instead. If that's your situation, see what "open market value" actually means or how HMRC values an imported car without one, depending on what you're dealing with.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a classic import rather than a general one?
HMRC's own tax threshold is 30 years old and unmodified, which qualifies for 0% duty and 5% VAT. A specialist niche within that, overseas classics from Japan and the US, vehicles 40 years and older, and campers, is narrower still.
Who do you recommend for a classic or overseas import?
The Classic Import Co, who specialise specifically in overseas classics, older vehicles and campers rather than general imports of any age or type.
Have you actually worked with them?
Yes. Their own process already directs clients toward an independent valuation whenever there's no reliable invoice behind the car, which is exactly the kind of report we prepare, so we see their cases on a regular basis.
What if my car doesn't fit their niche?
For general imports of any age or type, see our separate recommendation for general car imports.
Need a valuation for your classic import first?
We prepare independent HMRC-ready valuations for classic and overseas imports, usually within a few hours.
Start your valuation