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NOVA Notification of Vehicle Arrival: Who Files It and When

Published 6 November 2026 · 7 min read

NOVA, the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals, is how you tell HMRC that a vehicle has arrived in the UK permanently. GOV.UK gives you 14 days from bringing it in, and you cannot register the vehicle with the DVLA until it is done. Who files it depends on how the vehicle arrives and whether you are VAT registered.

This guide covers who makes the NOVA declaration, when, what they need from you and where it sits before DVLA registration. Bassett Valuations does not file NOVA or customs declarations. We prepare the DVLA registration pack that comes after it, and we say where each step ends and ours begins. It follows GOV.UK's Telling HMRC page, read on 6 November 2026.

NOVA sorted and now facing the DVLA forms? Want us to prepare all your DVLA paperwork?

What is NOVA?

NOVA is HMRC's notification that an imported vehicle has arrived. It is separate from the import declaration, which is the customs paperwork for VAT and duty, and separate from the DVLA application, which comes last. HMRC uses NOVA to know a vehicle has arrived and to make sure any VAT is dealt with. The DVLA then asks for confirmation that your NOVA application is processed before it will register the vehicle.

In short, the order GOV.UK gives is: the import declaration with any VAT and duty paid, then NOVA, then the DVLA registration. Each step waits for the one before, so a NOVA that is late or filed wrongly holds up the registration and everything after it.

Most private importers never see the NOVA screen themselves. Whoever brings the vehicle in for you usually files it, which is why the question "who files it?" matters more than "how do I fill it in?".

Who makes the NOVA declaration?

GOV.UK splits it by who you are and how the vehicle arrives:

Your situation	Who makes the NOVA declaration
VAT-registered company	The company, using the NOVA online service within 14 days. A spreadsheet can be used for many vehicles. If you cannot use the online service, ask the imports and exports helpline for a VAT NOVA1 form.
Private individual or company not VAT registered, vehicle shipped to the UK	Your shipping company or customs agent (they may charge an extra fee), or HMRC's CARS team on your behalf, within 14 days of the vehicle arriving.
Private individual or company not VAT registered, you bring the vehicle in yourself	You contact HMRC's CARS team within 14 days. They tell you whether VAT or duty is due. If it is, a customs agent makes the import declaration and the CARS team then make the NOVA declaration for you.
Vehicle registered in the Isle of Man	No NOVA application. You send a completed V55 and the Isle of Man registration document to the DVLA.

One rule catches people out: if tax is due, you must have paid any import taxes before HMRC can make the NOVA declaration. That is why the import declaration, the payment and the NOVA come in that order.

When must it be done?

Within 14 days of bringing the vehicle into the UK permanently. GOV.UK says you may be fined if you are late, and that you cannot register the vehicle until you have done it. A late NOVA also holds up the DVLA registration, because the DVLA will not register the vehicle without HMRC's confirmation. It also warns that you can be prosecuted for using the vehicle on a public road before you finish the import steps, unless you are driving it to a pre-booked MOT or vehicle approval test.

What does the person filing NOVA need from you?

For a private individual with a shipped vehicle, GOV.UK lists what whoever makes the declaration needs:

• The C88 and E2 customs documents, or your Movement Reference Number (MRN) import document.
• The invoice or bill of sale, if you bought the vehicle in the last 6 months.
• A current valuation, if you bought the vehicle more than 6 months ago.
• A copy of an official document that confirms the VIN or chassis number, for example a registration or title document or an export certificate.

The valuation is only one of those papers, and only for a vehicle bought more than six months ago or with no invoice. GOV.UK sets conditions on who carries it out and how, so read them on the Telling HMRC page before you order any report, ours included, and ask your customs agent what HMRC will want in your case. HMRC decides what it accepts. Our guide to whether you need a valuation before importing sets out when one helps, and how HMRC values an imported car with no invoice explains the no-invoice case.

Where NOVA sits in the import

GOV.UK gives the order for a shipped vehicle. NOVA is step 3 of 5, and the DVLA registration is last:

1. Import declaration, VAT and dutyYour shipping company or customs agent makes the declaration and usually arranges the payment at the UK border.
2. NOVA This guideHMRC is told the vehicle has arrived, within 14 days, by whoever files it for you.
3. Vehicle approvalProof that the vehicle meets UK safety and environmental standards.
4. DVLA registrationThe V55/5 application, supporting documents and the £55 registration fee. Our V55/5 form guide shows the real boxes.
5. InsuranceBefore you drive on UK roads.

What the DVLA asks once NOVA is done

Before you can register the vehicle, GOV.UK says you must have told HMRC and got confirmation that your NOVA application is processed, paid any VAT and customs duty you owe, and got proof of vehicle approval. You then apply on the V55/5 and send the original supporting documents, including the original foreign registration certificate, which the DVLA does not return. It can take up to 6 weeks for the V5C registration certificate to arrive. Our guide to registering an imported car with the DVLA walks through it step by step, and the documents you need lists what to send.

Rather not risk a rejected application and weeks of delay? Let us check your DVLA pack before you post it.

Who can make the NOVA declaration for you?

We do not. These companies handle the import side, including customs and NOVA:

Vehicle or need	Company
A car or a classic	The Classic Import Co.
A motorhome, camper or RV	Motorhome Import
A motorbike or scooter	Motorbike Import
Any vehicle, with transport and inspection abroad	Cars Import UK

The Classic Import Co. also explains the step in its own guide, what is NOVA and how HMRC uses it.

Frequently asked questions

What does NOVA stand for?

NOVA stands for Notification of Vehicle Arrivals. It is the way you tell HMRC that a vehicle has been brought into the UK permanently, so that any VAT due can be accounted for and the DVLA can register the vehicle.

How long do I have to make a NOVA declaration?

GOV.UK gives you 14 days after you bring the vehicle into the UK permanently. You may be fined if you are late, and you cannot register the vehicle with the DVLA until HMRC has dealt with it.

Can a private individual make a NOVA declaration?

Not through the online service, which GOV.UK describes for VAT-registered companies. If you are a private individual or a company that is not VAT registered, the NOVA declaration is made for you by your shipping company or customs agent, or by HMRC's CARS team on your behalf.

Does Bassett Valuations make the NOVA declaration?

No. Bassett Valuations writes valuation reports and prepares the DVLA registration pack that comes after NOVA. It does not submit NOVA or customs declarations.

Do I need a NOVA for a vehicle with a very small engine?

GOV.UK says a vehicle with an engine of 48cc or less (7.2kw or less if it is electric) can be registered without telling HMRC first. Check the Telling HMRC page for your vehicle before you rely on this.

Sources: GOV.UK, Importing vehicles into the UK: Telling HMRC; How to import a vehicle; Registering an imported vehicle. Read on 6 November 2026.