In-Person Vehicle Valuation for HMRC: How It Works
An in-person vehicle valuation means the valuer inspects the vehicle in the UK instead of working from photos alone. For a NOVA declaration, GOV.UK asks for one if you bought the vehicle more than 6 months ago, and it must be carried out in person in the UK by a garage, dealership or other recognised business. Bassett Valuations can arrange in-person valuations in the UK, subject to location and availability.
This guide covers when HMRC asks for an in-person valuation, how our inspection service works step by step, what the report contains and what it does not do. We have more than ten years of experience valuing vehicles for HMRC, probate, insurance, import and export. The rules below follow GOV.UK's Telling HMRC page, read on 7 November 2026.
Need a vehicle inspected in person for HMRC? Ask about an in-person valuation.
Get a price for an in-person valuation
Your price is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
When does HMRC ask for an in-person valuation?
When you tell HMRC a vehicle has arrived with NOVA, GOV.UK says whoever makes the declaration needs a proof of value. If you bought the vehicle in the last 6 months, that is the invoice or bill of sale. If you bought it more than 6 months ago, it is a current valuation, and GOV.UK says it must be carried out in person in the UK by a garage, dealership or other recognised business.
The same page also asks for the C88 and E2 customs documents or your Movement Reference Number, and an official document that confirms the VIN or chassis number, such as a registration, title or export certificate. NOVA is due within 14 days of bringing the vehicle in.
GOV.UK does not say, on that page, which businesses count as "recognised", and we cannot promise how HMRC will treat any report. If you are unsure whether a valuer qualifies, ask HMRC before you order. Our guide to whether you need a valuation before you import sets out the same two routes.
How does our in-person valuation work?
- You tell us about the vehicle. The make, model and year, where the vehicle is, and what the valuation is for: HMRC, NOVA, import or export.
- We confirm we can inspect it. An in-person valuation is subject to location and availability. We tell you whether we can reach the vehicle and send a clear price in writing before we start.
- We inspect the vehicle. We assess it physically, looking at its condition, mileage and specification.
- We support the value with UK market evidence. That means comparable vehicles and market transactions, with adjustments for condition, mileage and specification.
- You receive the written report. It sets out the value and the evidence behind it, so you can see how the figure was reached.
Our fees reflect the work involved in each case, which is why the price is confirmed for your vehicle before anything starts and not quoted from a list.
Not sure whether HMRC wants an in-person valuation in your case? Tell us what you were asked for and we will say what we can do.
Check what you need before you orderFree price first. No obligation.
What does the report contain?
The report is an independent opinion of the vehicle's value in the UK market, with the comparable vehicles shown and the adjustments explained, so a reader can follow the reasoning and not only the number. You can see how a report is laid out on our sample vehicle valuation report page.
In-person or desktop valuation: which do you need?
A desktop valuation works from the details, documents and photos you send. An in-person valuation adds a physical inspection. Which one is enough depends on who asks for the valuation and what they say. For NOVA, GOV.UK's wording is in person, so that is the route to plan for if the vehicle was bought more than 6 months ago. Our guide to desktop or in-person car valuation compares the two, and it makes no promise about what any organisation will accept.
Because NOVA is due within 14 days of bringing the vehicle in, and an in-person valuation needs the vehicle to be in the UK, it helps to get in touch as soon as it arrives, with the location.
Is an in-person valuation useful when buying a vehicle to export?
Yes. If you are buying a UK vehicle to export, an in-person valuation before you pay tells you whether the asking price matches the vehicle in front of you, using the same market evidence. It is a valuation, not a mechanical inspection and not a history check. Our guide to buying a car in the UK to export without overpaying explains how the figure is used.
What an in-person valuation does not do
- It is not a mechanical inspection, and it does not check the vehicle's history, such as outstanding finance or write-off records.
- It does not make the NOVA declaration, file customs paperwork or register the vehicle with the DVLA for you. Bassett Valuations writes valuation reports and prepares DVLA registration packs.
- It does not decide what HMRC will accept in your case.
Who handles the import side depends on the vehicle, and our guide to valuation or import service, which UK specialist you need shows who does what.
Frequently asked questions
Does HMRC require an in-person valuation for NOVA?
GOV.UK says that if you bought the vehicle more than 6 months ago, whoever makes the NOVA declaration needs a current valuation carried out in person in the UK by a garage, dealership or other recognised business. If you bought it in the last 6 months, GOV.UK asks for the invoice or bill of sale instead.
Does Bassett Valuations do in-person vehicle valuations?
Yes. Where an in-person valuation is required for HMRC or NOVA purposes, we can arrange a physical vehicle inspection in the UK, subject to location and availability. Tell us where the vehicle is when you ask.
Will HMRC accept your valuation?
We cannot promise how HMRC will treat any report. GOV.UK sets what it asks for and does not list which businesses count as recognised, so if you are unsure, check with HMRC before you order.
How much does an in-person valuation cost?
The price depends on the vehicle and the work involved. We confirm it in writing before any work begins.
Is an in-person valuation a mechanical inspection?
No. The valuer assesses the vehicle to value it. It is not a mechanical inspection and it does not check the vehicle's history, such as outstanding finance or write-off records.
Vehicle in the UK and HMRC wants it valued in person?
Tell us the make, model, year and where the vehicle is. We will confirm whether we can inspect it, subject to location and availability, and send a written price before we start.
Get your in-person valuation arrangedFree price first. No obligation.
Sources: GOV.UK, Importing vehicles into the UK: Telling HMRC, read on 7 November 2026.