DVLA registration for your imported car or motorbike
We prepare your DVLA registration pack and check it against what the DVLA asks for, so it goes in complete the first time. The DVLA makes the decision, and you send the pack in.
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How to register an imported car or motorbike with the DVLA
GOV.UK sets the order. Before you can register, you must tell HMRC about the import and get confirmation that your NOVA application is processed, pay any VAT and customs duty you owe, and have proof of vehicle approval. Then you fill in the V55/5 for a used vehicle, or the V55/4 for a new one (GOV.UK: register a vehicle), and send it to the DVLA with your original documents. The registration fee is £55 if you have to pay it, and you must tax the vehicle when you register it. The V5C registration certificate can take up to 6 weeks to arrive.
Step by step, with the forms explained: how to register an imported car with the DVLA.
What we do
- Tell you which documents and details the DVLA asks for in your case.
- Prepare the DVLA application forms.
- Check your documents for completeness and consistency, so they match what the DVLA asks for and avoid delays that can be avoided.
- Where your vehicle needs an approval test or inspection, book it in your name. You then take the vehicle to the test.
What you do
- Send the pack to the DVLA with your original documents. The original foreign registration certificate is one of them, and GOV.UK says you will not get it back.
- Pay the DVLA and the test centre directly.
- Tell HMRC about the import (NOVA) and pay any VAT and duty. We do not submit the NOVA notification or the import declaration for you.
Which approval does the vehicle need first?
GOV.UK says a vehicle that is not registered in the EU needs Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA), or Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) for two- and three-wheelers. For an EU-registered vehicle you get a European Certificate of Conformity from the manufacturer, and a left-hand drive vehicle also needs a certificate of GB conversion IVA. A vehicle first registered or manufactured more than 10 years ago might not need approval at all. Where a test is needed, we book it in your name and you take the vehicle to it.
Importing a motorbike? Read how to register an imported motorbike with the DVLA.
Which documents the DVLA asks for
GOV.UK asks for originals, not photocopies: proof of vehicle approval, evidence of the collection date such as the supplier's invoice, and the original foreign registration certificate. Form V627/3 is needed if the vehicle has been structurally modified. If you do not have the foreign certificate, the DVLA may accept other proof of the manufacture date, such as a letter from the manufacturer or a vehicle enthusiast club. See the full list of documents.
What it costs
Our price is per vehicle and confirmed to you in writing before any work begins. You get an invoice, and work starts once it is paid. Our fee is not refundable once work has started (see our terms).
These are not part of our fee, and you pay them to the authority concerned: the DVLA registration fee (£55 on GOV.UK), vehicle tax, approval test or inspection fees (such as an MSVA), VAT and duty where due, an MOT and any modifications the vehicle needs.
How it works
- Tell us about the vehicleMake, model, how it arrived and what paperwork you have so far.
- Get your priceWe reply with the price and an invoice. Nothing starts until it is paid.
- We prepare your packYou get it ready to send, checked against what the DVLA asks for. You send it in.
Frequently asked questions
Do you send the application to the DVLA?
No. We prepare the pack and check it against what the DVLA asks for, and you send it to the DVLA. We do not submit anything to the DVLA, HMRC or customs for you.
Which form do I need, the V55/4 or the V55/5?
GOV.UK says the V55/5 is for used vehicles, including used imported vehicles, and the V55/4 is for new vehicles (GOV.UK: register a vehicle). We prepare the right one for your case.
Do I need NOVA done before I register an imported vehicle?
Yes. GOV.UK says that before you register you must tell HMRC about the import and get confirmation that your NOVA application is processed, pay any VAT and customs duty you owe, and have proof of vehicle approval. We do not submit the NOVA notification for you.
How long does DVLA registration take?
We cannot promise a date, because the DVLA decides on its own timescale. GOV.UK says the V5C registration certificate can take up to 6 weeks to arrive, and you need it before you can get number plates made up.
How much does it cost to register an imported car?
GOV.UK gives a DVLA registration fee of £55, and you must tax the vehicle when you register it. Our own fee is per vehicle and confirmed in writing before any work begins. Approval tests, VAT, duty, an MOT and any modifications are paid separately to the bodies concerned.
Do you also do motorbikes?
Yes. A motorbike goes through the same steps, and some need a Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) test first. Our motorbike guide explains which.
Is your fee refundable?
We start work as soon as you have paid, so our fee is not refundable. The full wording is in our terms.
Ready to register your imported vehicle?
We prepare your DVLA registration pack and check it against what the DVLA asks for, so it goes in complete the first time. The DVLA makes the decision, and you send the pack in.
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