From foreign plates
to UK plates.
You found the van, which was the fun part. We handle the customs declaration, the NOVA and the DVLA pack, so it ends up taxed and registered here. You send one set of details. We tell you every turn before you take it.
- Prices on the page
- Europe, USA, Japan
- A real person on the phone
Where was it built? Tax at the border, in one line each
Built in the EU
0% duty with proof of EU origin, then 20% VAT
Built in Japan
0% duty with proof of origin, then 20% VAT
Built in the USA
10% duty, then 20% VAT on top
30 years or older
0% duty and 5% VAT, if original and no longer made
Six junctions.
No wrong turns.
The official guidance runs to a hundred-odd pages across HMRC, DVSA and DVLA. This is the one-minute version, in the order it actually happens.
Clocks you should know about
- J1
Tell us the vehicle
Make, model, year, where it was built, where it is now and what you paid. You get a fixed quote back for our part.
- J2
Approval check
Left-hand drive, EU-registered and under 10 years old? It needs a GB conversion IVA from the VCA before it can be registered. Older, or a different route? We tell you which check applies before you spend on headlamps.
- J3
Customs declaration
We file the import declaration, work out the duty and VAT, and claim the 0% rate where the paperwork allows it.
- J4
NOVA
HMRC is told the vehicle has arrived and the tax is settled. This has to happen within 14 days. We do it.
- J5
The DVLA pack
We fill in the V55/5 and build your checklist: MOT, ID, proof of address, original foreign logbook, £55 fee. You sign, date and post it to Swansea.
- J6
UK plates
Taxed, registered, and on proper UK plates. Done.
What it costs to get there
Our fee is fixed. Duty, VAT, the £55 DVLA fee, road tax and the MOT are paid by you directly, and we tell you each figure in advance.
Import declaration, with the duty and VAT worked out properly.
The declaration plus the HMRC notification, inside the 14 days.
V55/5 filled in and a checklist for your exact vehicle. £250 if booked on its own.
Weight and licence
A standard car licence covers up to 3,500kg. Heavier and the driver needs C1. Check the plated weight before you buy, not after.
Width
The UK limit for a vehicle like this is 2.55 metres. Some big American RVs are wider. We check it before anything ships.
Left-hand drive
Headlamps that dip left, a speedometer showing mph, the rear fog lamp in the right place. The GB conversion check is about exactly these.
Over 10 years old
The VCA conversion check does not apply to motorhomes over 10 years old from first registration. Fewer steps, same DVLA pack.
What we don't do
We don't buy or sell motorhomes. We don't run IVA tests or fit parts, and we don't pay road tax for you. We don't post your documents to the DVLA either: we prepare every page so you only sign and send. Paperwork, done properly. That's the whole job.
Start with these four
Before you buy
Will I pay VAT twice?
UK import VAT is due when the vehicle arrives here, whatever the invoice abroad says. You see the full figure in your quote before you commit.
Does my motorhome need an IVA test?
It depends on its age, where it was registered and which side the steering wheel is on. We tell you which route applies on the first call.
Can I insure it before it has UK plates?
Sort it early: you will drive to the MOT before the UK plates exist. We tell you which details and documents the insurer will ask for.
Is an American RV worth importing?
Sometimes. The 10% duty, the 2.55 metre width limit and the lighting can change the sums. Send us the listing before you buy.
Do you buy or sell motorhomes?
No. You buy the vehicle; we handle the customs, the NOVA and the DVLA paperwork.
Next exit:
your quote.
Send the vehicle details, or ring us. You get a fixed price for our part and an estimate of every official cost. 3,000+ vehicles imported since Brexit.
020 3826 8879