Not sure how this applies to yours? Get a quote for my motorhome import and we will tell you before you spend anything.
What tax do you pay on a motorhome from China?
Customs duty and import VAT. The UK Trade Tariff shows a third country duty of 10% for the passenger vehicle codes we checked with China as the origin, and no preferential rate that would lower it. VAT is 20% of the total cost of the motorhome plus accessories bought with it, delivery and extra charges, and the customs duty. It is due whatever tax was paid in China: our guide on VAT already paid abroad explains why.
Worked example: a £30,000 motorhome from China with £4,000 for shipping and insurance
| Motorhome | Duty | VAT | Total tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built in China | £3,400 | £7,480 | £10,880 |
| Same price, built in a country with a trade deal and origin proved | £0 | £6,800 | £6,800 |
The first row is duty of 10% on £34,000 and VAT of 20% on £37,400. The second row is there to show what is lost: £4,080, on this example, for the lack of a preferential rate. The £4,000 for shipping and insurance is an example, not a typical price. On top come the DVLA £55 fee, the first vehicle tax and any approval inspection fee. For the other costs of an import see the cost guide.
Does the Chinese-made rate change if I buy it somewhere else?
No. Where a motorhome was built decides the duty, not where you bought it: see our origin and duty guide. A Chinese-built motorhome sold in Europe, or one bought from a trader in Dubai or the USA, is still Chinese origin and pays 10%. A motorhome that merely passed through a Chinese port is not Chinese origin, and the maker's plate or the Certificate of Conformity tells you where it was built. Ask the seller in writing.
Send us the details before you pay. We tell you what the import involves, then handle the customs, the NOVA and the DVLA paperwork.
What approval does a motorhome from China need?
If it is under 10 years old, approval is needed before it can be registered. gov.uk says a vehicle not registered in the EU needs Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA). That is different from a vehicle registered in the EU, which needs a European Certificate of Conformity, plus a £100 GB conversion IVA certificate if it is left hand drive. A motorhome registered in China is not in that group, so plan on IVA. One that was also sold in Europe with a European type approval may have a CoC, so ask the seller for it.
DVSA does the inspection, usually within 20 working days, at a test station or a private test facility you choose, and charges a fee for it. If the motorhome passes, DVSA issues an individual approval certificate, which you need to register it. gov.uk lists motor caravans under the basic IVA, which is a visual inspection and other tests. Our guide to the motorhome Certificate of Conformity explains the other route.
A motorhome first registered or made more than 10 years ago might not need approval. If it has none, you send DVLA a letter with your application explaining why.
Is a motorhome from China left hand drive?
Almost certainly, because China drives on the right. A left hand drive motorhome can be used on UK roads once it is registered, but the headlamps, speedometer and fog lamp are checked for UK use: the left hand drive guide covers what changes, and the legality guide covers driving it before then. Ask a garage to look at a model before you buy, not after it lands.
What papers do you need from the seller?
DVLA asks for "the original foreign registration certificate to show when the vehicle was manufactured", and you will not get it back, so photograph both sides before it goes. Then the invoice or signed bill of sale. HMRC asks for it if you bought the motorhome in the last 6 months; if you bought it earlier, HMRC asks instead for a current valuation carried out in person in the UK by a garage, dealership or other recognised business.
The date of first registration decides three things: whether the motorhome is over 10 years old for approval, over 3 years old for the MOT, and over 30 years old if you hope it counts as a historic vehicle. If the registration document is missing, read our guide on proving the age of an imported motorhome.
What happens when it arrives?
The order matters: the import declaration with the duty and VAT paid, NOVA within 14 days of arrival (see NOVA for a motorhome), then approval, then an MOT if it is over 3 years old. Only then does the V55/5 go to DVLA with the original registration certificate, the £55 fee and the first vehicle tax. Allow up to 6 weeks for the V5C, which you need before number plates can be made. Using the motorhome on a public road before these steps can lead to prosecution, according to gov.uk, except on the way to an MOT or approval test booked in advance. The V55/5 guide walks through the form and the road tax guide explains the tax.
Does it need an MOT?
If it is over 3 years old, yes. Motor caravans are MOT class 4, with a maximum fee of £54.85 on gov.uk, and a motorhome built or first registered more than 40 years ago with no substantial changes is exempt. Our MOT guide has the detail.
What we do for you
Send us the advert, a photo of the registration certificate and the invoice before any money changes hands, and we explain the UK side for that motorhome. Our part is the customs import declaration, the VAT and duty worked out and paid, the NOVA notification and every DVLA form prepared for you to sign and post. We organise transport from China if you want us to. Testing and modifying are not our work: DVSA carries out the approval inspection, a garage handles any changes and the test station carries out the MOT.
Quick answers
Is there a trade deal that cuts duty on a Chinese motorhome?
Not that we found. The UK Trade Tariff shows 10% third country duty for China on the vehicle codes we checked, with no preferential rate.
Do I pay UK VAT if I paid tax in China?
Yes. UK import VAT of 20% is charged when the motorhome is imported, on the price plus delivery, extra charges and any duty.
Does a motorhome from China need a Certificate of Conformity?
gov.uk asks for a European Certificate of Conformity for vehicles registered in the EU. For a vehicle not registered in the EU it asks for Individual Vehicle Approval instead.
Can I drive it before it is registered?
Only to an MOT or approval test booked in advance. Using it on a public road before registration can lead to prosecution, according to gov.uk.
Official sources, checked on 13 October 2026: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commodities/8703239000?country=CN; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/getting-vehicle-approval; gov.uk/vehicle-approval/individual-vehicle-approval; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/registering-an-imported-vehicle; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/paying-vat-and-duty; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/telling-hmrc; gov.uk/getting-an-mot/mot-test-fees; gov.uk/historic-vehicles/vehicles-exempt-from-mot; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk.