Not sure how this applies to yours? Get a quote for my motorhome import and we will tell you before you spend anything.
What papers do you need from a French seller?
Two documents: the carte grise and the invoice. The carte grise is the name everyone in France uses for the registration certificate, officially the certificat d'immatriculation. DVLA asks for "the original foreign registration certificate to show when the vehicle was manufactured", and you will not get it back, so take photos of both sides before it goes.
The invoice is the facture from a dealer, or a signed bill of sale from a private seller, showing the price. 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.
On the carte grise, two boxes matter most on the UK side. The carte grise follows the EU registration certificate format, where box B is the date of first registration and box E is the vehicle identification number. Box B decides 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. Box E has to match the number on the vehicle and goes on the customs, NOVA and DVLA forms.
What tax do you pay on a motorhome from France?
UK import VAT is 20%, charged on the total cost of the motorhome plus accessories bought with it, delivery and extra charges, and customs duty. It is due whatever VAT was charged in France: our guide on VAT already paid abroad explains why. Duty is 0% only with proof that the motorhome was made in the EU, and 10% otherwise. Where it was built decides this, not where you bought it: see our origin and duty guide.
A French price is in euros, so it is converted to pounds at the exchange rate HMRC publishes each month. For October 2026 that rate is £1 = €1.1665.
Worked example: a €40,000 motorhome from France with £800 transport (October 2026 rate)
| Motorhome | Duty | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| EU-made, origin proved | £0 | £7,018.12 |
| No proof of EU origin | £3,509.06 | £7,719.93 |
That is £7,018.12 of tax with proof of EU origin, and £11,228.99 without it. €40,000 is £34,290.61, and with the transport the value is £35,090.61. The £800 transport is an example, not a typical price. On top come the DVLA's £55 registration fee, the first vehicle tax and an MOT if one is needed. A motorhome at least 30 years old, in original condition and of a model no longer made can qualify for 5% VAT and 0% duty instead: see our guide to classic motorhomes at 5% VAT.
Send us the details before you pay. We tell you what the import involves, then handle the customs, the NOVA and the DVLA paperwork.
Does a motorhome from France need vehicle approval?
Yes if it is under 10 years old. gov.uk says a vehicle registered in the EU needs a European Certificate of Conformity from the manufacturer to show it has approval, and a left hand drive vehicle also needs a certificate of GB conversion Individual Vehicle Approval, for a £100 fee. Almost every French motorhome is left hand drive, so plan for both. A motorhome first registered or manufactured more than 10 years ago might not need approval. Our guide to the motorhome Certificate of Conformity explains what the CoC is, and the left hand drive guide covers the rest. We obtain the CoC for you if you need one.
Is a French contrôle technique valid in the UK?
No. The contrôle technique is the French roadworthiness test, and it does not count as a UK MOT. A motorhome over 3 years old needs a UK MOT before it can be registered, unless it was built or first registered more than 40 years ago and has no substantial changes; motor caravans are MOT class 4, with a maximum fee of £54.85 on gov.uk. The test can be done before the motorhome has UK plates, if you drive it only to a test booked in advance.
Can you drive it on French plates once it is here?
Not if the UK is your home. In its import leaflet INF106, DVLA tells UK residents they must not drive a vehicle on foreign number plates. Using it on a public road before the import steps are finished can also lead to prosecution, according to gov.uk; the one exception is the drive to an MOT or approval test booked in advance, and insurance has to be in place first. This is the reason many French motorhomes cross on a transporter rather than on their own wheels. If you are only touring here and live abroad, different rules apply: see our guide to visiting the UK with a foreign registered motorhome.
How is it registered once it is in the UK?
Registration comes last, after four earlier steps: the import declaration (with the VAT and any duty paid), NOVA within 14 days of arrival, then approval and an MOT where the motorhome needs them. Only then does the V55/5 go to DVLA, together with the original carte grise, the £55 registration fee and the first vehicle tax. Allow up to 6 weeks for the V5C, which you need before number plates can be made. Tax on a motorhome is not worked out like car tax: our road tax guide explains the difference, and the V55/5 guide walks through the form.
What we do for you
Send us the advert, a photo of the carte grise 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. If the motorhome needs a Certificate of Conformity we obtain it, and we organise transport from France if you want us to. Testing and modifying are not our work: a garage handles any left hand drive changes and the test station carries out the test.
Quick answers
Which French document does the DVLA keep?
The original carte grise, the French registration certificate. DVLA keeps the original foreign registration certificate as evidence of when the vehicle was made, so photograph it before you send it.
Is UK VAT due if I paid French VAT on the motorhome?
Yes. UK import VAT of 20% is charged when the motorhome is imported, on the price plus delivery, extra charges and any duty.
What exchange rate is used for a price in euros?
The monthly rate HMRC publishes, unless the contract fixes one. For October 2026 it is £1 = €1.1665, so the same euro price gives a different figure in pounds from one month to the next.
Do I need a UK MOT on a French motorhome?
If it is over 3 years old, yes, unless it is over 40 years old with no substantial changes. A French contrôle technique is not a UK MOT. Motor caravans are MOT class 4, with a maximum fee of £54.85.
Official sources, checked on 6 October 2026: 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/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/getting-vehicle-approval; gov.uk/getting-an-mot/mot-test-fees; gov.uk/historic-vehicles/vehicles-exempt-from-mot; assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6911cb91bda892e068aa6400/inf106-how-to-import-a-vehicle-into-the-united-kingdom.pdf; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk; trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/headings/8703; trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/exchange_rates; gov.uk/guidance/converting-foreign-currency-amounts-to-include-in-the-customs-value; legislation.gov.uk/eudr/1999/37/annex/I.