UK import taxes, sourced
What will it cost to import a car to the UK?
Import duty (10% for most non-EU cars), then VAT at 20% on the car plus shipping plus duty, then a £55 registration fee. A £20,000 car shipped from Japan for £1,500 lands at about £28,435, £6,935 of that is UK taxes and fees. Enter your numbers for the full breakdown.
How this is worked out
- Import duty on cars (tariff heading 8703) is 10% under the UK Global Tariff. Cars built in the EU that meet the Trade and Cooperation Agreement rules of origin enter at 0%, it is where the car was manufactured that counts, not where you bought it (UK Trade Tariff).
- We apply the standard 10% rate to Japan, the USA and everywhere else. Preferential agreements (such as the UK–Japan CEPA) can reduce this where preferential origin is claimed with valid proof, rare for private used-car imports. Check your exact commodity code in the Trade Tariff tool before shipping.
- Import VAT is 20% of the vehicle value plus shipping plus any duty, charged even on used cars bought privately abroad (gov.uk: importing vehicles).
- Vehicles over 30 years old, in original condition and no longer in production can qualify as vehicles of historical interest: no duty and an effective 5% VAT (gov.uk).
- The £55 DVLA first registration fee is included (gov.uk: vehicle registration). First vehicle tax (VED), the IVA test where required, customs agent fees, port charges and UK transport are not, they vary by vehicle and route.
- You must tell HMRC within 14 days of the vehicle arriving using the NOVA service; DVLA will not register it until NOVA is done (gov.uk). Moving to the UK with your own car? Transfer of residence relief can remove duty and VAT entirely.
Car Import Calculator is an independent information site operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd. It is not affiliated with HMRC, DVLA or any government body, and nothing here is customs, tax or legal advice. Rates and reliefs depend on your exact vehicle and circumstances, confirm with the UK Trade Tariff tool or a customs agent before committing to an import.
UK car import costs by route
Last updated
Duty at the UK Global Tariff rate, VAT on car + shipping + duty, and the £55 DVLA registration fee, computed with the same formulas as the calculator above.
Duty: 10% of customs value (car + shipping), 0% for EU-built cars meeting TCA origin rules and for 30-year-old classics. VAT: 20% of customs value + duty (5% for classics). £55 DVLA first registration fee added; IVA, VED and agent fees excluded.
| Route | Car + shipping | Import duty | Import VAT | Total landed cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU-built (TCA), £15,000 + £800 shipping | £15,800 | £0 | £3,160 | £19,015 |
| Japan, £20,000 + £1,500 shipping | £21,500 | £2,150 | £4,730 | £28,435 |
| USA, £30,000 + £2,000 shipping | £32,000 | £3,200 | £7,040 | £42,295 |
| Classic over 30 years (Japan), £25,000 + £1,500 shipping | £26,500 | £0 | £1,325 | £27,880 |
| Rest of world, £10,000 + £1,200 shipping | £11,200 | £1,120 | £2,464 | £14,839 |
- Importing a £20,000 car from Japan with £1,500 shipping costs about £6,935 in UK taxes and fees, £2,150 duty, £4,730 VAT and the £55 registration fee.
- An EU-built car pays 0% duty under the TCA, so a £15,000 import with £800 shipping owes only VAT: £3,160.
- Classic-car relief turns 10% duty + 20% VAT into 0% duty + 5% VAT, on a £25,000 thirty-year-old car from Japan that is a saving of £7,155.
Cite this page
“UK car import costs by route”, Car Import Calculator, https://carimportcalculator.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-14). Duty: 10% of customs value (car + shipping), 0% for EU-built cars meeting TCA origin rules and for 30-year-old classics. VAT: 20% of customs value + duty (5% for classics). £55 DVLA first registration fee added; IVA, VED and agent fees excluded.
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Go deeper
Each one cites where its numbers come from.
Car import duty UK: rates by country of origin
UK import duty on cars is 10% under the UK Global Tariff, 0% for EU-built cars meeting TCA origin rules, 0% for classics over 30 years old. Rates and worked examples.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to the UK?
The full cost of importing a car from Japan: 10% duty, 20% VAT on car + shipping + duty, NOVA, IVA and registration. Worked example: a £20,000 car lands at about £28,435.
Classic car import tax UK: the 30-year rule (5% VAT, no duty)
Cars over 30 years old in original condition qualify as vehicles of historical interest: 0% duty and effective 5% VAT instead of 10% + 20%. Criteria and worked saving.
NOVA, IVA and registering an imported car in the UK
After the taxes: notify HMRC via NOVA within 14 days, pass IVA if the car has no GB type approval, then register with DVLA on a V55/5 with the £55 fee. The order matters.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to import a car to the UK?
Typically 10% import duty on the car plus shipping, 20% VAT on the car plus shipping plus duty, and a £55 registration fee. A £20,000 car with £1,500 shipping from Japan owes about £6,935 in taxes and fees, a landed cost of roughly £28,435.
Is there import tax on cars from the EU to the UK?
Cars built in the EU that meet the Trade and Cooperation Agreement rules of origin pay 0% duty, but 20% import VAT still applies. Cars bought in the EU that were built elsewhere pay the full 10% duty.
What is the import duty on a car from Japan?
10% of the customs value (car plus shipping) at the standard UK Global Tariff rate, followed by 20% VAT on the customs value plus duty. Classics over 30 years old in original condition instead pay no duty and 5% VAT.
Do you pay VAT on imported used cars?
Yes. Import VAT at 20% applies to used cars, including private purchases from private sellers abroad. It is charged on the price plus shipping plus any duty, there is no used-car exemption.
What is the 30-year rule for importing cars?
Vehicles over 30 years old, in original condition and no longer in production can be imported as vehicles of historical interest: no import duty and an effective 5% VAT instead of 10% duty plus 20% VAT.
What is NOVA and when is it due?
NOVA is HMRC's Notification of Vehicle Arrivals. It must be filed within 14 days of the vehicle arriving in the UK, and DVLA will not register the car until the NOVA record exists and any VAT and duty is settled.
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Duty, VAT and registration for your exact car and route, in ten seconds.
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