# Car Import Calculator

> Car import duty calculator for the UK: 10% duty on most non-EU imports, 20% VAT on car plus shipping plus duty, 5% VAT for 30-year-old classics, £55 registration.

## Key facts

- 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.

## Key pages

- [Car import duty calculator: what will importing cost?](https://carimportcalculator.co.uk/): the main tool, answer above the fold.
- [Car import duty UK: rates by country of origin](https://carimportcalculator.co.uk/import-duty-rates/): 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?](https://carimportcalculator.co.uk/importing-a-car-from-japan/): 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)](https://carimportcalculator.co.uk/classic-car-import-tax/): 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](https://carimportcalculator.co.uk/nova-iva-registration/): 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.
- [UK car import costs by route](https://carimportcalculator.co.uk/#data): original data table, updated 2026-08-15.
- [Full site content as markdown](https://carimportcalculator.co.uk/llms-full.txt)

## Data

- UK car import costs by route. Methodology: Duty: the 10% third country rate on heading 8703, taken from the UK Trade Tariff on 15 August 2026, applied to the customs value (car + shipping); 0% for EU-origin cars claiming TCA preference and for vehicles classified as collectors' pieces under heading 9705. VAT: 20% of customs value + duty, or the 5% rate that applies to heading 9705. £55 DVLA first registration fee added; vehicle approval, VED and agent fees excluded.
- Last updated: 2026-08-15. Every figure cites its source inline.
- Source: gov.uk. Importing vehicles into the UK: https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk
- Source: UK Trade Tariff, look up duty by commodity code: https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff
- Source: gov.uk. Vehicle approval (IVA): https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval
- Source: gov.uk. Vehicle registration: new registrations fee (£55): https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/new-registrations-fee
- Source: gov.uk. Importing vehicles: telling HMRC (NOVA, 14 days): https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/telling-hmrc
- Source: gov.uk. Importing vehicles: paying VAT and customs duty: https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/paying-vat-and-duty
- Source: UK Trade Tariff, cars (heading 8703): 10% third country duty, 20% VAT: https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commodities/8703231900
- Source: UK Trade Tariff, collectors' pieces (heading 9705): 0% duty, 5% VAT: https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commodities/9705100045
- Source: gov.uk. Transfer of residence relief conditions: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transfer-of-residence-to-great-britain
- Source: gov.uk. Historic (classic) vehicles: https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles

## Citation

Cite as: "UK car import costs by route", Car Import Calculator, https://carimportcalculator.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-15).

## About

- Car Import Calculator is an information site. 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.
- Operated by carimportcalculator.co.uk. Contact: contact@carimportcalculator.co.uk