The car has landed, and now you want it on UK plates. The wait for registration is the part people worry about most, because it is the part they cannot see. The honest answer is that it depends on the route your car takes, and most of the delays are avoidable.
- Standard registration
- 10 working days
- CoC route
- 7 to 14 working days after the V55
- Over 10 years old
- A few weeks
- Classics
- Can stretch into months
What the time depends on
Every imported car follows the same broad steps: customs, NOVA, any changes it needs, a test, then the DVLA application. What changes from car to car is the test, the paperwork and how much the DVLA wants to check.
We have a dealer-level DVLA account, which lets us register imported passenger cars within 10 working days of a passed test. That is the baseline. The route your car takes decides everything either side of it.
From arrival to plates
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Arrival
Customs clearance
Cars from the EU can usually be cleared the same day. Shipped cars are usually a few days at port, and we aim to clear them before any charges are due.
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Within 14 days
NOVA
We tell HMRC the car has arrived. The DVLA will not register a car without it.
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Preparation
UK changes
Headlights, a rear fog light and an mph speedometer where needed. Every car is different, so we quote for yours.
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Test
IVA, MSVA or MOT
Done on our own site. Classics over 40 years old usually skip this step.
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Registration
DVLA application
We complete the V55 and submit it, then answer any requests for more evidence.
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Done
V5C and plates
The registration number arrives and the car can go on UK plates.
Timings by route
These are the timings My Car Import gives for each route, counted from the point the paperwork and any test are complete.
| Feature | Which cars | Typical time to the V5C |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Conformity | Most EU cars under 10 years old | 7 to 14 working days once we submit the V55 |
| IVA or MSVA | Newer cars from outside Europe, and motorbikes | Quoted per car, then registration within 10 working days of a pass |
| MOT | Cars 10 to 40 years old | A few weeks after the documents and MOT go in |
| Classic, over 40 years | Historic cars, no MOT needed | Can stretch into months |
Certificate of Conformity
Newer EU cars usually go through on a Certificate of Conformity. Once the paperwork and MOT are done, it is typically 7 to 14 working days from when we submit your V55 to you receiving a V5C.
IVA and MSVA
Cars under 10 years old from outside Europe take an IVA test, and bikes take an MSVA. There is no fixed time here, because the changes vary so much from car to car, so we give you the most accurate timeframe we can when we quote. What helps is that we run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain and the only privately owned MSVA test centre, with the DVSA visiting weekly. No waiting for a government test slot.
Cars over 10 years old
These take an MOT rather than an approval test. Allow a few weeks once the registration documents and MOT certificate have gone in.
Classics over 40 years old
Older cars do not need an MOT, but they can take the longest. The DVLA often wants supporting evidence to date the car, VIN checks, and sometimes a third-party inspection. We source the dating evidence, which is often what gets a classic its age-related plate. More on that in our classic car guide.
What causes delays
As you're possibly aware, a delay at one stage has a knock-on effect on everything after it. These are the usual causes.
- Missing or incorrect documents: the most common hold-up, especially on the CoC route
- No Certificate of Conformity: if one cannot be found, it has to be ordered before the application can go in
- Extra history checks: applications for cars from certain countries can face these, and in rare cases they have run to 4 to 12 weeks
- A mistake on the V55: the form is complex, and errors can mean a rejected application
- Waiting for a test slot: avoided when the test is on our own site
The extra history checks are outside anyone's control. They are rare, but if your car is caught by one, we keep you updated and answer any DVLA requests for more evidence straight away.
How to keep it short
Most of the wait is paperwork, so the best thing you can do is get it to us early.
Send these early
0 of 6 done
Our paperwork guide goes through each one, and what happens when your car arrives covers the order of events. For the full registration detail, see My Car Import's registration page.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to register an imported car?
With our dealer-level DVLA account, we register imported passenger cars within 10 working days of a passed test. The CoC route is typically 7 to 14 working days once the V55 is submitted, cars over 10 years old take a few weeks, and classics can take months.
Why is my classic car taking longer?
The DVLA often wants dating evidence, VIN checks and sometimes a third-party inspection for older cars. We source the dating evidence and answer the DVLA requests for you.
What are the extra history checks?
Registration applications for cars from certain countries can face additional history checks. Delays from them are rare, but in some cases they have added 4 to 12 weeks.
Can I drive the car before it is registered?
GOV.UK says you can be prosecuted for using an unregistered import on a public road, unless you are driving it to a pre-booked MOT or approval test. With testing on our site, you do not need to.
Does a missing Certificate of Conformity hold things up?
Yes. If a CoC cannot be found it has to be ordered before the application goes in. We can source one for you.
Want a timeframe for your car? Tell us about it on the quote form and we will include testing and registration in your price.
