If you are bringing a car from Europe or the USA, the steering wheel is on the other side, and it is natural to worry that the UK will not accept it. It will. Left-hand drive cars are legal to register and drive here, and you do not have to convert them to right-hand drive.
There are a few changes to make first, and a few habits to pick up once you are on the road. Here is what to expect.
- Legal in the UK
- Yes
- Convert to right-hand drive
- Not required
- Usual changes
- Headlights, mph speedo, rear fog light
- Test before registration
- IVA under 10 years, MOT over
The legal position
Yes. The DVLA registers left-hand drive cars without asking for the steering to be moved. The MOT tests the car in front of the tester, and the side the wheel is on is not part of it. What matters is that the car meets UK standards, and on a left-hand drive car that mostly comes down to the lights and the speedometer.
What has to change
Headlights
This is the important one. A left-hand drive headlight throws its dipped beam to the right, which on a UK road means straight into oncoming traffic. The beam pattern has to be corrected before the car is registered.
Most modern bi-xenon, gas discharge and LED headlights can be adjusted, and where the lamps are acceptable for the UK, that is the route we take. If a headlight cannot be adjusted, it is replaced. For a short visit, a converter kit or beam mask can be used as a temporary measure, but a car that is staying here needs the proper fix.
Speedometer in mph
UK speed limits and road signs are all in miles per hour. If your car is under 10 years old at import, the speedometer has to read in mph for it to be registered. On older cars it is not required, but we recommend it.
Cars from Europe read in km/h, so this is a common job on European imports. Depending on the car, it may be a settings change, a new instrument cluster or a new dial. American cars normally read in mph already.
Rear fog light
Cars first used on or after 1 April 1980 need a rear fog light, either in the centre or on the offside, which is the right-hand side in the UK. A lot of left-hand drive cars have a single fog light on the other side, so it is moved or another is fitted.
Cars from the USA
American cars need a little more lighting work. Many flash their red brake lights to indicate, and UK rear indicators must be amber. Side markers and repeaters usually need attention too. Our guide to converting an American car goes through it.
Left-hand drive changes
0 of 5 done
Testing and registration
After the changes, a car under 10 years old takes an IVA test, and an older car takes an MOT. Either way the lighting has to be right to pass. Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and we are one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, with headlamp aim checked on our own testing lane. Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days.
For more on the registration side, see My Car Import's registration service.
Insurance
You can insure a left-hand drive car in the UK, but cover and prices vary from one insurer to the next. Some are happy with it, others are less keen. The simple advice is to get insurance quotes before you buy the car, not after, so there are no surprises once it is here.
That is separate from cover while the car is at sea. Your normal policy will not cover the crossing, which is what our marine insurance is for.
Get an insurance quote first. Before you commit to a left-hand drive car, ask your insurer what they would charge to cover it in the UK. It takes a few minutes and saves a nasty surprise later.
Living with a left-hand drive car
Plenty of people drive left-hand drive cars here every day. You sit nearer the kerb and further from the centre of the road, which takes a little getting used to. A few things to be ready for:
- Overtaking, where your view past the car in front is limited, so take extra care
- Drive-through windows, which will be on the wrong side
- Car park barriers and ticket machines, for the same reason
- Junctions where you need to see right, where a passenger can help
None of it stops you using the car every day. You keep the car you wanted, as it was built.
Getting the car here
Cars from Europe usually come to the UK by road, and cars from the USA by sea, in a container or on a RoRo ship. Either way, we can bring it to our site in Castle Donington and handle the changes, testing and registration in one place. See how it works for the full process.
Questions people ask
Is it legal to drive a left-hand drive car in the UK?
Yes. Left-hand drive cars can be registered and driven in the UK, and you do not have to convert them to right-hand drive. They do need a few changes to meet UK standards first.
What do I need to change on a left-hand drive car?
Usually three things: the headlights, so the dipped beam does not dazzle oncoming traffic, the speedometer, so it reads in mph, and the rear fog light, which must be in the centre or on the offside. American cars often need amber rear indicators and side repeaters as well.
Will a left-hand drive car pass an MOT?
Yes, as long as the lighting is correct. The MOT does not test which side the steering wheel is on.
Is it harder to insure a left-hand drive car?
It can be. Cover is generally available, but prices and attitudes vary between insurers. Get quotes before you buy the car so you know where you stand.
Does the speedometer have to read in mph?
If the car is under 10 years old at import, yes. It is a condition of registration. For older cars it is not required, but we recommend it.
Thinking of bringing a left-hand drive car over? Send us the details on the quote form and we will tell you what it is likely to need.
