Pontiac built the Firebird from 1967 until production ended after the 2002 model year, and the Trans Am was its headline version from 1969. Almost all of them stayed in America, so if you want one here it will be coming from the US, in left-hand drive and on American lights. The good news is that every Firebird is now old enough to avoid the IVA test, and most are old enough for the lower classic rate of import tax.
- Shipping from the USA
- From £1,450, shipping only
- Time at sea
- Around 2 to 4 weeks
- Import tax
- 10% duty + 20% VAT
- Over 30 years old
- 5% VAT, no duty
Four generations and where each one sits
The Firebird shared its platform with the Chevrolet Camaro throughout, so the generations line up with the Camaro's first four. The build date decides the import tax and the test before registration. These bands are worked out from today, 12 October 2026, and they move a little every year.
| Feature | Built | UK test | Import tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | 1967 to 1969 | No MOT needed, if not substantially changed | 5% VAT, no duty |
| Second generation | 1970 to 1981 | No MOT needed, if not substantially changed | 5% VAT, no duty |
| Third generation | 1982 to 1992 | MOT, or none once over 40 | 5% VAT, no duty |
| Fourth generation | 1993 to 2002 | MOT | 5% VAT if built before October 1996, otherwise 10% duty + 20% VAT |
Two generations straddle a line. A third generation car built before October 1986 is over 40 and can skip the MOT, while a later one still takes one. The fourth generation crosses the 30-year mark, so an early car may qualify for 5% VAT and a later one pays the full rate. Send us the VIN if you are not sure which side a car falls.
Early cars and the classic rules
First and second generation cars, including the big-engined Trans Ams of the 1970s, are the ones most people want. They are all over 30, so one that qualifies as historic pays 5% import VAT and no duty. They are all over 40 as well, so no MOT is needed as long as the car has not been substantially changed.
GOV.UK treats replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine in a way that changes how the car works as a substantial change. A heavily modified car can lose the MOT exemption and may not count as historic for the 5% rate, so ask us before you buy a reworked one. Any Firebird built before 1 January 1986 can also stop paying vehicle tax once registered, after you apply for the exemption. Our guide to importing a classic American car covers the dating and title questions older cars raise.
Rust and the other things to check
These are steel-bodied cars of their era, and rust is the big one. Look at the floors, sills, rear arches, boot floor and the area around the rear screen. Many later cars have T-top roof panels, and the seals around them can let water in, which then sits in the footwells and the floor. A car from a dry state is usually a better start than one from the snow belt, but always check underneath.
Trans Am and special edition badges add value, and the badges are easy to add. Check the paperwork and the car's tags against the claimed spec, ideally with a marque specialist, before it ships. Once it is in a container it is your problem rather than the seller's.
Before you pay a deposit
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For the general checks on any overseas purchase, see buying a car abroad safely, and if the car is at auction, read buying a car from a US auction first. If you are torn between a Firebird and its sister car, our Chevrolet Camaro import guide covers the same platform from the Chevrolet side.
Shipping from the USA
We collect from anywhere in the USA and truck the car to the port, mainly New York, Savannah, Houston or Oakland. It is inspected and a condition report is produced before it is loaded. Most Firebirds travel in a shared container, opened by our own team in Castle Donington.
US Customs wants the title, or a certified copy, at the port with the car at least 72 hours before it sails, plus a lender's letter if there is a loan on it. As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from the USA starts from £1,450, shipping only, with around 2 weeks at sea from the East Coast and around 4 from the West. See the cost of shipping a car from the USA for what moves the price.
Import tax
A Firebird under 30 pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT on the price plus shipping. A qualifying car over 30 pays 5% VAT and no duty, and Transfer of Residence can make it nil if you are moving here and qualify. Try the import tax calculator with your own numbers.
Looking at a 1996 or 1997 car? It sits right on the 30-year line. Check the build date before you agree a price, because it can change the tax bill by a lot.
Lights, testing and plates
The DVLA registers left-hand drive cars without the steering being moved. The work is mostly lighting: American cars often flash red at the rear, usually have no rear fog light and have headlights set for driving on the right. A car first used before 1 April 1980 does not need a rear fog light, so a first or second generation car often has less to do. The speedometer already reads in mph.
Each change is covered in converting an American car for UK roads. Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car quickly once it has passed its test, or once the paperwork is done for a car that needs no MOT.
Insurance
Think about cover for two stages. While the car is at sea, marine insurance protects it, and our guide to marine insurance explains what it covers. Once it is here, My Car Import suggests a specialist classic insurer and agreed-value cover, so a payout reflects what the car is really worth. See insuring an imported car for more.
Questions people ask
Does an imported Firebird need an IVA test?
No. Production ended after the 2002 model year, so every Firebird is over 10 years old and exempt from approval. Cars over 40 that have not been substantially changed need no MOT, and the rest take an MOT.
How much tax will I pay on a classic Trans Am?
A car over 30 that qualifies as historic pays 5% import VAT and no duty, worked out on the price plus shipping. That covers the first three generations and fourth generation cars built before October 1996.
Does a modified Firebird still count as a classic?
Not always. Replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine in a way that changes how the car works is a substantial change, which can affect the MOT exemption and the 5% rate. Ask us before you buy.
Can I keep a US Firebird left-hand drive?
Yes. The DVLA registers left-hand drive cars without converting the steering. The lights need changing for UK roads first.
Will I pay road tax on an old Firebird?
A car built before 1 January 1986 can be exempt from vehicle tax once registered, but you have to apply for the exemption.
Found your Firebird? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the whole journey, from the US address to UK plates.
