Every imported car ends up at the same piece of paper: form V55/5, the DVLA application to register a used vehicle for the first time. It looks like a form. In practice it is the last step of a chain, and the DVLA will only accept it once everything before it is done.
- Form for used imports
- V55/5
- Form for new imports
- V55/4
- Registration fee
- £55, plus vehicle tax
- With our DVLA account
- Within 10 working days
V55/5 or V55/4
The DVLA uses two forms for first registrations. Which one you need depends on whether the car is new or used, not where it came from.
| Feature | Form | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| V55/5 | Used vehicles | Used imported vehicles, older vehicles that have never been registered, and vehicles brought back to the UK after being exported |
| V55/4 | New vehicles | New imported vehicles and newly built kit cars |
Almost every car we ship is used, so it is almost always the V55/5. A new car also needs form V267, the declaration of newness.
What has to happen first
GOV.UK lists three things the DVLA needs before it will register an imported vehicle. Miss one and the application comes back.
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Step 1
NOVA
HMRC has to be told the car has arrived, and the NOVA application has to be processed. We do this as part of customs clearance.
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Step 2
VAT and duty paid
Any import VAT and customs duty owed has to be paid. Our calculator gives you an idea of the figure before you ship.
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Step 3
Proof of approval
A Certificate of Conformity, an IVA or MSVA certificate, or an MOT, depending on the age and origin of the car.
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Step 4
The V55/5 goes in
With the supporting documents, the £55 fee and payment for vehicle tax.
-
Done
V5C and plates
The DVLA issues a registration number and the V5C logbook follows.
What goes in with the form
The DVLA wants originals. GOV.UK is plain about it: no photocopies or faxed copies, apart from the photocopy of your driving licence.
Sent with the V55/5
0 of 7 done
For some imports the DVLA may also want evidence from the registration authority in the country of origin that the car is not seriously damaged. It can also ask to inspect the car.
Registering an imported car over 10 years old
This is one of the questions we get most. Proof of approval is only needed for vehicles under 10 years old, so an older car does not need a Certificate of Conformity or an IVA test. It does need a current MOT, and the DVLA still wants to see when the car was made, which is where the original foreign registration certificate comes in.
Cars over 40 years old can be different again, because a historic vehicle may not need an MOT at all. Older cars often need extra evidence to date them, and that dating evidence is what can earn a classic its age-related plate. Our classic car guide goes through it.
Where it usually goes wrong
The V55/5 is not a long form, but it is an unforgiving one. As you're possibly aware, one small error sends the whole thing back, and the clock starts again.
- Photocopies instead of originals: the DVLA will not accept them
- No NOVA: the most common reason a self-submitted application is stuck
- The wrong approval: an MOT where the car needed an IVA, or the other way round
- Missing dating evidence: especially on older cars and classics
- Waiting for the post: GOV.UK says the V5C can take up to 6 weeks to arrive
We fill in and submit the V55/5 for you. My Car Import has a dealer-level account with the DVLA, which allows us to register imported cars within 10 working days. We answer any DVLA requests for more evidence, and the car stays on our site for testing, so it never needs to go on the road unregistered.
For the time each route takes, see how long it takes to register an imported car. The rest of the paperwork, from shipping to customs, is in our documents guide, and NOVA explained covers the HMRC side.
Questions people ask
What is form V55/5?
The DVLA application to register a used vehicle for the first time. It covers used imported vehicles, older vehicles that have never been registered and vehicles brought back to the UK after being exported.
How much does it cost to register an imported car?
GOV.UK lists a £55 registration fee, and you tax the vehicle when you register it. Testing, any UK changes, and import VAT and duty are separate.
Do I need an MOT to register an imported car?
You need evidence of a current MOT if the vehicle is over 3 years old. Vehicles under 10 years old also need proof of approval, such as a Certificate of Conformity or IVA certificate.
How long does it take to get a V5C for an imported car?
GOV.UK says it can take up to 6 weeks for the V5C to arrive. With our dealer-level DVLA account, we register imported cars within 10 working days.
Can I register an imported car myself?
Yes. You will need NOVA done, the VAT and duty paid, the right approval and original documents. We handle the whole lot if you would rather not.
Want the registration handled with the shipping? Tell us about your car on the quote form and we will price the whole job, port to plates.
