Website of the UK government

New vehicles

A 'brand new' vehicle can be driven to GB and registered as 'new' provided the vehicle:

• is registered within 14 days after collection (this may be extended to one calendar month at peak periods eg prior to 1 March and 1 September)
• only has reasonable delivery mileage
• hasn’t been previously permanently registered

Note: Importers are advised to transport, rather than drive vehicles from the port to the first destination.

New vehicles must have a certificate of conformity as proof of type approval from the supplier or vehicle manufacturer. Left-hand-drive vehicles from within the European Community will need a certificate, issued by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), under the Mutual Recognition Scheme. This shows that changes have been made to the vehicle, making it suitable for use on British roads.

If the vehicle hasn’t been subject to European type approval (intended for sale in a country outside of the European Union) it must pass a single vehicle approval (SVA) test. For the purpose of the test you can drive it to and from the pre-arranged appointment before the vehicle is registered.

• A guide to the Mutual Recognition scheme
• The single vehicle approval test

Import information pack

You can order an ‘import pack’ from the DVLA form ordering service. This pack provides all the necessary information and forms needed to register an imported vehicle.

• DVLA form ordering service Opens new window

Previously used vehicle

As part of the registration process DVLA must be sure that an imported used vehicle that’s less than 10 years old, meets European type approval standards, UK construction and use, and road vehicle lighting legislation.

Cars, motorcycles and light goods vehicles, first registered in another European Member State, must have a certificate issued by VCA under the Mutual Recognition Scheme. Larger goods vehicles will need full UK type approval before they can be registered.

Cars, motorcycles and light goods vehicles first registered in a country outside of the European Union must pass the SVA test.

• The Mutual Recognition Scheme
• The single vehicle approval test
• Order an ‘import pack’ Opens new window

Vehicle Tax

Vehicle tax will be payable in line with the vehicle’s first registration date in the UK. Even if the vehicle has been previously registered abroad, the date it's first registered in the UK will determine the amount of vehicle tax that’s payable. Additionally, DVLA will allocate a vehicle registration number appropriate to the vehicle’s first registration abroad.

Registering and taxing the vehicle

An application for registration can be made at your nearest DVLA local office. There is no ‘over the counter’ service and the application takes between two to three working days.

• Find your nearest DVLA local office

The following documents will need to be submitted to the DVLA local office, photocopies are not acceptable:

• completed application form V55/4 (for new vehicles) or V55/5 (for used vehicles)
• a £55 registration fee (if applicable) and the required fee for the vehicle tax (cheques or postal orders made payable to DVLA Swansea)
• a current British certificate of insurance
• foreign registration document and any other papers relating to the vehicle
• evidence showing the date the vehicle was collected (normally the invoice from the supplier)
• evidence of type approval
• a current British MOT test certificate (if applicable)
• the appropriate HM Revenue and Customs form
• a 'Declaration that a vehicle is new' form V267 (if applicable) available for download or from a DVLA local office
• documentation confirming your name and address (a list of acceptable identity documentation can be found on the link below)

Registering and taxing the vehicle won’t take place unless you have the necessary documentation. In some cases the DVLA local office may wish to see the vehicle to check its identity.

• HM Revenue and Customs forms required to register an imported vehicle
• Download 'Declaration that a vehicle is new' (V267) (PDF, 164K)
• How to register your vehicle – list of acceptable identity documents

Construction and Use requirements

Vehicles kept or used on the public highway in the UK must at all times comply with The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (as amended). Information about the 1986 regulations can be obtained by contacting:

The Department of Transport
Transport, Technology and Standards
Zone 2/01
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
LONDON
SW1P 4DR

Email: tts.enquiries@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Copies of regulations aren’t available from the Department of Transport or DVLA. They can be obtained from any library or ordered from The Stationery Office Ltd (TSO). You can submit an order to TSO:

• online at www.opsi.gov.uk via the TSO online bookshop
• by email to customer.services@tso.co.uk
• by post to: TSO, PO Box 29, Norwich, NR3 1GN
• Tel: 0870 600 5522. Fax: 0870 600 5533