How to register a vehicle in the UK

If you’re relocating to the UK, you might want to bring your own car with you. Before you can take to the road, you’ll need to register your car in the UK - here’s everything you need to know.

Do I need to register my car in the UK?

Yes - the UK has strict rules on importing cars, so if you’re moving to the UK and bringing a car from another country, you must register it before you can drive it here.

You must register your car with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) within six months of becoming a UK resident. If you plan to stay in the UK for longer than six months, you must register your car immediately.

On the other hand, if you’re visiting the UK, and you don’t plan to live here, you may not need to register your car.

You can usually use a car with foreign number plates without having to register or tax it in the UK, as long as it’s registered and taxed in its home country, and as long as you only use the car for up to six months in total (this can be one visit, or lots of shorter visits within 12 months).

You will need to register your vehicle if you want to move it between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland.

What’s the process for registering an imported car in the UK?

Here’s what you need to do to register an imported car:

Tell HMRC

You must inform HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within 14 days of arriving in the UK. You can do use the Notification of Vehicle Arrival (NOVA) service to do this, and this will tell you if you need to pay VAT and duty

Get an MOT (if you need one)

If your car is over three years old, it needs to pass a UK MOT test

Get UK vehicle approval

If your car is not already approved for UK roads, you may need to get an IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval), MSVA (Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval), or a Mutual Recognition certificate.

Register with the DVLA

You must complete the V55/5 form (for used vehicles) or a V55/4 (for new vehicles), and submit it with: proof of your identity and UK address; the car’s original foreign registration certificate; the MOT certificate (if needed); the vehicle approval (if needed), and the registration fee of £55.

Get UK plates and insurance

Once your car is registered, you'll receive a UK registration number, and you must fit UK registration plates to your car. You’ll also need UK car insurance.

What taxes and fees do I need to pay?

In the process of registering your car in the UK, there are a few fees and taxes you’ll need to pay.

Vehicle Import Duty & VAT

If you’re moving to the UK permanently and bringing a car you've owned for over 6 months (and used for at least 6,000 km), you can import it tax-free under the Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief scheme. You must apply for this before bringing your car to the UK. If ToR relief doesn’t apply, you may have to pay VAT (20%) on the car’s value, and Import Duty (10% for most cars, but it varies by type and origin)

First Registration Fee

A one-off fee of £55 to register your car with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)

Road tax (also known as Vehicle Excise Duty)

The amount you’ll pay is based on the car’s CO2 emissions, fuel type, and age. For a petrol or diesel car, first-year tax rates range from £0 (for zero-emission vehicles) to over £2,000 for high-emission models. From the second year onwards, the standard rate is £190 per year for most petrol and diesel cars.

What documents do I need to register a vehicle in the UK?

Registering a car involves quite a lot of paperwork. As part of the process, you’ll need to provide:

Proof of ownership

A document that proves you’re the legal owner of the car. This is usually the original invoice, receipt or sales contract from when you bought the car.

Original registration documents

The logbook or title document from the country where the car was last registered. If you don’t have this, you may need an official document from the relevant authorities in the previous country, confirming the vehicle’s registration details.

Evidence of customs clearance

You should get a NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrival) confirmation from HMRC (you must submit a NOVA application within 14 days of bringing the car to the UK). If you’re importing the car tax-free, you’ll need to provide your Transfer of Residence (ToR) approval letter. If you need to pay import taxes, you’ll need a receipt from HMRC showing that you’ve paid import duty and VAT.

Proof of insurance in the UK

A valid UK insurance certificate, showing that the car is insured with a UK-based insurer. This must be in place before you register the vehicle. Many UK insurers won’t cover a car on foreign plates long-term, so you may need temporary or specialist insurance until the registration process is completed.

How long does vehicle registration take?

It usually takes between four and six weeks to register a vehicle in the UK, once all the documents are submitted to the DVLA. It could take a bit longer if any extra checks are needed.

There isn’t a fast-track option to speed this up, so the best way to avoid any delays in the process is to make sure all the paperwork is complete and accurate when you submit it.

Can I drive my car while waiting for registration?

When it comes to driving your car before it’s registered, the rules depend on your residency status, and how long your car has been in the UK.

Visiting the UK for less than six months? You can legally drive a foreign-registered car in the UK for up to six months in a 12-month period without registering it, as long as the car is taxed and insured in its home country.

If you’re a UK resident, or planning to stay longer than six months, then you can’t drive a foreign-registered car. The exception to this rule is if you’ve been here for less than six months so far, or if you’re waiting for the DVLA registration to be processed and you’ve met all the legal requirements (UK car insurance, NOVA clearance, MOT if you need one).

Driving an unregistered vehicle in the UK is illegal in most cases, and strict regulations apply.

Here’s the specific circumstance where you can’t drive an unregistered vehicle in the UK:

• If the car’s been in the UK longer than six months: unless it’s in the process of getting registered
• If you’re a UK resident: foreign-registered vehicles must be registered immediately
• If the car doesn’t have valid UK road tax: also known as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)
• If it’s not insured with a UK policy: most UK insurers won’t cover foreign-registered vehicles for long.
• If it hasn’t passed an MOT: cars over three years old need an MOT before they can be registered

The police and DVLA enforce these rules using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras, which detect unregistered vehicles. If you’re caught driving an unregistered vehicle, you could have to pay a fine, the car could be seized, and you might even be prosecuted.

What happens after registration?

Once the DVLA has approved your registration, you’ll receive your UK registration certificate, known as the V5C logbook. This is your official vehicle logbook, and it confirms that the car is registered in your name. Keep it safe, as you’ll need it for taxing and insuring your car, and if you sell it in the future.

You’ll be assigned a UK registration number in the format AB12 XYZ. Once you’ve got this, you must buy and fit UK number plates from a DVLA-approved supplier - this usually costs from £20 - £50.

If you had a temporary insurance policy, you must now switch to a full UK policy, and your insurance must match your new UK registration number.

Then, you’re good to go! You can now drive legally in the UK - time to plan a road trip!