US Imports
What you need to be aware of when importing a car from the US is that you cannot drive it on UK roads unless you have gone through the necessary steps to make it UK road worthy.
Upon importing a car from the US to the UK, or anywhere within the EU, you have to pay a 10% Import Duty on any car that was NOT built within the EU. For commercial vehicles it varies further.
For starters, you need to collect the car on a truck. You cannot drive a US import home. You need to book your car in for an SVA Test, to give it's full name, Single Vehicle Approval Test. The SVA Test will pass your US Import for approval to UK Specification. There are a couple of things you need to be aware of, such as the rear light cluster on some US cars need changing as the indicators flash red instead of orange, there are no reverse lights and the fog light is on the wrong side.
For cars aged from 1986 onwards, you need to have indicator side repeaters fitted either in the door mirrors or on the wings. Rear seatbelts have to be fitted in cars with rear seats, but most US cars comply with this anyway. The dash clocks have to show in Miles Per Hour, which again isn't a problem with US Imports, as the Americans count in Miles anyway. The front headlights will have to be changed if you are driving your car on UK roads, as they point across the traffic in the UK.
The SVA can be costly, but there are a myriad of web sites where you can buy the parts you need cheaper than your local dealer. Of course, if you have the knowledge you can fit the parts yourself and save a little money. Of course, if the car is more than three years old, you'll need to have a valid MOT on the car.
Registration
The registration process is relatively easy, although if you don't know what you're doing, it maybe worth employing the services of someone who is able to do this for you as it can quickly become a nightmare.
To register your car, you need:
- The current fees for registration and 1 year's road fund license (Tax)
- An Insurance Cover Note (Insure the car prior to arrival in the UK on the Chassis Number)
- SVA Test Certificate
- MOT Test Certificate (If applicable)
- Bill of Sale
- Passport and/or Driving License
- 2 x Utility Bills dated within the past 3 months addressed to you
- All the details about the car (Should be on Bill of Sale)
Find your local DVLA office and pay them a visit. I recommend going early in the morning to avoid a long queue as they can get very busy especially around February/March & August/September.
When you get to see a clerk, the whole process should take about 10 minutes, you pay your money and your car is registered. They will send you the registration document and the Tax Disc in the post within a few days. In the meantime, you are able to drive the car, although I wouldn't recommend it because you need number plates to be pressed and you can't get them without the registration document! As they say, patience is a virtue.
Top Tip!
When dealing with the DVLA, check, check and check again. Never say to yourself 'That'll do, they'll accept that.' Because they will not. Unless it's 100% correct, you'll be shown the door and told to come back when you've got everything together. It can be a simple process, likewise it can be a nightmare if you haven't got the correct documentation.
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