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How long does it take to register an imported vehicle?
The honest answer is that it depends on the age of the car and the route it takes. Here are the four routes, and the real numbers for each.
- Certificate of Conformity route: 7–14 working days
- Over ten years old: a few weeks
- Classics: can run into months
- A realistic date at the point of quotation
The short version
Four routes, four answers
Welcome to one of our “frequently asked question” guides. Without a doubt this is the number one question we get asked at My Car Import. Nearly on a daily basis people are asking how long the entire process takes.
Certificate of Conformity
7–14 working days
From submitting your V55 to the V5C landing, once the CoC, the documents and the MOT are all in hand. Usually registered remotely, so the car never comes to us.
IVA test
Quoted per vehicle
A test has to be scheduled and the car prepared, so the lead time depends on the work. A car from the USA might need a day on the lighting; a Japanese car might need a speedo and a fog light.
Over ten years old
A few weeks
Registration document and an MOT, submitted. Significantly easier than a modern vehicle.
Classic
Can stretch into months
Supporting evidence, VIN verification, sometimes a third party inspection. Worth putting the car into storage rather than waiting on the drive.
One thing outside anybody’s control: a registration can be pulled for extra checks on the vehicle’s history abroad, and we have seen that add 4 to 12 weeks for cars from certain countries. It is rare, but it is worth knowing before you plan around a date.
Whilst we say it a lot there are numerous factors that come into play when talking about registering a vehicle, so we try to break it down into the age groups of the vehicle and other unique scenarios that can affect the overall lead time on getting that V5C through the post.
Modern vehicles
How long does it take to register a vehicle under ten years old?
If you are importing something under ten years old there is a high chance the vehicle will need either an IVA test or a CoC if the vehicle was manufactured in the EU.
These are two routes to registration that have slightly varying timescales.
Certificate of Conformity route
Vehicles that we can register with a Certificate of Conformity – we will usually register remotely, without the vehicle ever needing to come here which saves a bit of time as the work can be done locally to you.
If you have your CoC along with all the correct documentation and have an MOT carried out on the vehicle – it can take between 7-14 working days once we submit your V55 for you to receive a V5C. However we note that a lot of delays occur when the correct documentation isn’t supplied, or a CoC can’t be located for the vehicle – which means one will have to be ordered.
More on what a Certificate of Conformity is and how we order one.
IVA route
On the IVA testing front – mostly for vehicles outside of the EU or vehicles under three years old, we will have to schedule a test, prepare the vehicle which adds lead time. We will usually quote the most accurate timeframes possible when you get a quote as vehicles vary in complexity. A vehicle from the USA might need a day’s worth of work to get the lighting compliant for the test, but a right hand drive car from Japan might just need a speedo and a fog.
More on IVA testing on our own lane, and the lighting and speedometer work that goes with it.
Older vehicles
How long does it take to register something over ten years old?
Vehicles that are over ten years old are significantly easier to import than modern vehicles and we usually require your registration document, and an MOT carried out on the vehicle. Once submitted, you should have your V5C in the post within a few weeks.
The process can be more lengthy depending on if you have the original registration document for your vehicle.
Classics
How long does it take to register a classic car?
We would recommend putting your vehicle in storage as registering a classic can be delayed for a number of reasons.
The registration application has to have a plethora of supporting evidence to show the vehicle is real, and what we are submitting a registration for.
We more often than not have to also collect additional evidence to showcase that the VIN of your vehicle relates to a “real” vehicle. This can even involve inspections by a third party to confirm everything is above board.
In this case the entire process can stretch into the months whilst we await requests for additional information or requests to inspect the vehicle.
Out of our hands
Extra checks?
Sometimes, delays are out of our control. We have noticed in recent years a lot of delays where registration applications can be pushed back for extra checks. This can be checking the vehicle’s history in the foreign country.
Sometimes we have seen delays run into 4-12 week range for vehicles from certain countries as they check they are not stolen, scrapped vehicles, or vehicles with clean titles that are actually damaged.
In short
So how long does it take?
There are numerous routes to registration and we will always do our best to communicate to you a realistic timeframe at the point of quotation. If you want to schedule a call to talk about importing your vehicle you can book in a call with Will Smith our head of sales here:
Related
The routes in detail
Each of the four routes has a page of its own.
