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Importing your car from Spain to the United Kingdom

Vehicle Transport

My Car Import is here to help with the logistical process that comes with importing a car to the United Kingdom. We can take care of everything including the customs clearance. 

Vehicle Modifications

If needed, we can assist with the modification of your Spanish vehicle to make it compliant in the United Kingdom. For example, if your headlights need adjusting. 

Vehicle Registrations

Lastly we take care of the paperwork for you meaning that you don’t have to worry about a thing. Other than insuring your car in the United Kingdom. 

How do we import your car to the United Kingdom from Spain?

The first question you have to ask yourself, is where is your car? Obviously if the car is already in the United Kingdom there is a lot less to do in the respect of getting it registered. Obviously if the vehicle is further afield we can assist with getting it to the United Kingdom for you.

When you fill in our quote form we ask the correct questions to ensure that you get the right quote.

Then we will advise either to remotely register the vehicle, or if it needs to come to our premises. This is a unique service that aims to save you money during the process of importing your car from Spain.

We use the phrase remote registrations as we take care of the paperwork and a local garage can assist with the process of modifying the vehicle.

This means you aren’t paying out for excessive transport costs where they aren’t needed. Once the vehicle is compliant and has passed an MOT test (unless it is a newer vehicle) we can get it in for registration with the DVLA.

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Frequently asked Questions

Can you transport my car from Spain to the United Kingdom?

Absolutely. To transport a car from Spain to the UK, you have several options available. The most common methods include road transportation and shipping via a RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) vessel or in a shipping container. We usually use offer road freight as it is often the cheapest way to get your car back from Spain to the United Kingdom.

Here’s an overview of each option:

Road Transportation: If you choose road transportation, a professional car transporter will drive your car from Spain to the UK. The journey time can vary depending on the specific route and any potential delays at border crossings. On average, it can take around 2 to 5 days.

RoRo Vessel: Roll-on/Roll-off vessels are designed to carry cars. Your car will be driven onto the vessel at a Spanish port and then driven off at a UK port. The shipping time is typically between 2 to 5 days, depending on the chosen route and carrier.

Shipping Container: Another option is to transport your car in a shipping container. The car will be securely loaded into the container and transported by sea. The shipping time is generally longer compared to RoRo, typically ranging from 5 to 10 days.

Please note that these are just estimated timeframes.

If you choose My Car Import to get your car here and then registered don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Can I drive my car to the United Kingdom from Spain?

You can drive a car from Spain in the UK. However, there are a few important things to bear in mind.

Ensure that you have a valid driving license that is accepted in both Spain and the UK. We get asked this question a lot! And of you have a driving license issued in an EU/EEA country, it is generally valid for driving in the UK.  Usually if you are moving to the United Kingdom you can exchange it for a GB license.

You should ensure that your car is properly registered and insured in Spain. It is recommended to contact your insurance provider to confirm the coverage for driving in the UK!

A lot of our customers will bring their cars here when they move, and then will wait for the registration paperwork to come through so the car can still be used.

What documents do I need to import my car from Spain to the UK?

Here are a few of the common documents you might need depending on whether or not you are a transferring resident:

  • Vehicle registration documents
  • Proof of ownership
  • Valid driving license
  • Passport or ID

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Will I pay import tax?

Are you moving to the UK?

If you are moving to the UK, have lived outside the UK for more than 12 months and have owned the car for more than 6 months, you will be eligible for a tax and duty free import.

To qualify, you will complete a Transfer of Residency application with HMRC. Customers of My Car Import have access to handy guides to complete this application.

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Have you bought a car from the EU?

Vehicles registered in the EU attract 20% import VAT, based on the purchase price of the car and any associated transport costs to bring it to the UK. The import VAT is calculated on your purchase invoice for the car, or a recent valuation if the invoice is more than 3 months old.

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Have you bought a car from outside the EU?

Vehicles registered outside the EU attract 20% import VAT and 10% import Duty, based on the purchase price of the car and any associated transport costs to bring it to the UK. The import VAT is calculated on your purchase invoice for the car, or a recent valuation if the invoice is more than 3 months old.

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Have you bought a classic car?

Vehicles over 30 years old qualify for a special rate of taxation, due to their historical interest, similar to an antiquity.

You will pay 5% import VAT and no import Duty, based on the purchase price of the car and any associated transport costs to bring it to the UK. The import VAT is calculated on your purchase invoice for the car, or a recent valuation if the invoice is more than 3 months old.

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Have you got a car that was formerly UK registered?

If you exported a car from the UK and are now returning with it, you may be able to import the car back into the UK tax free, as long as you can provide a UK purchase invoice when you acquired the car, along with a copy of your former UK V5C logbook.

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For a no obligation quotation to import your car fill out our quote form.

We have imported thousands of cars from around the world into the United Kingdom and we have over 25 years experience doing so.

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