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Importing your Audi to the United Kingdom
My Car Import can manage the entire process of getting your Audi to the UK and acquiring the necessary registration.
- Fast Track DVLA registration
- First & longest privately held IVA lane in the UK
- EU & Non EU Vehicle Experts
- Worldwide Container Shipping Network
Where to start
Your route depends on the car and where it is
Right then. Let's import your Audi to the United Kingdom.
Depending on where your Audi is, and what model it is ultimately dictates your route to registration.
As we always say, get in touch with our friendly team so we can provide an accurate quote regarding the import process.
Once you receive your quote from us, please get in touch if you have further questions. We're always here to help.
Certificate of Conformity
Does your Audi need a Certificate of Conformity?
For most late model Audis coming out of Europe, yes, and it is the route we use most often. Audi holds European type approval across the range, so a Certificate of Conformity proves the car already meets the standard and removes the need for an individual test. Audi issues it against the VIN.
It will not help you with a car built for a market outside Europe. A Japanese market RS4 or a US market R8 has no European certificate to order, so those cars go down the IVA route, usually with lighting and speedometer work first.
We order the certificate for you, check it against the car, and tell you before you commit if the car you are looking at is one that cannot have one.
What is a Certificate of Conformity?
What a Certificate of Conformity actually proves, when your Audi needs one, what it costs and how long it takes to get.
Testing and registration
Registering your Audi
Once the car is here and cleared, the work is ours: any compliance modifications in our own workshop, the test on our own lane rather than a DVSA queue, and then the DVLA paperwork. We hold a service level agreement with the DVLA to register imported passenger cars within ten working days of a pass.
An Audi over thirty years old is a different job again. It is registered on its date of build with an age related plate, and it attracts 5% import VAT and no duty.
Background
What is the history of Audi?
Audi is a German car maker whose roots run back to August Horch’s companies in Zwickau and to the four company Auto Union merger of 1932, which gave the brand its four rings. Since being taken over by Volkswagen it has become known for four wheel drive, aluminium body engineering and a long run of success in rallying and at Le Mans.
1899 – 1945Horch and Auto Union
- 1899
August Horch founded A. Horch & Cie. in Cologne on 14 November. The business moved to Zwickau in Saxony and became a joint stock company in 1904.
- 1909
After falling out with his own board, Horch left and founded a second company. A trademark dispute stopped him using the Horch name on it.
- 1910
The new firm was registered on 25 April as Audi Automobilwerke GmbH Zwickau. Audi is the Latin imperative of audire, to listen — the same meaning as the German horch.
- 1932
Audi merged with Horch, DKW and Wanderer to form Auto Union AG. The four interlocking rings represent those four companies and are still the Audi badge.
- 1934 – 1939
Auto Union’s mid engined Grand Prix cars, developed with Ferdinand Porsche’s design office, raced against Mercedes-Benz in the Silver Arrows era, with Bernd Rosemeyer and Tazio Nuvolari among the drivers.
1945 – 1979Rebuilding in Ingolstadt
- 1945 – 1948
Auto Union’s Saxon plants ended up in the Soviet zone and were expropriated. A spare parts depot was set up in Ingolstadt, in Bavaria, in 1945.
- 1949
Auto Union GmbH was refounded in Ingolstadt on 3 September as a West German company, initially building DKW two stroke cars and vans.
- 1958 & 1959
Daimler-Benz bought into Auto Union, taking a controlling stake in 1958 and full ownership in 1959.
- 1964 – 1966
Volkswagen acquired a half share including the Ingolstadt factory in 1964 and took complete control in 1966. It revived the dormant Audi name in 1965.
- 1968
The Audi 100 was launched. It had been developed largely in secret at a time when Volkswagen did not want the subsidiary designing its own cars, and its success secured Audi’s independence as a brand.
- 1969
Auto Union merged with NSU Motorenwerke of Neckarsulm. Neckarsulm remains an Audi plant to this day.
1980 – todayQuattro, Le Mans and the modern brand
- 1980
The Audi Quattro was shown at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March, the first car to bring permanent four wheel drive to a high performance road and rally car. 11,452 were built to 1991.
- 1982 – 1984
Audi won the World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title in 1982 and 1984, and the drivers’ title in 1983 with Hannu Mikkola and 1984 with Stig Blomqvist. The short wheelbase Sport quattro appeared in 1984.
- 1985 & 1994
The company name was shortened to Audi AG. The A8 followed in 1994 with the Audi Space Frame, the first mass produced aluminium bodied saloon.
- 2000 – 2014
Audi won the Le Mans 24 Hours thirteen times — with the R8, the diesel R10 and R15, and the R18 family. The 2012 win was the first at Le Mans for a hybrid car.
- 2020 – 2026
Volkswagen bought out the remaining minority shareholders in November 2020. Audi announced a Formula One entry in 2022 and the works team made its debut at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
The practical consequence of all that is a very wide model range sold in very different specifications from market to market, which is exactly why Audis get imported. A great many of the cars we bring in are combinations of engine, body and trim that Audi UK simply never offered.
The cars
The Audis we are asked about most
Which one yours is changes the route, the paperwork and the cost. If it is not on this list, call us — it does not mean we have not done it.
- RS2 Avant (1994–1995) — 2,891 built with Porsche, of which only 180 were right hand drive and those were shared between several markets. Almost every UK sale is an import.
- Sport quattro and early Ur-quattro — the Sport quattro was left hand drive only, and the standard Ur-quattro was too until right hand drive arrived in late 1983.
- RS4 Avant (B5, 2000–2001) — just over 6,000 built and a small UK allocation, so continental cars are imported to cover demand the domestic pool cannot.
- Japanese market RS and S models — Japan is a right hand drive market, so no conversion is needed. These come in for low mileage, dry climate bodies and high standard specification.
- US market R8 and RS models — left hand drive, but often cheaper and sometimes in specifications Audi UK never sold.
- European engine and trim combinations — Avant and allroad variants, and manual gearboxes, that the narrower UK range left out.
All four photographs are ours, taken in our own yard.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Anything specific to your Audi, just call us — no two cars are the same.
Can I import an Audi car to the United Kingdom?
Yes! It is possible to import an Audi car to the United Kingdom. Audi is a popular brand known for its luxury, performance, and advanced technology, making it a desirable choice for importation.
What documents do I need to import an Audi car to the UK?
The necessary documents may include the car's original title or registration certificate, a bill of sale, proof of ownership, a valid passport, and the car's export certificate from the country of origin. You may also need to provide a completed customs declaration form and any other documentation required by the UK authorities.
Do I need to pay import duties or taxes on an Audi car?
Yes. when importing an Audi to the UK, you may be liable to pay import duties, such as customs duty and value-added tax (VAT). The amount of duties and taxes will depend on factors such as the car's value, age, and emissions rating. It is recommended to consult with UK customs or a professional customs broker to determine the specific costs involved.
Are there any restrictions on importing Audi cars to the UK?
The UK has specific regulations regarding car imports, including emissions and safety standards. It is important to ensure that the Audi car you wish to import meets these requirements. Additionally, there may be restrictions on importing certain models or modifications, so it's advisable to check with the UK authorities or a car import specialist for guidance.
How do I transport the Audi car to the UK?
You can choose to transport the Audi car to the UK by using container shipping, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipping, or air freight. The most suitable method will depend on factors such as cost, convenience, and the specific location of the car.
Do I need to register the imported Audi car in the UK?
You do. Once the Audi car arrives in the UK, it must go through the registration process with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). This involves obtaining a UK registration certificate, and license plates, and paying any applicable registration fees.
Please note that import regulations and requirements may change over time. It is recommended to consult with the UK authorities, such as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or the DVLA, or seek professional advice from a car import specialist to ensure compliance with the latest regulations when importing Audi cars to the United Kingdom.
You can always contact us as we've been doing this for a very long time.
Related
What the import involves
The paperwork, the testing and the route your Audi takes to UK plates.
- Certificate of ConformityWhat a CoC is, when your Audi needs one, and how we get it for you.
- IVA testingThe route for Japanese and US market Audis, on our own lane.
- DVLA registrationTen working days from a passed test to UK plates.
- Importing from GermanyWhere most Audis come from, and what that route involves.