Importing a pickup truck to the UK
Thinking about importing a truck but not sure where to start? That’s most people, and it’s a shorter job than it looks.
- Door to door truck registration service
- Our own private IVA testing lane
- One total cost, quoted up front
- Imports from anywhere in the world
Why the American trucks
Finding a good one in Europe is the hard part
Over recent years we have had a surge of inquiries for truck imports. Finding the perfect truck is actually a bit tricky within the EU due to the laws on emissions. It is for that reason cars like the F150 and Dodge Ram have become so sought after. If you are looking for the ultimate truck then the US automobile market has everything you could ever want. But we can assist in importing from anywhere in the world.
How it works
At My Car Import we offer a door to door truck registration service. We want to make it as simple as possible for our customers to import a truck. Simply fill out our quote request form and we can provide you with a total cost to import and register the truck.
What your truck needs before it gets plates
The age of the vehicle sets the route, the same as it does for a car. Worth settling before you bid on anything.
Under 10 years old
IVA test
A newer truck has to meet UK type approval, either on a Certificate of Conformity or through an IVA test. Most of the American trucks coming over fall here, and most of them go the IVA route.
Over 10 years old
MOT and modifications
Type approval falls away and an MOT takes its place, alongside the work the age calls for. Lights and speedometer, as ever.
Over 40 years old
Neither
No MOT, no approval test. The older American pickups sit here, and on those the paperwork takes longer than the workshop does.
With our own private IVA testing lane, your truck can be modified, tested, and registered all onsite. One thing to check before you buy: IVA covers vehicles up to 3,500kg, and a few of the biggest American trucks go over that once they are fully specified. Send us the model and we will confirm where yours sits.
Where the trucks come from
America is the obvious source and the one most people are looking at. It isn’t the only one.
United States
F150s, Rams, Silverados, Tundras. The widest choice anywhere and the reason most truck imports start here. Left-hand drive, so lights and speedometer go on the list.
Japan
Hiluxes and kei trucks at the other end of the scale. Right-hand drive already, and the small ones are a different job entirely, so say which you’re after.
Australia
Utes and right-hand-drive pickups built for a market that’s hard on them. Worth a look if you want the steering on the correct side.
We ship from 54 countries. Find yours
Tell us about the truck
Model, year and where it’s sat. We come back with one figure covering the shipping, the customs, the testing and the plates.
Port to plates
What the import involves
Take the whole service or just the end of it. Some people land their own truck and bring it to us for the testing and the registration.
- 1CollectionWe collect from the seller, the auction house or your own drive and get the car to the loading warehouse.
- 2ShippingContainer or RoRo, with marine insurance for the crossing. We book it, we track it, you watch it on the portal.
- 3CustomsWe’re HMRC CDS authorised agents with customs staff in-house, so your entry is filed by the same firm that shipped the car.
- 4UnloadingContainers come to our own facility rather than a port warehouse. That means no port waiting times and nobody rushing a car off a trailer.
- 5ModificationsHeadlights, rear fog light and speedometer, done here, to the standard the test needs.
- 6TestingIVA, MSVA or MOT in our own lanes. We book the date, so your car does not leave the site to be tested.
- 7RegistrationOur dealer-level DVLA account gives an expected turnaround of 10 working days, then the plates go on.
- 8DeliveryCollect it from us, or we’ll bring it to you on an open or enclosed trailer.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Trucks throw up questions cars don’t. Ring the office if yours isn’t answered here.
Why are American trucks so popular here?
Because Europe barely builds them any more. Emissions rules have squeezed the big petrol engines out of the European market, so if you want a full-size pickup the American market is where you’ll find it.
Is my truck too heavy for an IVA test?
IVA covers vehicles up to 3,500kg. Most pickups come in under that, but a few of the heavier American ones do not once they are fully specified. Tell us the exact model and trim and we will check before you commit.
Can you do the whole thing, or just parts of it?
Either. The full door to door service covers collection abroad through to plates on the drive. Plenty of customers use us for the testing and registration only.
Will it need the headlights changing?
If it’s left-hand drive, yes, along with the rear fog light and the speedometer. That work happens here, before the test. What the modifications involve →
What will the shipping cost?
Trucks take more space than cars, so the figure is higher. We publish guide prices by region, built from a sample of a year’s worth of real jobs. See the guide prices →
How long will it all take?
Weeks at sea from America, then the testing, then ten working days at the DVLA. We put a date against it when we quote.