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Importing your car from the EU to the UK?

We take over at any stage and get your car or motorbike from the EU onto UK number plates – fast.

  • Collection anywhere in the EU
  • EU Vehicle Import Experts
  • Customs, modifications and MOT or IVA handled for you
  • Fast track DVLA registration processing

Why My Car Import

The fastest route from an EU driveway to UK number plates

Whatever stage of the import process you’re at, we’re happy to take over and simplify the remainder of the journey to get your car or motorbike from the EU to the UK.

Maybe you’re moving to the United Kingdom or have your eye on a low-mileage classic car – whatever the reason for importing a car to the UK, let us help you get it on the road.

Our swift, streamlined process makes us the fastest car import company in the UK for car and motorbike road registration.

With a wealth of experience dealing with EU imports you can rest assured we will get your car on new number plates fast.

Which EU country is your vehicle in?

Pick a country for the full guide on collecting, transporting, testing and registering a car from there in the UK.

Don’t see your country? We can still help.Get a quote →

1Collection & transport

We collect your vehicle from within the EU and deliver it to the UK

At My Car Import, we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet your transportation needs. That means a wide variety of options to suit your budget.

Having our own enclosed multi-car transporter is a gamechanger for our clients. It also means that we’re regularly embarking on journeys to the EU to collect vehicles. Whether you require enclosed road haulage or shipping services from Europe, the convenience we provide allows you a seamless and efficient process.

Our multi-car transporter is equipped to handle a variety of vehicle types. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking classic cars or luxury cars, we’ve got the expertise and equipment to transport them safely.

My Car Import is blessed to work alongside a broad network of diverse partners. These ongoing relationships allow us to accommodate your specific requirements, ensuring that your vehicles are transported securely, safely, and efficiently to their destination.

We can often get you a great price and peace of mind that we are taking care of your vehicle from start to finish – fully insured should the worst happen.

My Car Import’s enclosed multi-car transporter

2Modifications

We can modify your vehicle

Depending on the age of the vehicle, sometimes it will head straight to you if you have chosen to get any work done locally and to choose us solely for the paperwork & customs side of the process.

If your vehicle is coming to us? Well, once your car is in the UK, trust us to take care of the modifications required for compliance for you. This can vary based on the year of the vehicle, but we’ll tell you the best route to registering your car or motorbike in the UK at the quotation stage.

The most common modification to vehicles includes adjustments to headlights, fitting rear fog lights, and changing speedometer fascias. This is not an exhaustive list, however, and modifications are unique to each and every vehicle.

We always aim to create an OEM finish that ensures your vehicle looks great and works as the manufacturer would have intended.

Headlights

LHD cars are typically equipped with headlights designed for driving on the right-hand side of the road. As the UK drives on the left-hand side, this means the beam pattern is usually incorrect on LHD cars.

Read more →

Fog lights

In the UK, vehicles are required to have a right-hand side rear fog light. Many EU cars have rear fog lights on the left-hand side or may not have them at all. To comply with UK regulations, fog lights must be on the right-hand side.

Read more →

Speedometer

In the UK, speedometers must be displayed in miles per hour (mph). If a speed reading is displayed in kilometres per hour (kph), it needs to be recalibrated or the fascia replaced.

Read more →

We’ll quote you with the correct route to registration.

Taking a few minutes to complete our quote form speeds up the process of getting your car home.

3Testing & registration

We'll get your EU vehicle tested and manage all associated DVLA paperwork

Before we can put your vehicle in for the expedited registration process, it’s essential to understand the prerequisites that must be met when importing a car into the UK.

Your car will either require an MOT or an IVA test beforehand. This is purely down to the age of the vehicle, and where it was made.

MOT Test

Importing a car into the UK often necessitates undergoing a Ministry of Transport (MOT) test. This examination ensures that the vehicle meets the UK’s safety and emissions standards. It’s a comprehensive assessment that covers various aspects such as brakes, lights, emissions, and structural integrity. Passing the MOT is a vital prerequisite for road legality and safety.

IVA Test

In certain cases, particularly for cars that don’t conform to standard EU or UK specifications, an IVA test may be required. This thorough examination evaluates the vehicle’s conformity to specific UK regulations, including those related to emissions, safety, and construction. Passing the IVA test is essential before the vehicle can be registered and driven legally on UK roads.

10working days

With these prerequisites in mind, our dedicated trade association account with the DVLA plays a pivotal role in simplifying the registration process for imported vehicles. We offer a streamlined and efficient service with a swift turnaround time of just 10 working days once the DVLA application is made.

This means that once your vehicle has successfully undergone the necessary MOT or IVA tests and meets all the compliance requirements, we can swiftly handle the paperwork and registration, ensuring that your imported car is road legal and ready for use within a minimal timeframe.

4Number plates

Once registered, you can drive your car in the UK

Once we receive your registration number, our dedicated team springs into action to ensure a smooth transition for your newly registered vehicle.

First, we’ll order your number plates. These are made in strict accordance with DVLA regulations to ensure that they meet all legal requirements.

Depending on your preference, we can either collect your number plates on your behalf or have them delivered to a location of your choice. We want to make the process straightforward for you, so we’ll do all we can to ensure that you receive your plates in a timely and convenient manner.

The process of bringing your car home can feel longwinded at times, but with the assistance of My Car Import, we promise that it’ll happen quickly and efficiently.

Importing a car from the EU: your questions

We would always recommend filling in our quote form for most accurate route to registration.

Can you help with getting a CoC for my vehicle?

Yes we can help to source a Certificate of Conformity if you have lost your original EU type approval.

These can be ordered from the manufacturer and other sources.

Will my EU import need an IVA test?

You will need an IVA test for your EU vehicle if it was not made in the EU or we cannot get you a Certificate of Conformity and it is under ten years old.

We would always recommend filling in our quote form for most accurate route to registration.

Fill in our quote form →

How much does it cost to import a car from Europe?

The quickest route to obtaining a price for importing your car or motorbike to the UK is by filling in a quote form.

If you’d like to know more about the individual factors that can impact the overall cost, here are a few helpful things to consider.

What region of the EU are you importing your car from?
While import rates won’t vary from EU states to the UK, it can impact on transportation costs.

What car or motorbike are you importing?
Price can be affected by vehicle type. For example, certain headlights can be adjusted on cars while others can’t. Some cars will come with dual rear fog lights while others have a digital speedometer.

How are you getting the car here?
While driving your car to your destination can be an attractive option that might save you money, it’s worth considering the risks that can be avoided with enclosed transportation.

Our fees for importing your car
Our rates are based on the level of assistance we provide for the overall importation process. The more we do, the higher the rate.

Consider the exchange rates
We accept GBP but exchange rates are always worth considering as this can affect the total cost. This depends on your individual circumstances, and whether you are moving to the UK or buying a car from the EU.

Please note, it is difficult to provide you an accurate quote without your vehicle details and the level of help required. Taking a few minutes to complete our quote form speeds up the process of getting your car home.

Fill in our quote form →

How long does it take to transport a car from Europe to the UK?

My Car Import is here to help with getting your car from the EU to the UK. However, the time it takes to transport a car from Europe to the UK can vary depending on several factors, including the method of transportation, the specific route, and any logistical considerations. This is something that we take care of when you decide to import your car with us.

As such there really isn’t a definitive answer as to how long it can take to transport a car as this depends on the routes of the transporters, and the time to collect other vehicles along the way.

Our multi car transporter will take a variety of routes that take it through a number of different EU states meaning that your car might be collected first, or last.

At the time of quotation we will give you a rough idea of when we plan to collect your vehicle if you go ahead.

How long does it take to ship a car from Europe to the United Kingdom?

The time it takes to ship a car from Europe to another destination can vary depending on several factors, including the distance, the shipping method chosen, the specific route, and potential delays.

More often than not we will not ship vehicles that are in the EU but will choose to transport them via enclosed or unenclosed transport.

Multi car transporters are more often than not – great value for money.

Get a quote
Get a quote