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Vehicle Modifications

Making sure that your vehicle is compliant in the United Kingdom is one of the most important steps to getting your vehicle road registered. We’ve included some guidance on the steps that most vehicles will undergo. It’s important to bear in mind that every car is different and requires a bespoke approach.

We handle the entire process of ensuring that your car is fully compliant for use on UK roads

You can import a car from pretty much anywhere in the world, but it will need certain modifications and relevant testing before it can be legally registered. The quickest way to establish your requirements is by contacting us for a quote. In the meantime, we’ve included some guidance for those who wish to understand the process in more detail.

Rear Fog Lights

We can convert or modify your rear fog lights to illuminate to a UK compliant standard. That's without spoiling the aesthetics of the car.

American Lighting Conversions

We have vast experience of modifying American spec cars to operate in accordance with UK standards.

Headlight Conversions

Most modern headlights can have their beam patterns adjusted to a UK variant, and we have the knowledge to do this.

Speedometers

All UK speedometers must read in miles per hour (MPH). If your car is under ten years old and needs to read MPH, we can convert the speedometer for you. We strongly recommend that you don't attempt to do this yourself.

MOT Testing

The majority of cars need an MOT test prior to registration. We conduct this onsite at our premises. Your car will need an MOT test every year once registered.

IVA & MSVA testing

If your car is under ten years old and from outside the EU, it may need an IVA or MSVA test. We conduct these tests onsite at our own private testing facility. These tests are a one time event to demonstrate to the DVSA that your car is compliant and roadworthy.

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What’s the process when your vehicle arrives at My Car Import?

It’s important to remember that every car is different so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. There are typical procedures that we can advise on, we just can’t guarantee that every aspect will apply to your vehicle.

Checking in your vehicle

1

Unloading

Your vehicle is unloaded at our premises from either container or transporter.
2

Inspection

We fully inspect the state of the vehicle for obvious signs of damage or non-starting issues.
3

Check-in Video

We create a video of your vehicle and send it to you. Years of experience have taught us that this process offers peace of mind to customers.
4

Recommendations

We advise all that is required for your vehicle and run through the details of our plan with you. We'll make recommendations for servicing if we consider this necessary.

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Modifying your Vehicle

1

Scheduled for Work

We book your car in to begin work at our premises.. The vehicle is then moved into our workshop.
2

Modifications

Any required modifications are carried out and we'll discuss any issues that may arise. Sometimes, this might be simply asking where you'd like your side repeaters on a US spec car, for example.
3

Servicing & Extras

Any servicing you've requested will be carried out at the same time.Your car can then be checked out from the workshop ready for testing.

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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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