Car Import Check
Is Your Vehicle a DVLA Import?
A car import check reveals whether your vehicle was first registered outside the UK.
Checks are critical for insurance, resale, and legal compliance.
CarVeto’s free Import Check Tool accesses DVLA-sourced data to instantly show if your car is marked as imported or UK-registered.
Enter your reg number to get started
- What Is an Imported Car?
- How Can I Tell if a Car Is Imported?
- Why Should You Perform a Car Import Check?
- What Are the Risks of Buying an Imported Car?
- Where Are Imported Cars Usually From?
- Grey Import Car: Should You Take One?
- What Is a Personal Import Vehicle?
- DVLA Imported Vehicle vs DVLA Exported Vehicle
- What Is an Exported Car?
- FAQs on Car Import Checks
What is an Imported Car?
An imported car is a vehicle that was first registered outside the UK, then later brought into Britain for use on UK roads.
In DVLA terms, these cars carry an official import marker and typically lack a UK-issued V5C logbook at first registration.
Depending on origin, import method, and regulatory compliance, imported vehicles may differ in cost, condition, documentation, and approval status, all of which can affect insurance eligibility, resale value, and legal usability in the UK.
There are three types of imported cars:
- Parallel import – Originally sold in an EU country and typically built to European safety and emissions standards. Easier to register and insure.
- Grey import – Shipped from non-EU markets (commonly Japan or the USA). These often require modifications to comply with DVLA regulations.
- Personal import – Imported by an individual for private use, where the owner handles HMRC declarations, type approval, and DVLA registration personally.
How Can I Tell if a Car Is Imported?
An imported car often carries tell-tale signs, some visible, others hidden in government or dealer records.
Whether you're evaluating a foreign-registered vehicle or verifying your own, you can combine free online tools with physical inspections to uncover its origin.
5 Ways to Check if a Car Is Imported
- Run a Free Import Check
Use CarVeto’s tool to access DVLA-sourced data. Instantly see if the car is marked as imported or exported, and uncover other key details like mileage anomalies, finance status, or insurance write-offs. - Look for a DVLA Import Marker
The V5C logbook may note that the vehicle was “previously registered overseas.” This confirms an import, even if the specific country isn’t listed. - Ask the Seller for Origin Documents
Ask for auction sheets (from Japan), shipping records, or original foreign registration documents. These help confirm non-UK history. - Inspect the Speedometer
Grey imports from Japan often show kilometres (km/h) instead of miles per hour (MPH), or both. This is a classic import clue. - Check the Logbook and Service Manual
Translated documents, or manuals not issued by UK dealers, indicate the vehicle likely started life abroad.
UK vs Imported Vehicle Indicators
Attribute | UK Vehicle | Imported Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
VIN Format | GB/EU-compliant | May differ by country |
MOT History | Full DVLA MOT Log | Often missing or partial |
Odometer | MPH only | KPH or dual units |
Steering Position | Right-hand drive | May be left-hand drive |
Service History | UK dealer stamps | Translated or missing docs |
🔗 Imported vehicles often have missing MOT history or unclear ownership trails. For verified insights into previous keepers and write-off categories, even on imports, use our Free Car History Report.
Why Should You Perform a Car Import Check?
A car import check is more than just a yes-or-no answer. It’s a key step in verifying whether a vehicle was legally and safely brought into the UK.
If you’re considering a used car that was previously registered overseas, this check protects you from fraud, compliance issues, and unexpected costs.
Here’s what it helps you do:
⟶ Avoid scams and illegal imports
Some vehicles enter the UK through unofficial or undocumented channels. Import checks flag those lacking proper DVLA registration.
⟶ Confirm legality and roadworthiness
Imports must meet UK approval standards for safety and emissions. A check tells you whether the car complies with DVLA rules.
⟶ Detect hidden damage or mileage rollback
Many imports don’t carry UK MOT histories, making it easier to hide past collisions or tamper with the odometer.
⟶ Ensure insurance eligibility
Grey and personal imports are often complicated or costly to insure. Identifying the type in advance prevents last-minute surprises.
⟶ Gain peace of mind before buying
A verified import status helps confirm that the vehicle’s history, documents, and condition are fully transparent.
What Are the Risks of Buying an Imported Car?
Imported cars are often attractive. They may cost less, offer higher specs, and include rare models not sold in the UK.
But these advantages come with critical risks that can affect your wallet, safety, and long-term ownership.
Imported Cars – Pros vs Risks
Advantages | Risks/Drawbacks |
|---|---|
Lower purchase price | Insurance premiums are typically 20-30% higher |
Rare or discounted models | May lack UK MOT or service history |
High spec / better standard features | Mileage tampering risk from km/h ⟶ MPH conversions |
Lower mileage (e.g. Japanese imports) | Left-hand drive affects usability and resale value |
Parts availability may be limited and costly | |
Depreciate faster than UK-registered vehicles | |
Risk of fraud: auction sheet forgery, falsified history documents |
Summary: Consider Before You Commit
If you’re considering a grey or parallel import, verify the vehicle’s history, mileage, and documentation before making a purchase.
Imported cars can seem like a bargain, but if issues arise, they often cost more to fix, insure, and resell.
Where Are Imported Cars Usually From?
The origin country of an imported vehicle plays a key role in its registration requirements, parts availability, and resale implications.
Understanding where your vehicle came from helps you make smarter decisions when importing or evaluating used cars already on UK roads.
🇯🇵 Japan
A major source of grey imports, Japan is known for low-mileage, well-maintained vehicles, especially Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mazda.
Cars are often bought at auction with supporting documentation like auction sheets. Most arrive with KPH speedometers, requiring conversion to MPH.
MOT history may be missing, and service records are often translated. Japanese imports appeal to buyers seeking high spec for less.
🇩🇪 Germany
German imports often feature brands like Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
These cars usually arrive through parallel import routes or Northern Ireland transfers.
Built to EU standards, they are generally right-hand drive, making DVLA approval and UK registration more straightforward.
Ideal for buyers wanting robust engineering and seamless integration into UK systems.
🇺🇸 United States
American imports include models from Ford USA, Chevrolet, Dodge, and Jeep.
These typically require compliance modifications to meet UK safety and emission standards, including headlights, speedometer, and steering alignment.
Most are left-hand drive, which can affect insurance and resale. Best suited for buyers interested in rare trims or muscle cars.
🇦🇺 Australia
Although less common, right-hand-drive vehicles from Australia often include brands such as Holden, Ford AU, and Toyota 4x4s.
Imports are usually limited to classic or enthusiast vehicles.
While layout compatibility is a plus, parts availability can be a constraint, and paperwork may be limited depending on the export process.
📌 Summary: Know the Source Before You Buy
The country a car comes from impacts how it's evaluated, registered, and insured in the UK.
Always check for origin-specific issues, such as speedometer format, part access, and documentation, especially when buying a grey or personal import.
Grey Import Car: Should You Take One?
A grey import is a vehicle brought into the UK from outside the EU, typically Japan or the U.S., that hasn’t followed the manufacturer's official distribution routes.
These cars often come with high specifications, lower mileage, and competitive prices, making them appealing to budget-conscious or model-specific buyers.
However, grey imports generally lack EU type approval, meaning they may not meet UK safety or emissions standards out of the box.
This results in compliance modifications, such as converting kph speedometers, adjusting headlight angles, and ensuring the car passes DVLA vehicle approval tests.
Many grey imports are left-hand drive, which can reduce resale appeal and affect driving comfort.
Insurance is another concern. Grey imports are often categorised as non-standard vehicles, which can lead to higher premiums and fewer coverage options.
Servicing and repairs may be complex. Parts aren’t always available in the UK, and diagnostic systems might not match local garages.
For those willing to manage extra steps, grey imports offer substantial value.
But they demand due diligence: modification costs, insurance complexity, and limited support should all be factored into your decision.
🔗 Concerned about non-standard risk classification or limited coverage? Visit our Car Insurance Group Checker tool for import-specific rating factors and guidance.
What Is a Personal Import Vehicle?
A personal import vehicle is a car brought into the UK directly by an individual, not through a dealership or commercial importer.
This approach is typical for classic car collectors or returning residents. It places the entire process, from legal compliance to DVLA registration, in the hands of the person importing the vehicle.
The steps to import a car personally in the UK are clear, but must be followed carefully:
4-Step Personal Import Process
- Notify HMRC (within 14 days) - Use the NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrivals) system to report the vehicle to HMRC. Delays can trigger penalties.
- Pay VAT and duty - HMRC will determine if VAT or customs duty applies based on the vehicle’s age, origin, and value.
- Get vehicle approval - If the car is from outside the EU, it typically requires an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) to confirm its roadworthiness and emissions compliance.
- Register with DVLA - Submit the required forms, documents, and fee to the DVLA. Once approved, the vehicle will receive a UK registration number and be road-legal.
While personal imports offer greater control and may lower upfront costs, they also entail full responsibility for compliance, inspections, and taxation, with no support from intermediaries.
DVLA Imported Vehicle vs DVLA Exported Vehicle
A vehicle’s DVLA Car Status defines its legal standing for road use, insurance, and registration, whether it’s currently active, imported, or marked for export.
If a car is marked as “imported,” it has entered the UK system and can be used once approved.
If marked “exported,” it has been removed from the DVLA’s register and cannot be used on UK roads until re-imported and re-registered.
Comparison Table: Import vs Export (DVLA Definitions)
DVLA Imported Vehicle | DVLA Exported Vehicle |
|---|---|
Registered after entering UK | Remove from DVLA register |
Passed approval process and issued UK plates | Plates decommissioned or invalid |
Eligible for MOT | Not eligible for MOT in the UK |
Can be insured (often with restrictions) | Cannot be insured under UK insurers |
Legal to drive in UK after approval | Illegal to drive in the UK until re-registered |
No further registration needed | Must be re-imported and re-registered to drive again |
In short, a DVLA “imported” vehicle is active and legal, assuming it passed inspection.
A DVLA “exported” car is effectively deactivated within the UK system. Driving it without reprocessing is not permitted.
What Is an Exported Car?
An exported car is a vehicle that has been formally removed from the DVLA’s register, meaning it is no longer legal to drive, tax, insure, or register in the UK.
This can happen when a vehicle is shipped abroad either permanently or temporarily, but once it is marked as “exported,” it is treated as being outside the UK system.
Warning: Avoid Buying DVLA-Marked Exported Cars
If a car is still listed as “exported” by the DVLA, you cannot insure it, cannot register it, and cannot drive it in the UK, even if the car is physically present.
Such listings often appear in fraudulent sales, where the car’s status is not disclosed to unsuspecting buyers.
Re-Importing an Exported Car
To make a DVLA-exported car legal again, it must be fully re-imported:
- Notify HMRC within 14 days of arrival
- Complete any required VAT or duty payments
- Pass vehicle approval tests (if required)
- Re-register the car with DVLA and obtain a valid number plate
Only after this process is complete does the car regain UK road legality.
🔗 Need to check a vehicle's legal status? Use our Car Import Check Tool to confirm if a vehicle is exported or eligible for re-import.
FAQs on Car Import Checks
DVLA registration usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for an imported vehicle.
The DVLA takes approximately 4–6 weeks to register an imported car once all required documents are received.
Delays may occur if documents are missing or the vehicle lacks EU type approval.
No, imported cars are not automatically ULEZ exempt.
Imported vehicles must meet Euro 4 (petrol) or Euro 6 (diesel) standards to qualify for ULEZ exemption.
If emissions data is unavailable, ULEZ charges may apply until proof is submitted or testing is completed.
Yes, MOT testing is required for imported cars.
All imported vehicles over 3 years old must pass a valid MOT test once registered in the UK.
Some imports require an MOT before DVLA registration, depending on the approval route used.
Check the MOT Status of a Car using a registration or VIN.
Yes, grey imports can be insured in the UK, with restrictions.
Insuring a grey import car is possible, but it often involves higher premiums and fewer insurer options.
Many insurers classify grey imports as non-standard vehicles, which complicates underwriting and coverage.
Yes, imported cars typically depreciate faster.
Imported vehicles, especially grey imports, often lose value more quickly due to limited parts availability, non-standard specs, and poor resale demand.
Lack of service records and left-hand-drive layouts also affect depreciation.
Conduct a Free Car Valuation to confirm market value.
VAT and customs duty may apply depending on the vehicle.
When importing a car, HMRC may charge 20% VAT, 10% customs duty, or both.
The final amount depends on the car’s age, value, and country of origin. All imports must be declared via NOVA.
A personal import is self-managed; third parties handle a grey import.
A personal import is brought in by an individual (often for private use), while a grey import is imported commercially from non-EU countries.
Grey imports usually require compliance changes and have limited documentation.
Yes, HMRC must be notified within 14 days.
All car imports must be reported to HMRC using the NOVA system within 14 days of arrival.
Failure to notify may result in delays, penalties, or refusal of DVLA registration.
ToR relief exempts you from VAT when relocating with a car.
If you’re moving to the UK and have owned the car for over 6 months, you may qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) VAT relief.
The application must be submitted before the vehicle arrives in the UK.
Yes, most imported cars require specialist insurance.
Grey and personal imports are often considered non-standard by UK insurers.
As a result, specialist insurance is usually required, especially for left-hand-drive vehicles or those without UK model equivalents.