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Last reviewed: 26 February 2026 · Read the full Germany deep-dive guide

Import a Car from Germany to the UK

German-built cars, 0% duty under TCA, Autobahn-grade engineering to UK roads

On top of purchase price
22-30%
Purchase to UK road legal
2-6 Weeks
Under TCA rules of origin
0% Duty

Germany is the go-to source for premium marques and well-documented service histories. EU-origin cars (BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, VW, Audi built in Germany) qualify for 0% customs duty under TCA. Plan for LHD headlight conversion and a CoC to avoid IVA.

Estimate your import costs from Germany

Pre-set to the movement from Germany. Confirm customs origin, evidence, relief and the legal tariff rate before relying on a reduced result, then adjust the value and transport figures to match your import.

UK passenger-car import duty and VAT calculator

Built around separate customs and VAT values, route-specific UK rules, and the official 2026-27 V149 rates. Reliefs and preferential rates are applied only after you confirm the required eligibility and evidence.

1. Import route

“Arriving from” controls Great Britain/Northern Ireland customs rules. “Origin” controls tariff preference: an EU-purchased Japanese-built car is not automatically EU-origin. Some territories have a different customs status from their state, so select the route separately rather than relying on the country name.

2. HMRC value in pounds
Use the invoice/bill of sale and add accessories purchased with the car. If any amount is in foreign currency, convert it using the HMRC customs exchange rate. Do not enter the same freight or handling charge twice.
3. Customs treatment

The country of purchase or export does not prove origin. The car must satisfy the agreement’s product-specific origin rule. Proof-of-origin rules.

4. DVLA registration and vehicle tax

Import tax breakdown

More information required

  • • Enter the HMRC customs value or current vehicle valuation.

DVLA payment

More information required

  • • Enter the date of original registration (box 24) — it decides which tax scheme applies.

HMRC / NOVA

Enter the arrival date

Tell HMRC within 14 days of a permanent arrival. Your agent may make the notification for a shipped car. Check the correct route.

Next step

  • Keep the invoice/valuation, freight invoices, origin evidence and customs declaration.
  • Wait for HMRC confirmation that NOVA is processed and tax is settled.
  • Keep the foreign registration document and obtain approval, MOT or exemption evidence.
  • Use the exact DVLA tax class, list price and approved CO2 figure on the V55 form.
Apply this to my vehicle

This is a planning estimate, not a customs declaration or HMRC decision. Exact liability depends on the accepted customs value, commodity code, non-preferential and preferential origin, evidence and relief approval. A result is intentionally withheld when those facts are unresolved.Rules and linked guidance last reviewed 19 July 2026.

Need the rules behind the estimate? Read the UK car import duty and VAT guide or build a complete logistics budget with the car import cost checklist.

What catches people out importing from Germany

  • Only EU-origin cars get 0% duty — a US-built BMW sold in Germany may still attract 10% duty.
  • LHD headlights need conversion; some models need a full headlight unit, not just lenses.
  • You need a CoC or type-approval evidence to skip the IVA physical inspection.
  • German deregistration papers (Fahrzeugbrief / Abmeldung) must accompany the V55/5.

Popular imports from Germany

BMW M3Mercedes-AMGPorsche 911Audi RSVW Golf GTI

Read the complete Germany import guide

A 15 min read deep dive covering shipping, customs, NOVA, approval, and the V55/5 form step by step — with real cost examples.

Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay customs duty importing a car from Germany to the UK?
Cars manufactured in the EU qualify for 0% customs duty under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Since most German cars (BMW, Audi, Mercedes, VW, Porsche) are manufactured in EU countries, they qualify for zero duty. You still pay 20% VAT regardless.
Can I drive on German plates in the UK after importing?
No. You can only use an unregistered imported vehicle on UK roads to drive to a pre-booked MOT or vehicle approval test. For all other use, the car must be registered, taxed, insured, and displaying UK number plates.
Do I need to convert a left-hand drive German car to right-hand drive?
No. Left-hand drive vehicles are fully legal on UK roads. However, you must convert or replace the headlights so the beam pattern doesn't dazzle oncoming traffic, and ensure the speedometer can display mph if the car is under 10 years old.
How much does it cost to import a car from Germany to the UK?
For a typical €20,000 EU-origin car, expect to pay approximately £4,500-5,700 on top of the purchase price. This includes 20% VAT (~£3,480), transport (£300-600), GB Conversion IVA (£100 for LHD, paperwork only), MOT (£54.85), DVLA registration (£55), and headlight conversion (£100-500).
What is the NOVA 14-day deadline for imported vehicles?
Where notification is required, HMRC must normally be told within 14 days after the vehicle is brought into the UK permanently. GOV.UK says a late notification may be fined, and DVLA cannot register the vehicle until HMRC has processed it.
Is a German TUV valid in the UK?
No. A German TUV (Hauptuntersuchung/HU) inspection is not accepted as a substitute for a UK MOT. You must get a separate UK MOT for any imported car over 3 years old, regardless of its TUV status.

Apply this to your vehicle

We'll start with a car imported from Germany, then ask only for the facts needed to confirm your NOVA, approval, MOT, document and V55/5 route.

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Primary sources

This guide maps to official GOV.UK guidance. Always check the current source for the latest rules before you submit your V55/5.

v55-5.com is an independent service and is not affiliated with the DVLA, HMRC, or any government body.