What do I put in V55/5 box 24 date of original registration?
Reviewed 2026-07-10
Short answer
Put the date the vehicle was first registered anywhere in the world, not the UK registration date and not the import date.
Official position
The V355/5 guidance says box 24 is the date the vehicle was first registered, regardless of which country that was in. Imported vehicles normally rely on the original foreign registration document or other accepted evidence for this date.
What to do
Use the first registration date from the foreign registration certificate, title, export certificate or equivalent evidence.
Do not use the date the vehicle arrived in the UK.
Do not use the date you bought the vehicle unless that genuinely is also the first registration date.
If the exact date is missing, collect manufacturer or dating evidence before submitting.
Common mistakes
- Putting the planned DVLA registration date in box 24.
- Using the year of manufacture when an actual first registration date exists.
- Mixing up Japanese first registration, manufacture year and export date.
Related help
Official sources
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