What if I missed the 14-day NOVA deadline?
Reviewed 2026-07-10
Short answer
Tell HMRC as soon as possible. GOV.UK says you may be fined if you are late, but you still need HMRC/NOVA processed before DVLA registration.
Official position
GOV.UK says you have 14 days to tell HMRC after bringing a vehicle into the UK permanently, and that you may be fined if late. It also says you cannot register the vehicle until HMRC has been told and the NOVA application has been processed.
What to do
Do not wait until the V55/5 is ready; contact HMRC or the relevant importer/agent route immediately.
Gather arrival date, purchase invoice or valuation, import declaration evidence, VIN evidence and foreign documents.
Pay any VAT or duty due before expecting HMRC to complete the NOVA declaration.
Keep late-notification correspondence with your V55/5 registration file.
Common mistakes
- Posting V55/5 first and hoping DVLA will trigger HMRC clearance.
- Assuming the deadline no longer matters because the vehicle is already in storage.
- Inventing a later arrival date to avoid a late NOVA problem.
Related help
Official sources
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