What if the seller cannot give me a NOVA reference?
Reviewed 2026-07-10
Short answer
Treat the vehicle as paperwork-risk until the seller can show HMRC/NOVA evidence or another reliable import-status trail.
Official position
GOV.UK says HMRC tells the importer when the NOVA application has been processed, and DVLA registration cannot happen until it is. A seller who cannot show any evidence may still be honest, but the risk is yours if the HMRC record cannot be found or does not match.
What to do
Ask who imported the vehicle, when it arrived, and who made the declaration.
Ask for agent, shipping, MRN, C88, E2, invoice, bill of sale or HMRC correspondence instead of only a NOVA reference.
Check the VIN or chassis number against every document the seller can produce.
Do not pay a price that assumes easy DVLA registration until the HMRC blocker is resolved.
Common mistakes
- Believing "NOVA is on the system" without seeing any written proof.
- Assuming DVLA can fix missing HMRC evidence from the V55/5 alone.
- Buying before checking that the VIN in the import trail matches the vehicle.
Related help
Official sources
Use the relevant tool
V55 form checker
Apply this answer to your vehicle, then carry the result into your free registration route.