Car Import Cost Calculator

Work out the duty and VAT on importing a car into the UK. The number that catches people out is VAT — it is charged on the price, the shipping AND the duty, so it compounds.

"Duty-free from the EU" is the most expensive misunderstanding in importing.

Brexit did not make EU cars duty-free. Zero duty applies only to cars that were MADE in the EU and come with a valid statement on origin. A BMW built in South Africa or a Nissan built in Japan, bought from a German dealer, attracts the full 10%.

The purchase

Purchase price (£)

Shipping & transport (£)

Include delivery, transport and any accessories bought with the car — HMRC charges VAT on all of it.

Where is it coming from?

What else you have to do

1.Tell HMRC within 14 days of the car arriving. Duty and VAT are payable before you can register it.
2.Get approval — IVA or Mutual Recognition, depending on the car — so the DVLA will accept it.
3.Register with the DVLA and get UK plates. Budget for the first registration fee and vehicle tax.
4.MOT if the car is over three years old, plus UK-spec headlights and a speedometer reading in mph on some imports.

Full process on GOV.UK

Total landed cost

£20,988

£5,088 on top of the price and shipping

Purchase price£15,000

Shipping£900

Customs duty (10%)£1,590

VAT (20%)£3,498

Total£20,988

VAT is charged on price + shipping + duty, not just the price. That is why the total climbs faster than the headline percentages suggest.

This is duty and VAT only. It does not include IVA or Mutual Recognition approval, the DVLA first registration fee, vehicle tax, insurance, a customs agent's fee, or any UK-spec modifications the car needs — all of which are real and all of which come after this number.

Is it worth it?

Once duty, VAT, shipping, approval and registration are in, an import often lands close to UK forecourt money — and a UK car comes with a service history you can check and an MOT record you can read.

For guidance only, and it does not replace advice from a customs agent. GOV.UK does not publish a single flat rate because duty depends on the vehicle and its origin — the 10% used here is the standard passenger-car rate. Reduced rates apply to some classics and commercial vehicles. Verified against GOV.UK on 28 July 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to import a car into the UK?

For a standard passenger car the usual charges are 10 per cent customs duty plus 20 per cent import VAT. The important detail is that VAT is calculated on the purchase price, the shipping AND the duty combined, so the total climbs faster than the two percentages suggest.

Are cars from the EU duty-free after Brexit?

Not automatically. Zero duty under the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement applies only to cars that were actually manufactured in the EU, and only when the seller provides a valid statement on origin. A Japanese or Korean built car bought from an EU dealer attracts the full 10 per cent.

What do I have to do after importing a car to the UK?

Tell HMRC within 14 days of the vehicle arriving and pay any duty and VAT before registration. You then need approval (IVA or Mutual Recognition), DVLA registration and UK plates, vehicle tax, and an MOT if the car is over three years old.

Is importing a car cheaper than buying in the UK?

Often less than people expect. Once duty, VAT, shipping, approval and registration are added, an import frequently lands close to UK forecourt prices — and a UK car comes with a checkable service history and a full DVSA MOT record.