Paying VAT and customs duty

You may need to pay VAT and customs duty when you import a vehicle. 

VAT is charged on the total cost of the vehicle, plus any:

  • accessories you bought with it

  • delivery and extra charges

  • customs duty

Customs duty is charged on vehicles imported to:

  • England, Wales and Scotland from outside the UK 

  • Northern Ireland from outside the UK or the EU

The rates you바카라 사이트™re charged depend on the type of vehicle and where you바카라 사이트™re importing it from. You can check the rates with your shipping company or customs agent or you can call the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) helpline.

How you pay depends on:

  • where you바카라 사이트™re importing the vehicle from

  • whether you바카라 사이트™re having the vehicle shipped or whether you바카라 사이트™re bringing the vehicle in yourself

You cannot register and tax a 바카라 사이트˜seriously damaged바카라 사이트™ vehicle. If you pay VAT and customs duty and then try to register a seriously damaged vehicle, you will not be refunded.

If you imported the vehicle to England, Scotland or Wales from outside the UK

Why you imported it What you pay
You바카라 사이트™re moving to the UK with your vehicle No VAT or customs duty if you qualify for relief
You바카라 사이트™re returning an exported vehicle to the UK No VAT or customs duty if you qualify for relief
You바카라 사이트™re visiting the UK or the EU with your vehicle No VAT or customs duty if it qualifies as a temporary import
Any other reason - if you바카라 사이트™re not VAT-registered VAT and customs duty
Any other reason - if you바카라 사이트™re VAT-registered VAT and customs duty

How to pay if you owe VAT and customs duty 

If you바카라 사이트™re having the vehicle shipped, your shipping company or customs agent will usually arrange to pay HMRC at the UK border. 

If you바카라 사이트™re bringing the vehicle in yourself, tell HMRC within 14 days of arriving. If HMRC tell you that you need to pay VAT and customs duty, you need to get a customs agent to make an import declaration for you. The customs agent will tell you how much to pay and how to do this.

If you바카라 사이트™re VAT registered, you can claim back the VAT on your next VAT Return.

You must pay any VAT and customs duty before you can register the vehicle.

If you imported the vehicle to Northern Ireland from the EU

VAT is usually only charged on vehicles that are new. A vehicle is new if either:

  • it바카라 사이트™s been driven less than 6,000km (about 3,728 miles)
  • it바카라 사이트™s been in use for no more than 6 months

If you바카라 사이트™re VAT registered, you need to account for any VAT you바카라 사이트™ve paid on your next VAT return.

If you바카라 사이트™re not registered for VAT or you바카라 사이트™re a private individual, you need to pay HMRC directly before you can register your vehicle.

Reclaiming VAT

If you have to declare VAT to HMRC, you can reclaim any VAT you paid in the EU. Send the Certificate of VAT you get from HMRC to the person who sold you the vehicle.

If you imported the vehicle to Northern Ireland from outside the UK and EU

Why you imported it What you pay
You바카라 사이트™re moving to the UK with your vehicle No VAT or customs duty if you qualify for relief
You바카라 사이트™re returning an exported vehicle to the UK No VAT or customs duty if you qualify for relief
You바카라 사이트™re visiting the UK or the EU with your vehicle No VAT or customs duty if it qualifies as a temporary import
Any other reason - if you바카라 사이트™re not VAT-registered VAT and customs duty
Any other reason - if you바카라 사이트™re VAT-registered VAT and customs duty

How to pay if you owe VAT and customs duty 

If you바카라 사이트™re having the vehicle shipped, your shipping company or customs agent will usually arrange to pay HMRC at the UK border. 

If you바카라 사이트™re bringing the vehicle in yourself, tell HMRC within 14 days of arriving. If HMRC tell you that you need to pay VAT and customs duty, you need to get a customs agent to make an import declaration for you. The customs agent will tell you how much to pay and how to do this.

If you바카라 사이트™re VAT registered, you can claim back the VAT on your next VAT Return.

You must pay any VAT and customs duty before you can register the vehicle.