The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) imposes the IVA as part of the UK National approval scheme for imported vehicles, including JDM cars. This scheme inspects cars built for non-European markets, ensuring that they comply with all the laws in the UK. Remember that if you import a car that is not older than 10 years, you need to secure an IVA certificate. Only then will you be permitted to register your vehicle in the UK.
Documents Need for Customs Clearance in the UK
- Bill of Lading (BOL)
- Proof of ownership – purchasing invoice
- Deregistration Certificate
- Proof of original identification
- Driving license or any official document that serves as proof of identity
- Motor insurance from a UK-based company
Import Duties / Taxes You Need to Pay
When you import a used car from Japan, you need to pay VAT and duty through customs. The duty rate of a vehicle is 10% while the import VAT is 20%. To compute the import duty, refer to the formula below:
- 10% x (car’s price + shipping fee) = import duty of the car
- To calculate the import VAT, refer to this formula:
- 20% x (car’s price + shipping fee + UK duty + admission fee) = import VAT
