Firstly, please note that we drive on the left hand side of the road in the UK!

Secondly, Car Insurance is mandatory in the UK and this must be at least third party insurance (please see our Motor Insurance page for advice on this topic and how best to obtain your insurance). It is useful to keep a copy of your insurance certificate in your car just in case of an accident.

Thirdly, your vehicle must also have an annual MOT and you must pay Car Tax (car tax is paid in six or twelve month periods). You can pay for your car tax either online or in person at a local Post Office branch, and you will need the following: your vehicle registration certificate with your current address; a MOT test certificate, Goods Vehicle or Passenger Service Vehicle (PSV) test, if applicable, and the money to pay for your car tax.

If you are here on a short-term (up to six month) assignment you can bring your car with you on a temporary visit to the UK, but your car must be taxed and registered in your home country. If you are from a non-EU country then you can bring your car VAT and duty free, provided that you adhere to the following conditions: you can only drive the car for private use, you can not lend it to anyone or sell it within the UK, and you will export it within six months. As soon as you become a UK resident, it is time to register and properly tax your vehicle in the UK.

If you are on a long-term assignment (those on a twelve month or longer assignment will be deemed a UK resident), or you have moved here permanently, you will need to register the vehicle with the British Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will have to fulfil the requirements of a regular vehicle registration. Moreover, you need to go through some extra steps and include additional documents in your application to have any imported car approved first before being able to register it in the UK with the DVLA.

Expatriates who are in the UK for longer than twelve months and are considered a UK resident, may import used cars for your personal use without having to pay any import duties or VAT, provided the following conditions apply:

• VAT has already been paid in another EU country

• The car has been in use for over half a year

• It has over 6,000 km on its odometer.

You may also bring your car from a non-EU country duty- and tax-free when moving to the UK. Again, you have to have already owned the vehicle for at least six full months.

In any case, you always have to inform HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for any long-term import of a vehicle.

While not mandatory, it is recommended to fill out a customs relief form (C110) to avoid potential problems in case of police stops and vehicle checks later on.

Firstly, you need the proper documentation to show that your car complies with British safety and environmental regulations. For cars registered in the EU, you have to get a European Certificate of Conformity (CoC), which includes a European type approval, from the manufacturer. In case the car is a left-hand drive, you also need to get a Certificate of Mutual Recognition. If your car does not fulfil British requirements, such as lights made for left-hand driving, you can have the necessary alterations made. You will in fact need proof from your garage for the mutual recognition application.

In case your vehicle was not registered in the EU, then you need to get an Individual Approval Certificate (IAC). This process will involve an official inspection.

If your car passes all these technical requirements, you can finally register it with the DVLA. For this purpose, you should have the following documents at hand, in addition to those needed for a regular vehicle registration:

• Proof of type or individual approval with all related documents

• All your registration papers from abroad

• A document stating the date when the vehicle was purchased (e.g. an invoice from your car dealership)

• A HMRC form, proving that you paid VAT and/or customs duty (if required)

• A completed form V267, if the vehicle is new.

You will be asked to provide the original documents instead of photocopies. Once you have completed the registration process and been sent your registration certificate (V5C), sometimes also referred to as your vehicle log book, you can take it, your valid driver's license, and your passport to an official supplier of British number plates and get a set of UK number plates for your car.

There are many car dealers in the UK, selling brand new cars in swanky branded show rooms, or second hand car dealers who tend to sell their cars from car lots around the country, and both can be found online or advertising in local newspapers. While most are reputable dealers, you may risk becoming the victim of fraud, so to avoid this please ensure you go through the DVLA’s official checklist before actually buying the car. You will need your driving licence with you when test driving cars, and they may hold on to it during the duration of the test drive.

Last but not least, renting or leasing a car is a good alternative if you live in a major town where parking may be an issue and you only need a car occasionally rather than on a daily basis. In fact, you can save a lot of money this way. Internet search engines such as Car Rentals UK or What Car? compare offers for car rentals or leases from various agencies all over the UK. Car sharing services such as DriveNow or Zipcar are also gaining in popularity in bigger cities, particularly London.

The following websites may be able to help you and answer any questions you may have:

• www.theaa.com

• www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency

Last, but not least, please drive safely and adhere to the speed limits on the roads.

DVLA Telephone: 0300 790 6801

Email: drivers.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk

Website: www.dvla.gov.uk

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/index.htm

Crown Copyright © Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Swansea SA6 7JL; April 2008

This information is correct at the time of publishing.  The Expatriate's Guide to Living in the UK cannot be held responsible for incorrect or out of date information.

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