American imports by My Car Import
Import an American car to the UK — handled end to end
Muscle cars, pickups, SUVs, classics and motorbikes. We collect it anywhere in the United States, ship it, clear it through customs, get it through IVA or MOT and hand it back on UK plates.
- 20,000+ vehicles imported
- 4.8/5 from 1,000+ reviews
- One company from US kerbside to UK plate
What are you bringing over?
All vehicle types →
Door to driveway
Everything between a US listing and a UK number plate
Most import quotes cover the shipping and leave you to work out the rest. Customs, duty, VAT, IVA and DVLA registration are the parts that catch people out — so we do all of them ourselves.
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Collection anywhere in the USA
Dealers, private sellers and auctions, anywhere in the country. We arrange inland haulage from the kerbside to the export port. Clean-title vehicles only.
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Shipping and marine insurance
Container or roll-on roll-off from the east and west coasts, with cover in place for the whole crossing.
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Customs, duty and VAT
Full customs entry, NOVA notification and the duty and VAT calculation, settled on your behalf so the car is not sitting at port.
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IVA, MOT and modifications
Headlights, speedometer, rear fog lamp and anything else the test needs — carried out in our own workshop, not subcontracted.
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DVLA registration
We file the registration, get the V5C issued in your name and fit UK plates before it goes back to you.
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Storage while you decide
Secure storage at our Castle Donington site if you are not ready to take it away the day it is finished.
Coast to coast
How an American import actually goes
You get told where it is at each stage — you should not have to chase a shipping line.
8–16 weeks from collection to number plate
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Tell us the car
Send us the vehicle and where it is — a dealer, a private seller or an auction lot. We come back with an itemised landed cost.
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We collect and ship it
Inland haulage to the export port, then container or RoRo to the UK. Marine insurance throughout.
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Customs and taxes
We clear it through UK customs, file the NOVA notification and settle duty and VAT on your behalf.
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IVA, MOT and modifications
Any approval work the vehicle needs, done in-house — headlights, speedometer, rear fog lamp, whatever the test calls for.
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Registered and on the road
We handle the DVLA paperwork and hand it back with UK plates and a V5C in your name.
What it costs, before you commit
Coming from the USA, import duty is charged first at 10% of the vehicle value. VAT at 20% is then charged on the value plus shipping plus that duty — on top of the duty, not alongside it. A vehicle over 30 years old in original specification may qualify for a reduced 5% duty rate. On top of the taxes sit shipping, customs clearance, IVA and registration.
Those are the rules — the numbers change with the car, the port and the date. So we quote every line for your vehicle rather than publishing a figure that will not match what you actually pay.
See the full cost breakdownCommon questions
How long does it take to import a car from America?
Typically 8 to 16 weeks from collection to UK number plate. Ocean transit is around 4 to 6 weeks depending on the port, and customs clearance, IVA and registration take a few weeks more once it lands.
What does it cost to import an American car?
The main costs are shipping, import duty, VAT, IVA testing and registration. Coming from the USA, duty is charged first at 10% of the vehicle value, then VAT at 20% on the value plus shipping plus the duty combined. A vehicle over 30 years old in original specification may qualify for a reduced 5% duty rate. We quote every line before you commit.
Where in America can you collect the car from?
Anywhere in the United States. We collect from dealers, private sellers and auctions, and arrange inland haulage to the export port. We only import clean-title vehicles, so we do not take on salvage cars.
Does my American car need an IVA test?
Most vehicles under 10 years old need Individual Vehicle Approval before they can be registered. Vehicles over 10 years old usually need a MOT instead. We handle whichever applies, including any modifications needed to pass.
Can I import a left-hand drive car to the UK?
Yes. Left-hand drive vehicles are legal to register and drive in the UK. They need the same approval and registration process as any other import.
Found the car? Let us get it home.
Send us the listing and where it is. We will tell you exactly what it costs to have it sitting on your drive on UK plates.