Importing a Ford Mustang to the UK
Seven generations. Two are over 40 years old, and part of a third. The build year sets the test.
What we know about the Ford Mustang
- Generations
- 7 generations, from 1964.5 to today
- Body styles
- Coupe, hardtop, fastback, hatchback and convertible, depending on the generation.
- Over 40 in 2026
- Gen 1 and Gen 2 in full, plus 1979-85 builds from Gen 3.
- Needs IVA
- Gen 7 (IVA). Gen 6 (IVA or MOT, by build date).
- Official UK sale
- From the 2015 model, the first Mustang sold officially in the UK, including factory right-hand drive.
Which test, by age
The year of the individual car decides the test, not the badge. Each bar is a generation. The dashed lines mark a build date before 1986 (the 2026 vehicle tax cut-off for the 40-year exemptions) and 2016 (the 10-year line between needing approval and not).
- Over 40 years old
- Early builds over 40
- Over 10 years old
- Either side of 10 years
- Under 10 years old
- Gen 1 1964.5-1973
Gen 1: 1964.5-1973, over 40 years old.
Hardtop coupe, fastback, convertible. Over 10 years old, so it usually needs no approval. Built before 1 January 1986, so it may be exempt from MOT and vehicle tax if it is unchanged.
- Gen 2 1974-1978
Gen 2: 1974-1978, over 40 years old.
Coupe, hatchback (Ghia trim). Over 10 years old, so it usually needs no approval. Built before 1 January 1986, so it may be exempt from MOT and vehicle tax if it is unchanged.
- Gen 3 1979-1993
Gen 3: 1979-1993, early builds over 40.
Notchback coupe, hatchback, convertible from 1983. Over 40 for 1979-85 builds only. Over 10 years old, so usually no approval. Cars built before 1 January 1986 may be exempt from MOT and vehicle tax. Later cars take an MOT.
- Gen 4 1994-2004
Gen 4: 1994-2004, over 10 years old.
Coupe, convertible. Over 10 years old, so it usually needs no approval. It takes an MOT.
- Gen 5 2005-2014
Gen 5: 2005-2014, over 10 years old.
Coupe, convertible. Over 10 years old, so it usually needs no approval. It takes an MOT.
- Gen 6 2015-2023
Gen 6: 2015-2023, either side of 10 years.
Coupe, convertible. Sits on the 10-year line. Older examples take an MOT, newer ones need an IVA. The build date decides, so we read it off the paperwork first.
- Gen 7 2024-present
Gen 7: 2024-present, under 10 years old.
Coupe, convertible. Under 10 years old, so it needs an IVA before registration.
Written for 2026. Both lines roll forward each year, so more cars come into range as they age. The 40-year exemptions also need the vehicle to be unchanged.
What to check before you buy
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The title and the build date
DVLA wants the original US registration certificate to show when the car was made, and keeps it. The 10-year and 40-year tests run on the individual car, so read the build date off the title, not the advert.
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Which generation it is
Gen 3 straddles the 40-year line: a 1979-85 build may qualify, a later one will not. Gen 6 straddles the 10-year line. Both are decided by the build date.
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Lighting
The usual US work is headlights that dip the right way for UK roads, amber indicators, a rear fog lamp and side repeaters. Newer cars cost more to convert than older ones.
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London and the ULEZ
The ULEZ is judged on declared emissions, and a US import often has no Euro standard on its V5C. Vehicles built before 1 January 1973 are exempt, so the build date matters here too.
The test follows the car's own date, not its generation. gov.uk, vehicle approval and historic vehicles
What usually needs doing
The route is the same for every model. The lighting and approval stops are where the Ford Mustang differs.
- US kerbside
- Collect From anywhere in the USA
- Export filings The US paperwork a car needs to leave
- Ship Container or RoRo, marine insurance included
- Customs Our agents file the entry. NOVA within 14 days
- Lights Headlights, indicators, rear fog lamp and side repeaters, as the car needs
- Approval IVA for newer cars, MOT for older ones, done on site
- DVLA plate Registered on our dealer-level DVLA account
- UK plates
Common questions
Does a Mustang need an IVA to be registered in the UK?
It depends on the age of the car, not the badge. Under 10 years old means an IVA. A car over 10 years old usually needs no approval to be registered. That makes Gen 7 an IVA car and Gen 6 a case-by-case one. Gens 4 and 5 are over 10 years old.
Which Mustang cars are over 40 years old?
Gen 1 and Gen 2 are, and so are 1979-85 builds from Gen 3. The test applies to the individual car's build or first registration date, not to the generation. For vehicle tax in 2026, the cut-off is built before 1 January 1986. The MOT exemption uses its own rolling 40-year date, and the car must be unchanged.
Can I import a right-hand-drive Mustang?
Official UK sales began with the 2015 model, including factory right-hand drive. For earlier years we have not found a confirmed UK sale. Left-hand drive is legal to register here, and our guide covers what it is like to live with.
Do old Mustangs need amber indicators?
Usually, yes. The MOT requires amber indicators, and only vehicles first used before 1 September 1965 may keep red rear indicators combined with the stop or tail lamps. A rear fog lamp is needed on cars first used on or after 1 April 1980.
Keep reading
- Muscle cars
The wider picture for muscle cars: tax, approval and the models we quote for.
- IVA or MOT?
Which test your American car takes, and what each involves.
- Converting a US car for the UK
Lights, indicators, fog lamp and the other usual changes.
- All the models
The same age lines for every model we cover, side by side.
Bringing over a Ford Mustang?
Tell us the year and where it is. We come back with an itemised landed cost. No deposit, no obligation.