Recent usually means IVA
A vehicle under ten years old needs Individual Vehicle Approval before the DVLA will register it. For a late-model SUV, that is almost always the route.
Importing an American SUV or 4x4
Escalades, Wranglers, Gladiators, Durangos and Tahoes. Most American SUVs worth importing are recent, which means IVA — so the conversion work is the part to understand before you buy.
What to know before you buy
Integrated lighting costs more
Modern SUVs tend to have integrated lighting units, which are harder to convert than separate lamps. We price the conversion in the original quote rather than discovering it once the vehicle is here.
Value drives the tax
Duty and VAT are calculated from the vehicle value, so on a high-value SUV they are often the biggest single line. An accurate value in the quote gives you an accurate total.
Moving here with it?
If you have lived outside the UK for more than 12 months and owned the vehicle for more than six, Transfer of Residence relief can remove duty and VAT entirely.
Tax and approval at a glance
- Duty and VAT
- Coming from the USA, import duty is charged first at 10% of the vehicle value, then VAT at 20% on the value plus shipping plus that duty. See the worked example.
- Approval route
- Usually IVA, because most are under ten years old. We carry it out in our own test lane. How approval works.
Quote for a specific model
Pick the closest match and the quote form opens with it filled in. Not on the list? Any SUV is fine — start a blank quote.
Common questions
Can I import a Cadillac Escalade to the UK?
Yes. A recent Escalade will normally need IVA before registration, with lighting changes to meet UK requirements. Duty and VAT are calculated from its value, which on an Escalade makes them a significant part of the total.
Is it cheaper to bring my own SUV when I move to the UK?
It can be. If you have lived outside the UK for more than 12 months and owned the vehicle for more than six months, Transfer of Residence relief can remove duty and VAT. You still pay for shipping, approval and registration.
Importing something else?
Found the right SUV?
Send us the vehicle and where it is. You get an itemised landed cost — shipping, duty, VAT, approval and registration — usually the same working day.