IMPORTING A FORD
1.The paperwork
Back when I brought these two cars in was just before Brexit, and things couldn’t be more straightforward.Today it’s mostly the same but there are some slight changes.
The main aspect that has to be sorted initially is a Notification Of Vehicle Arrival (NOVA) declaration.
This is a simple process of entering details of the car and it’s entry time to the UK on the Gov.uk website. Previously EU imports were free, but since Brexit new cars are quite expensive with the full rate of VAT applied to your car’s purchase price. Currently no duty is owed on personal imports, but VAT is on all.The upside is that on cars over 30 years old that rate is reduced to a much more palatable 5 per cent. The key here is to make sure you have evidence of the car’s age. An original V5 equivalent is the norm, but if you only have a copy (or nothing!) go the extra mile to have the age proven. It saves a lot of disappointment with failed registration attempts, and now there’s the possibility of your import missing out on the historic car discount and costing you a lot more. Currently this can all be completed at home within 14 days of importing, but there are rumours of 2022 bringing in new rules of an extra duty for newer cars and fees having to be paid at the border (the DVLA were unable to confirm this at the time of writing).
Proving the car’s age isn’t too difficult and a belt and braces approach of giving multiple forms of evidence is recommended as you don’t want the HMRC to default to the new car rates.
Ford can provide a letter of authentication for the build date of your car if provided with a chassis number. Also a similar letter from a specialist or relevant car club can help your case too.There’s much more flexibility and common sense at the DVLA than many people expect! 2. Get tested The next stage is to get your as-yet unregistered car insured on the VIN and drive it to get an MoT. This might feel utterly bizarre, but it’s one of the few times you’re genuinely allowed to drive a car with no numberplates!The MoT station will log your test on the VIN alone and this will then allow you to get the import pack fully filled out. Most of the V55/5 form is pretty straightforward, and lots of it can be left blank (emissions rates, and so on), but it is wise to fill out as much as is possible. Plus the DVLA phone line is actually very helpful during the process, so don’t hesitate to sit on hold for a while and quiz them on any parts of the forms.
3.What to do next
With the form completed and a cheque book dug out for the modest registration fee of £55 plus the car’s first road tax you’re almost ready to post everything off.You’ll also need a copy of ID, such as your driving licence and some paperwork to confirm your address, for example a utility bill. Typically around a fortnight later your new V5C complete with the car’s new UK registration will then arrive, which means you’re them good to get ’plates made up and hit the road! It really is as simple as that, and well worth it considering the vast options of temptingly awesome classic Fords just waiting to be snapped up along with a memorable adventure to be had in the process!
“THERE’S MORE COMMON SENSE AT THE DVLA THAN MANY PEOPLE EXPECT”