Registering an Irish Car in the UK

Are you moving from Ireland to the UK? Unsure about how to register your vehicle within the UK so you can drive your vehicle there legally?

This blog post will cover all you need to know about registering your Irish car in the UK. You will discover how to import your vehicle into the UK, when you need to pay VAT and Duty vehicle, and you will also learn about how to get proof of vehicle approval. 

Want to know what a car registration is? Need to know if you need a new registration for your vehicle when moving to a new country in Europe? Looking for examples of registration plates in the UK? Click these links to find out more! 

What to do Before Registering Your Vehicle

You must register any car or vehicle that you are bringing into the UK for 6 months or longer. 

Tell HMRC

Before you register your vehicle you must ensure that you have told HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that you have brought your vehicle into the United Kingdom. 

You have 14 days to tell HMRC after you bring a vehicle into the UK permanently. You cannot register the vehicle until you’ve done this. For more information on how to inform HMRC that you have brought your vehicle into the UK, click here. 

Pay VAT and Duty

Before you register your vehicle, you may also need to pay VAT and Duty. HMRC will inform you whether you need to pay VAT or Duty after you have informed them that you have brought your vehicle into the UK. 

VAT is charged on the total cost of the vehicle plus any accessories that you purchased with the vehicle, delivery or extra charges, and duty. How much you need to pay will depend on the type of vehicle that you have imported, as well as where you import your vehicle from. For more information and a telephone number for a helpline where you can speak to the HMRC about any questions you may have about VAT and Duty, click here.

Obtain Proof of Vehicle Approval

When importing a vehicle from Ireland, as Ireland is a member of the EU, one way of proving that your vehicle is approved to be driven in the UK is to obtain a Certificate of Conformity (COC) for your vehicle.

A Certificate of Conformity is a certificate that is needed to register a car from one country in another country. In EU Law, a COC is required as a declaration of conformity with the type approval of the European Commission. In brief, the COC guarantees the homogeneity of goods in the EU that are subject to registration, including passenger vehicles (M1), light goods vehicles (N1), and motorcycles (L). In simpler terms, the COC guarantees that the vehicle you are wishing to import  is a European model and can be driven without the need for any modifications to comply with the road safety regulations of the new European country you are importing the vehicle into. 

A Certificate of Conformity is a declaration from the manufacturers that their vehicle complies with the stated approval type the vehicle should fit into. 

EUROCOC are the market leaders in COC mediation, and we make this process very simple. If you need to get a COC for your vehicle, we can help you in a few easy-to-follow steps. Click here to get started!

For more information on what you may need to do to obtain approval for your vehicle, click here. 

How to Register Your Vehicle in the UK

In order to register your vehicle in the UK, you should follow the instructions for registering a vehicle on the GOV.UK website. You will be instructed to fill in certain forms and send supporting documents.

You must also send extra supporting documents for an imported vehicle. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) may also ask to inspect your vehicle.

You must send the following original documents as supporting documentation:

• Proof of vehicle approval
• A ‘Declaration of Newness’ or a V267 if you’re registering a new vehicle
• Evidence showing the date the vehicle was collected, for example the invoice from the supplier
• The original foreign registration certificate to show when the vehicle was manufactured 
• A Certificate of Conformity (or a COC)

How Long Does this Process Take?

After submitting all of the relevant information, it can take up to 6 weeks for your registration certificate (your V5C) to arrive. You will need the V5C to obtain registration plates for your vehicle.

For more information on obtaining registration plates for your vehicle, you can check out our previous blog on registration plates in the UK here.

Don’t forget to get your COC for your vehicle! EUROCOC are here to make the process of obtaining a COC simple. We help you in a few easy-to-follow and hassle-free steps. Click here to get started!