Check Out The Best British Car Importers For Your Vehicle

Today, many British car dealers import into the UK, however, not all of them are very reliable. The best British car importers are notable because they provide you with a service that relocates your car both quickly and safely.

In this write-up, we have selected the best companies that import cars into the UK, so you can make the best choice for your vehicle. Below, we also explore how to go about vehicle registration in the UK after importing a car.

List Of The Best British Car Importers

Below is a compilation of ten import companies that deliver vehicles to the UK. Some of the British importers listed below sell vehicles and transport them to your location, while others simply help to move a vehicle that you have already purchased.

My Car Import

My Car Import is a British car importer that covers inland conveyance, export processes and container freight to the UK. They also have an outstanding capacity to safely enhance and inspect vehicles.

When importing a vehicle that needs to be tested for compliance with environmental and safety standards in the UK, My Car Import can help you privately handle the IVA Testing.

Ship My Car

Ship My Car is a UK car importer that is specialized in worldwide shipping of all types of vehicles including cars, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles. These British car dealers can be accessed from all major transport links including the M1 motorway, Milton Keynes station and Luton airport.

All prices for British import cars for sale in the UK include VAT. A 75% to 100% upfront payment will be made to Ship My Car, depending on the services booked, and the rest before pick-up or delivery of the vehicle.

Ship Cars

Ship Cars is a credible and inexpensive British car importer that handles international car transport services by sea or road to and from the UK. In addition to transporting automobiles, they also transport vehicles such as vans, motorcycles, trucks, caravans, and RVs.

in containers for private and corporate customers either by RORO or by sea.

Their vehicle hauling services operate worldwide from Bristol, London, Sheerness, Tilbury, Southampton, Teesport, Immingham and Felixstowe. Ship Cars transports vehicles for both private and corporate international customers either with containers or Roll-On/Roll-Off shipping (RORO).

Car shipping costs are based on many factors, including fuel cost, currency strength and deficiencies, traffic volume, and frequency of traffic to specific destinations.

West Coast Shipping

West Coast Shipping is a United States-based vehicle importer that has been handling international car shipping for more than a decade. From their establishments and structures in California and New Jersey, they work with an experienced team to transport vehicles to several countries, including the UK.

Their services include land transportation, vehicle documentation, import/export customs clearance, containers, air cargo, and roll-on/roll-off overseas transportation.

The rates of West Coast Shipping depend on where the automobile is being shipped from. The usual costs for shipping a car range from €923 to over €2052, and this does not include the amount charged by the destination country upon arrival.

Carused.jp

Carused.jp is a Japanese-owned car dealership company that sells and transports used Japanese cars to the UK. Carused.jp has been operating for more than 10 years, and they have above 5,000 cars in stock. The company also auctions over 140,000 cars every week from Japanese car dealers and private car owners.

The total cost of shipping your vehicle from Carused.jp depends on factors like the size of the vehicle, your exact location, import and customs duties, customs fees, and brokerage fees.

Classic Automotive Relocation Services (CARS)

Classic Automotive Relocation Services (CARS) is a car importer that delivers to the UK, and they have three decades of experience in vehicle shipment.

This import company can handle any delivery request through their stations in the UK, New York, Los Angeles, Dubai, Japan and the Netherlands, as well as that of global agents. They offer vehicle transportation by road, sea, or air.

Ship Overseas

Ship Overseas is a US-based global shipping company that provides import vehicle transportation services to clients moving to the UK. This car importer supports the transportation of vehicles of all sizes. They offer shipping services via RoRo shipping, shared or designated container shipping, and unpacked automated shipping.

The rate they offer for shipping your car depends on the distance. For instance, transporting a car from Baltimore, Maryland to Southampton will cost about €906. Other cost factors to consider include the port of departure of the vehicle, the year/make/model of the vehicle, and whether the vehicle will be pickup up from its location or brought to the port for export.

Next-Drive CO LTD

Next Drive CO LTD is a modernized automobile sales and marketing company headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan. They are licensed British car importers that handle the importation of Japanese cars into the UK.

The rates for an imported car can be high or low depending on factors such as the distance from the origin and destination port, sea freight, and car model.

Fees that you will have to pay include Purchase Fees, Import/Export Taxes (from Japan to the UK), Shipping and Import fees, Duties and Auction Fees, Export Agency Fees, Transportation Fees, and MOT & IVA checks.

Schumacher Cargo Logistics

Schumacher Cargo Logistics is a US-based car importer that deals with the importation of vehicles into the UK. With over four decades of expertise in international vehicle transportation, Schumacher is fully equipped with specialists that will help you select the services you need to transport your vehicle, regardless of vehicle region or final location.

The average fee for transporting a car from the US to the UK starts at around €1001. The cost of shipping a car to the UK usually depends on the type of vehicle, the origin of the vehicle, the delivery service chosen and the final destination in the UK.

Specialised Shipping

Specialised Shipping is a British car importer that is known and patronized by many. With more than four decades of expertise in UK and international car shipment, they comply with customs and UK vehicle registration legislation for imported vehicles.

Their offices and workshops are located in Reading, United Kingdom, making it ideally located for ports such as Southampton, Port of London and Felixstowe. Their rates depend on vehicle type, shipping method, and export country, among other factors.

Vehicle Importation and Registration Process

If a used car is being brought into the UK from the EU, you will have to pay VAT and customs duty. If it is brought under the Transfer of Residence (ToR) scheme, no customs duties need to be paid.

Vehicles imported with the Transfer of Residence scheme and vehicles over 30 years old pay a VAT of 5%. However, for cars under 30 years old that are imported without the scheme, VAT of 20% and customs duty are necessary to complete importation.

The importation procedures to follow after picking up your vehicle from British car dealers or UK car importers include the following:

• The HM Revenue and Customs(HMRC) will have to be informed within a period of 14 days. After informing the HMRC, they will instruct you if you need to pay VAT and duty, and when the NOVA application will be processed.

• With regards to paying VAT and customs duty, HMRC will give details of how much you are to pay. The payments that will be approved are dependent on the kind of automobile imported and where it was imported from.
• Obtain vehicle registration to illustrate that your automobile meets security and environmental laws.
• Enlist and tax your automobile with the DVLA, they will probably ask for the inspection papers of the vehicle. You will be given a registration number so you can get your license plate. Also, safeguard your vehicle before riding it on UK roads.

You will need to provide original copies of personal and vehicular documents, alongside filling out the application form and submitting it to the right district near you.

If you were exporting a vehicle from the UK to the EU, an EU Certificate of Conformity (COC) would be required since the UK is no longer a faction of the EU (Brexit). Owning a Certificate of Conformity is important, and you can order one here.

Temporary Importation

You are also allowed to bring vehicles into the UK for a short period of time. This is called temporary importation. Automobiles with license plates belonging to other countries can generally be used without being registered or taxed in the UK.

However, this is subject to certain conditions, like, if you are currently visiting the UK but do not reside there, if the vehicle is registered and taxed in your home country, and if it is only driven for a maximum of six months.

The six-month period can either be a single visit or multiple short visits over a 12-month span. If you are staying for more than 6 months you will need to be registered in the UK and pay the appropriate tax.