When importing a car from England to the EU, you should include 10% import duty and Dutch VAT at 21% in your budget. These charges are usually calculated on the customs value, including purchase price, transport and insurance. Every vehicle must be cleared through Dutch customs, so invoices, ownership documents, export papers and transport documents must be correct.

• Additional Import Duties and VAT: You now pay 10% import duties and 21% VAT when importing vehicles from the UK into the European Union.

• Customs Formalities: All vehicles must be cleared through Dutch customs (or another primary EU point of entry), requiring meticulous paperwork and declaration files.

• Different Rules for Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland partly still follows EU regulations, which can affect the import procedure and create unique strategic options depending on the vehicle’s origin.

• Transport Challenges: Due to stricter controls at borders, logistical planning is paramount. Car transport to and from England requires precise customs scheduling, and both transport costs and delivery times can vary.

Why is it Worth Importing a Car from England?

Importing a car from England can be highly lucrative due to significantly lower vehicle prices, rich equipment specifications, and transparent service histories. However, post-Brexit, buyers face extra customs duties. Making it truly worth it depends on targeting specific models and preparing for legal adaptations (such as headlight conversions for right-hand drive vehicles).

Key Advantages of the UK Market:

• Lower Purchase Prices: Used cars in the UK often cost 20%-30% less than their mainland European counterparts due to depreciation curves and right-hand drive market dynamics.

• Superior Specifications: British buyers frequently opt for higher trim levels (e.g., premium leather, advanced infotainment systems) and reliable diesel engines for long highway distances.

• Strict Maintenance: The UK has stringent annual MOT testing and an active car culture, leading to better-documented service histories and highly accurate mileage tracking.

• Exclusivity: It is an excellent market for accessing Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars, rare limited editions, or American imports that are incredibly hard to source elsewhere.

Popular car models available in the United Kingdom include premium SUVs like the Land Rover Defender and Range Rover, which offer high-end luxury at far lower entry prices than in continental Europe. Performance models like the Jaguar F-Type or iconic Japanese sports imports (such as the Nissan GT-R) also stand out, providing exceptional factory configurations and pristine mechanical condition. 

Importing a car from United Kingdom step by step

First, we discuss your budget, target model and requirements. Then we search the UK market or verify a car you have already found. We check the seller, history, MOT records, mileage, damage information and documents. After purchase, we arrange collection, export paperwork and insured transport.

When the vehicle reaches the EU, we coordinate Dutch customs clearance, calculate duties and VAT, and prepare documents needed for vehicle registration. If required, we advise on adaptations such as headlights, speedometer units, emissions documents or conformity papers. Our aim is to make importing a car from England predictable, legal and stress-free.

What Are the Costs of Importing a Car from United Kingdom?

The final budget depends on several shifting factors affecting the cost of importing a car from United Kingdom. These include the vehicle’s initial purchase price (which directly dictates the 10% duty and 21% VAT calculation), the car’s physical pickup location within the UK (influencing internal transport fees), and localized technical conversions (like adjusting headlight beams) required for EU registration.

Car export to United Kingdom

We also support exporting a car to England and the wider UK market. This procedure requires ownership documents, sales invoice, export declaration, transport papers and, where applicable, customs and tax formalities on the UK side. For vehicles entering the UK, the importer may need to notify HMRC, handle VAT and duty, obtain approval and registration. We organise the process and arrange secure transport.

Why Choose Us?

Cyp Automotive Consultancy offers key benefits that guarantee absolute peace of mind:

• Cost Savings: We optimize customs declaration routes to avoid unexpected financial penalties or overpayments.

• Flexible Service: We provide comprehensive handling of the entire process—not just car transport, but end-to-end import administration.

• Time Savings: We handle the complex documentation and formalities while you relax and wait for your keys.

FAQ – importing a car from United Kingdom