Car Import Duty Calculator
Calculate total UK landing cost for imported cars — duty, VAT, VED and type approval.
Last updated: April 2026 · Source: GOV.UK — Importing vehicles
Total UK Landing Cost
£26,320.00
£6,320.00 in costs above purchase price
| Car Value | £20,000.00 |
| Shipping | £1,500.00 |
| Import Duty (0%) | £0.00 |
| VAT (20%) | £4,300.00 |
| First Year VED | £220.00 |
| Type Approval (IVA) | £300.00 |
| Total | £26,320.00 |
Disclaimer
This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
How It Works
Importing a vehicle into the UK from outside Great Britain involves customs duty, VAT and potential additional charges. The customs duty rate for passenger cars from most countries is 6.5% of the vehicle's value (including shipping and insurance costs). EU-origin vehicles may qualify for zero duty under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement if rules of origin requirements are met.
VAT at 20% is charged on the combined value of the vehicle plus the customs duty. You must also pay for vehicle type approval (IVA test at around £400-£600) unless the car already holds EU type approval, in which case Mutual Recognition may apply. DVLA registration (first registration fee) costs £55 and number plates are extra.
Additional costs include shipping (£500-£2,000 depending on origin), UK port handling charges, modifications to meet UK standards (such as headlight beam conversion and speedometer to mph), and the first MOT if the vehicle is over 3 years old. This calculator estimates the total landed cost of importing a vehicle.
Example: Importing a £20,000 car from the USA
- Vehicle value (CIF — cost, insurance, freight): £22,000
- Customs duty at 6.5%: £1,430
- VAT at 20% on (£22,000 + £1,430): £4,686
- IVA test: £500
- DVLA registration: £55
- Total import costs: £6,671
- Total landed cost: £28,671
Source: GOV.UK — Importing vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the Car Import Duty Calculator do?
- Calculate total UK landing cost for imported cars — duty, VAT, VED and type approval. All calculations are performed in your browser using official UK rates and thresholds.
- Does this use current UK rates?
- Yes. This calculator uses the latest UK rates for vehicle tax, fuel duty and other motoring costs as of the 2025/26 financial year.
- Is this suitable for electric vehicles?
- From April 2025, electric vehicles are no longer exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax). This calculator accounts for EV-specific rates where applicable.