Yes, a left-hand drive car is fully legal in the UK. You do not have to convert it to right-hand drive. You register it the same way as any import: NOVA, tax, an MOT or test if needed, insurance, then the DVLA. Here it is in plain words, with the one small job most LHD cars need.
First, the big question: is it even legal?
It is. Left-hand drive cars are legal to own, register and drive in the UK. Loads of people import them from Europe and America and drive them every day. There is no rule that says you must move the steering wheel to the other side.
You do not convert the car. You just import it and register it like any other. The wheel stays where it is.
The one small job: the headlights
A left-hand drive car has headlights aimed for driving on the right. On UK roads you drive on the left, so the beams need to dip the other way. This is a cheap, quick fix, either a set of stick-on beam deflectors or a small headlight adjustment. It is the one thing almost every LHD import needs.
The steps to register it
Clear customs and file NOVA
When the car arrives, it goes through customs and you tell HMRC with NOVA, within 14 days. This must clear before the DVLA step.
Pay any tax
A classic over 30 years old pays just 5% VAT and no duty. A normal car pays more. HMRC tells you the amount.
Sort the headlights and MOT
Adjust the headlights to dip left. Get an MOT if the car is over 3 years old. Some newer imports need an IVA test first.
Get UK insurance
Insure the car on its VIN, since it has no UK plate yet. Some insurers charge more for LHD, so a specialist broker helps.
Register with the DVLA
Send the V55/5 form with your papers and the fee. The DVLA gives you a UK number and a V5C, then you get plates made.
Driving a left-hand drive car in the UK takes a little getting used to on roundabouts and when overtaking, but it is completely normal and legal. Classics from Italy, Germany, France and the USA are nearly all LHD, and they get registered every day.
Got a left-hand drive classic to bring in?
We handle the whole import, headlights sorted, from customs to the V5C, from £95. You just enjoy the car.
Get my free import assessmentDoes it cost more?
Only the small headlight job and, sometimes, a slightly higher insurance quote. There is no special LHD tax or fee. The import itself costs the same as a right-hand drive car of the same age and value.
Since Brexit we have registered over 1,500 vehicles into the UK, the vast majority left-hand drive. If you found a great LHD classic abroad, tell us about it and we will get it road-legal here.