There are really just two import taxes: customs duty and VAT. Then, when you register the car, you pay road tax and a one-off registration fee. That is the full list. A classic over 30 years old, in original condition and of a model no longer in production, pays 0% duty and just 5% VAT, which makes it far cheaper than a normal car. Here is each one in plain words.
The two real taxes
When people ask "how many taxes," this is what they mean. Two things get charged on the import itself.
1. Customs duty
Charged on the customs value, which is the price of the car plus the shipping and insurance to bring it to the UK, and worked out first. A normal car pays up to 10%. A classic over 30 years old, in original condition and of a model no longer in production, pays 0%. EU-built cars can also reach 0% with the right origin proof.
2. VAT
Charged on the value of the car plus shipping, plus any duty. A normal car pays 20%. A qualifying classic pays just 5%. This is the big one, and where the classic saving really shows.
| Car | Customs duty | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Classic over 30 years, original, model no longer in production | 0% | 5% |
| Standard car | up to 10% | 20% |
Duty first, then VAT on top of the duty. Two taxes, but they stack, so the order matters to the final figure.
Then, when you register: road tax
Once the import taxes are paid and the car is going through registration, you pay vehicle tax, the same road tax any UK car pays. The amount depends on the car. From 1 April 2026, a vehicle built before 1 January 1986 can go into the historic tax class and pay nothing at all, but you have to apply for it; it is not automatic.
And one fee that is not a tax
There is a one-off registration fee to get the car onto UK plates. It is small, and it is a fee rather than a tax, but it is part of what you pay. After that, the DVLA registers the car and issues the V5C.
Do not confuse taxes with costs. The taxes are duty and VAT, plus road tax. The costs are things like shipping, an MOT or approval test if needed, and number plates. Both come out of your pocket, but only the first group are taxes. When someone quotes you a "total," check which they mean.
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A £15,000 qualifying classic (over 30 years old, original and no longer in production), with £800 shipping:
- Customs duty: 0%, so £0
- VAT: 5% on £15,800, so £790
- Road tax: £0 in the historic class if built before 1986 and you apply for it
- Registration fee: a small one-off
So on a classic, the tax bill can come down to little more than the 5% VAT. The same car as a standard import would carry 10% duty and 20% VAT, several thousand pounds more.
Since Brexit we have cleared over 1,500 vehicles, and we quote every tax and cost together so nothing is a surprise. Ask us for your figure before you buy.