To import a car from Belgium to the UK, get both parts of the original Belgian registration certificate and the invoice from the seller. When the car reaches Britain it is declared to UK customs, notified to HMRC through NOVA and registered with the DVLA. A classic over 30 years old, in its original state and of a model no longer in production pays 0% duty and 5% VAT; any other car pays 20% VAT, plus 10% duty unless it was built in the EU (or another country with a UK trade agreement) and its origin can be proved.
- The inschrijvingsbewijs (in Dutch) or certificat d'immatriculation (in French), often called the carte rose after its pink colour: the Belgian registration certificate. It comes in part I and part II, and you need both: the DIV, the Belgian registration service, prints on them that both parts go to the buyer on a sale. Make sure you get the original: the DVLA keeps it.
- The factuur / facture (invoice), or from a private seller a signed verkoopovereenkomst / contrat de vente (sales agreement), showing the price and the car's VIN. Without proof of purchase, an independent valuation is needed.
If the certificate has been lost, the DVLA needs a dating letter to prove the car's age instead, and we obtain it for you.
Deregistration in Belgium, any export plates and the export paperwork are handled by the seller. If you need it, we arrange the transport to the UK, and we handle the customs declaration, NOVA and the DVLA paperwork.
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Duty and VAT on a car from Belgium
Plenty of cars sold in Belgium were built somewhere else, and it is the country of manufacture that decides the duty, not the showroom. A preferential 0% rate also needs proof of origin.
| The car | Customs duty | Import VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Historic collector's vehicle: over 30 years, unaltered, model no longer made | 0% | 5% |
| Manufactured in the EU (or another country with a UK trade agreement), with valid proof of origin | 0% | 20% |
| Any other origin, or no proof of origin | 10% | 20% |
A German or Belgian-built car with valid proof of origin pays no duty; an American-built car from a Brussels dealer pays 10%, even though it was bought in the EU. Classics are the exception: a car over 30 years old, in its original state and of a model no longer in production pays 0% duty and 5% VAT regardless of where it was built. See our guide to working out if a car counts as a classic.
Buying a classic in Belgium
Belgium sits between the French, Dutch and German markets, and its classic scene draws on all three. That makes it a good hunting ground, and it also means the paperwork needs a careful look before money changes hands.
- Both parts of the certificate. A seller who has only part I should explain why before you pay.
- Ownership. The DIV prints on the certificate that it is not proof of ownership, so make sure the invoice names the seller and gives the car's VIN.
- Originality. Cars with substantial modifications may not qualify for the historic 5% rate, so ask what has been changed.
- Where a younger car was built. Below classic age, the factory decides the duty, so check it before you agree a price.
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What happens in the UK
- On arrival, we make the UK customs declaration and settle the import VAT and any duty.
- Within 14 days of arrival, we notify HMRC through NOVA.
- A UK MOT if the car needs one, which can be done before it is registered here. A car built or first registered more than 40 years ago with no substantial changes is exempt (you sign a V112 declaration instead), and a car under 3 years old does not need one.
- We fill in the V55/5; you sign it and post it to the DVLA with the Belgian certificate, the MOT certificate or V112, photo ID, proof of your UK address, the £55 first registration fee and road tax.
On a car under 10 years old, ask for the COC as well (gelijkvormigheidsattest / certificat de conformité), because younger cars need UK vehicle approval. The official list is on GOV.UK under registering an imported vehicle.
Bringing a car over from Belgium?
We handle the origin claim, the customs and the VAT, and we prepare every DVLA form, you just sign and post. Over 1,500 vehicles cleared since Brexit.
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