Registering an imported vehicle

When a vehicle is imported for use in Northern Ireland (NI), it must be registered and taxed with the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). This must be done as soon as possible as the vehicle can’t be used or kept on public roads until it’s registered and taxed.

New vehicles

A 'brand new' vehicle can be driven to NI and registered as 'new' provided all of the following apply to the vehicle:

it is registered in NI quickly after collection (this is taken to be 14 days)
it only has reasonable delivery mileage - DVA considers reasonable delivery mileage to mean the vehicle being driven from the pick up point to home using a direct route
it hasn’t been previously permanently registered
has been stored prior to registration and is a current model or is a model that has ceased production within the last two years

Please note, UK law requires a vehicle to be UK licensed and registered for road use. To avoid difficulties, importers are advised to transport, rather than drive their vehicles from the port to home or first destination and to keep them off the road until they have been properly licensed and registered.

For most new vehicles you must present evidence of Type Approval from the supplier or vehicle manufacturer, usually in the form of a Certificate of Conformity. For a Certificate of Conformity to be valid to register a vehicle in the UK, it must show that the vehicle meets the relevant UK standards and is set up for Left Hand Traffic, with an Imperial or Dual Measurement speedometer.

If the vehicle has not been subject to Type Approval it must pass an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test if it is a car, or a Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) test if it is a light goods vehicle, motorcycle or quadricycle. You can drive your vehicle to and from the pre-arranged appointment before the vehicle is registered.

Previously used vehicle

As part of the registration process DVA must be sure that an imported used vehicle that’s less than 10 years old meets European type approval standards, UK construction and use, and road vehicle lighting legislation.

Cars, motorcycles and light goods vehicles, first registered in another European member state, must have a certificate issued by VCA (the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval authority) under the Mutual Recognition scheme. Cars, motorcycles and light goods vehicles first registered in a country outside of the European Union must pass the IVA,SVA or MSVA as appropriate.

Vehicles moving between NI and Great Britain (GB)

Vehicles registered in GB that move to NI are no longer classed as being imported to NI. Also, vehicles registered in NI moving to GB are no longer classed as being imported to GB.

These vehicles are able to retain their NI or GB plates and tax disc, or they can request the registration plate to where they are going, NI or GB.

The V5C and V10(NI) should be used to aid registration in NI and applications should be made at a DVA Local Office or by post to DVA, Coleraine BT51 3TA.

The V5C(NI) and V10 should be used to aid registration in GB and applications should be made at a DVLA Local Office.

Vehicle tax

Vehicle tax will be payable in line with the vehicle’s first registration date in NI. Even if the vehicle has been previously registered abroad, the date it's first registered in NI will determine the amount of vehicle tax that’s payable. When you register your vehicle a new NI number will be issued, or your GB number can be retained.

Registering and taxing the vehicle

You can apply for registration at your nearest DVA local office.

Find your nearest DVA local office

You will need to submit the following documents to the DVA local office (photocopies or faxed copies are not acceptable):

completed application form V55/4 (for new vehicles) or V55/5 (for used vehicles)
a £55 registration fee (if applicable) and the required fee for the vehicle tax (cheques or postal orders made payable to DVA)
a current UK certificate of insurance or cover note (insurance should be in the name of the registered keeper)
the foreign registration document and any other papers relating to the vehicle
evidence showing the date the vehicle was collected (normally the invoice from the supplier)
evidence of type approval
a current UK MOT test certificate (if applicable)
the appropriate HM Revenue & Customs form
a 'Declaration that a vehicle is new' form V26(NI) (if applicable), available from a DVA local office
documentation confirming your name and address (a list of acceptable identity documentation can be found on the link below)

Registering and taxing the vehicle won’t take place unless you have the necessary documentation. In some cases the DVA local office may wish to see the vehicle to check its identity.

Construction and Use requirements

Vehicles kept or used on the public highway in NI must at all times comply with Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (as amended) and Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (as amended).

Copies of these regulations are available from:

TSO
16 Arthur Street
Belfast
BT1 4GD
Tel: 028 9023 8451
Fax: 028 9023 5401