Import your car from South Africa to the UK, handled end to end
Collection anywhere in South Africa, shipping from Cape Town, UK customs, testing and DVLA registration. One team, one quote.
- 4.8/5 from 1,000+ Trustpilot reviews
- 20,000+ cars imported, about 2,500 a year
- In-house customs, workshop and IVA lane on one site
- ~10 days DVLA registration on our dealer account
Already right-hand drive, so far less to change
Most imports arrive built for the wrong side of the road. A South African car does not. That one fact removes much of the cost and uncertainty.
What it usually needs
- Miles per hour. The speedo has to read mph, either as the main scale or alongside km/h.
- A rear fog light, if it was not fitted at the factory.
- A test. IVA if it is under ten years old, MOT if it is older, nothing at all over forty.
What it usually does not
- A steering conversion. It is right-hand drive already.
- New headlights. They already dip to the left, the way UK lights do.
- Mirrors or wipers moving. Everything is already where a UK driver expects it.
From your driveway to UK plates
Most cars go south to Cape Town before they go north. Every step after the dockside is done by our own people, on our own site.
The process in detail-
Collected from your door
Anywhere in South Africa. We book the truck to the port, so you are not driving it to Cape Town yourself.
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Loaded at Cape Town
Usually into a shared container with other cars we are bringing over, which is what keeps the cost down. Export clearance happens here.
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4 to 6 weeks at sea
Insured for the voyage. You can follow progress in our customer portal rather than chasing anyone for updates.
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Landed in the UK
The container comes off the ship at a UK port and is brought straight to our site, not left waiting on the quay.
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Customs, unloading and prep
Our own HMRC CDS agents clear it. We unload it ourselves, then do the speedo and any lighting work in our workshop.
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Tested on our own lane
IVA for cars under ten years old, MOT for older ones. Ours was the first privately owned IVA testing centre for passenger vehicles in the UK, so there is no wait for a government slot.
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Registered and on the road
Our dealer-level DVLA account means registration in around 10 working days. Collect it, or we deliver it.
Where are you with it?
Moving to the UK
Lived abroad for a year and owned the car for six months? Transfer of Residence could mean no duty and no VAT at all.
Check if you qualifyBuying a car out there
A bakkie, a Land Cruiser, a rust-free classic. What to check before you pay, and what we need from the seller.
Buying guide
Already landed in the UK
We take it from the port: customs, prep, testing and DVLA.
South African cars we import
Some of the most interesting cars we see were built only there, or lived on there long after the rest of the world moved on.
- Early 1990s BMW 325iS The E30 South Africa built for itself, to go racing.
- 1986 BMW 333i About 200 built, with a 3.2-litre six developed with Alpina.
- 1984 Ford Sierra XR8 A 5.0-litre V8 Sierra, built in small numbers to race.
- Early 1990s Opel Kadett 200 t/s The 16-valve Kadett South Africans still call the Superboss.
- 1984 to 2009 Volkswagen Citi Golf The Mk1 Golf that South Africa simply kept building for 25 years.
- Until 2002 Volkswagen T3 Microbus South Africa built the T3 long after Germany stopped, some with a five-cylinder engine.
- See them all Including the bakkies and 4x4s
Duty and VAT, explained
HMRC taxes the car on what it cost plus what it cost to get here. The worked example shows how it stacks up for a typical car.
Moving here? Transfer of Residence can take both lines to zero. Over 30 years old? Classics pay far less.
Work out your own- Price paid
- £20,000
- Shipping and insurance (example)
- £2,500
- Customs value
- £22,500
- Import duty at 10%
- £2,250
- VAT at 20% of £24,750
- £4,950
- Tax to HMRC
- £7,200
Your real shipping cost comes in your quote. Testing, work and registration are priced separately and itemised.
Common questions
How long does it take to import a car from South Africa?
The sea passage is usually 4 to 6 weeks. Add collection and export clearance at the start, then customs, any work, testing and DVLA registration at our end. Most of the time is the ship; the rest is where we make up ground by doing it all on one site.
Does a South African car need converting for UK roads?
Far less than most imports. South Africa drives on the left like we do, so the car is already right-hand drive and its headlights already dip the right way. The usual jobs are the speedometer, which needs to show miles per hour, and a rear fog light if the car does not have one.
Will I pay import duty and VAT?
Usually, unless you qualify for Transfer of Residence. Duty is normally 10% of the price plus shipping, and VAT is 20% of that total plus the duty. Cars over 30 years old in original condition can qualify for no duty and 5% VAT. If you are moving to the UK and have owned the car for at least six months, you may pay neither.
Where in South Africa can you collect from?
Anywhere. We arrange the road transport to the port, and we usually ship from Cape Town. If your car is near Durban or Gqeberha we will tell you whether shipping from there works out better.
Can I put belongings in the car?
Not in a shared container, because it is shipped alongside other people’s cars. If you are moving to the UK and take a container to yourself, your car can travel with your household goods. Tell us in the quote form and we will price it that way.
Tell us about the car and we will price the whole import
Collection, shipping, customs, testing and registration, itemised in one quote. A person here writes it, and nothing is charged until you say go.
Ringing from South Africa? +44 1332 810442