Speedometer
Singapore cars read in kilometres per hour. For the UK the speedo has to show miles per hour, so this is the most common job we do on them.
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- IVA & registration
IVA, MOT and DVLA registration
Testing, paperwork and DVLA registration are where imports are most often delayed. We carry out each of them ourselves.
10 working days is our usual DVLA turnaround, through our dealer-level account.
What your car will need
The build year decides the route. Type it in.
Type a year and the rules that apply to it light up.
- Under 10 years
IVA test
It needs Individual Vehicle Approval before the DVLA will register it. We test in our own private lane, every week. Still under ten on the LTA clock? It may also earn a PARF rebate when you deregister it.
- 10 years and over
MOT and modifications
No IVA. It needs the usual modifications for UK roads and an MOT to prove it is roadworthy, then straight to registration.
- 30 years and over
Historic tax rate
In original specification it may qualify as historic: no import duty and VAT at 5% instead of 20%. Assessed car by car, so we check before you commit.
- 40 years and over
No MOT required
Old enough that an MOT is not needed to register it, provided it has not been substantially changed.
Why Singapore cars need less work
Headlights
Usually nothing. Singapore drives on the left, so the beam already dips towards the kerb on UK roads. A big saving over a left-hand-drive import.
Other lighting
Rear fog lamp and similar items, where the car was built without them. We tell you exactly what yours needs after inspection.
NOVA comes first
Before anything else, the car's arrival is notified to HMRC through NOVA, the Notification of Vehicle Arrival. It records that the car has been imported and that the duty and VAT position is settled, whether that's paid or relieved under ToR. The DVLA won't register a car without it, so our customs team files it during clearance.
Testing in our own lane
We were the first privately owned testing site in the UK, which means IVA, MSVA and MOT testing all happen on our site. We schedule the date and time ourselves, and we test every week.
It means your car never leaves the yard between conversion and registration. That's time and money saved for you.
DVLA registration
We have a dealer-level account with the DVLA, which lets us register imported cars within 10 working days. You get a V5C logbook and a UK registration number, we fit the plates, and the car is ready to collect or be delivered.
Older car with patchy paperwork? We've a wealth of experience registering historic cars and can source the additional documents the DVLA asks for.
Questions
Does my car from Singapore need an IVA test?
If it is under ten years old, yes. Individual Vehicle Approval is needed before the DVLA will register it. Cars of ten years and over need an MOT instead, and cars over forty years old do not need an MOT.
What modifications does a Singapore car need?
Fewer than most imports. Singapore drives on the left, so the headlights already dip the right way for UK roads. The usual job is the speedometer, which must show miles per hour, plus any lighting the test asks for.
What is NOVA?
The Notification of Vehicle Arrival to HMRC. It records that the car has been imported and its tax position settled. The DVLA will not register a car without it, so our customs team files it as part of clearance.
Can I drive the car while it is being registered?
Not on the road. Until it is registered it has no UK number plate for an insurance policy to attach to. It stays safely at our site until it is plated.
Get a written quote for your car
Tell us the make, model, year and where the car is. We reply with a written, itemised quote, usually the same working day.
Get a quote
Or call 01332 810442
From Singapore: +44 1332 810442