How do I register a vehicle brought back from Spain or France after years abroad?
Reviewed 2026-07-10
Short answer
First decide whether it is a reimported UK vehicle or a foreign-registered import. The evidence and fee position can differ.
Official position
GOV.UK says reimported vehicles that were registered in the UK before and exported must be registered when brought back, but they do not have to get vehicle approval and do not need to pay the registration fee once they have passed MOT and are registered. Foreign-registered permanent imports follow the normal import, approval and DVLA steps.
What to do
Check whether the vehicle had a UK registration before export.
If it was previously UK registered, gather old UK registration evidence plus the current foreign registration certificate.
If it was never UK registered, follow the standard import process: HMRC/NOVA, duty/VAT if due, approval evidence and V55/5.
If the vehicle is not roadworthy yet, keep it off-road and handle SORN or storage correctly after reimport where applicable.
Common mistakes
- Treating every Spain or France case as a fresh import.
- Assuming old UK plates can be displayed immediately.
- Missing the 14-day HMRC step because the vehicle has been owned for years.
Related help
Official sources
Ready to complete the V55/5?
Once the blocker above is resolved, use the guided V55/5 tool to validate the boxes, prepare the PDF and build the posting checklist.
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