Importing a Classic Car from the USA to UK

Importing a classic car from the USA to the UK costs the car, the shipping, and the import tax, plus testing and paperwork on arrival. The tax is the good news: classics over 30 years old in original condition pay 0% import duty and just 5% VAT on the vehicle value plus shipping (younger cars pay 10% duty and 20% VAT: see our import duty and tax guide). Customs clearance and NOVA are a fixed £150 with ShipMyCar, and our instant online calculator prices the whole job for your exact car in under a minute.

In this guide, we'll walk through importing a real example: a 1965 Mustang from Beverly Hills Car Club in California. We've helped many customers import from BHCC over the years and they're a pleasure to work with. For the wider process covering any US vehicle, classic or modern, see our American car imports service.

Other great sources for classic American cars include Bring a Trailer, eBay Motors USA, and ClassicCars.com.

Paying for Your Classic Car

Our example Mustang is listed at $16,750. At today's exchange rate of $1.22/£, that's approximately £13,730. The exchange rate can make a real difference to your final costs.

Before paying, always check for common scam warning signs. Buying from reputable dealers like Beverly Hills Car Club significantly reduces risk.

To get the best exchange rate, avoid using your bank directly. Our sister company SMCFX offers significantly better rates than banks, often saving £200+ on a $10,000 transfer.

Booking With ShipMyCar

Once you've received your quote, access our Client Portal to book securely online. You'll complete a short application form, upload required documents, and make an initial payment. The balance is due on completion.

Your portal becomes the central hub for your import. You'll see real-time updates, container tracking, photos of your vehicle, and can authorise any additional work needed during the process.

Tracking Your Car

Most container lines provide real-time GPS tracking, which we integrate into your Client Portal. Watch your classic crossing the Atlantic in real-time. If GPS isn't available for your specific container, we provide vessel tracking via third-party marine tracking sites.

UK Arrival & Import Costs

On arrival in the UK, we'll email you the exact import duty and VAT amounts. For our 1965 Mustang (over 30 years old and in original condition), that means 0% import duty and just 5% VAT: the standard 10% duty does not apply to eligible classics.

In this case: 5% of $16,750 converted at the current import rate comes to approximately £650. ShipMyCar handles the customs clearance and NOVA submission for a fixed £150 fee, and we provide the payment reference and all details in your Client Portal.

Testing & Road-Readiness

Once the import entry is complete, your car comes to our Milton Keynes workshop. For this 1965 Mustang, we'll fit UK-pattern headlights with clear side markers, then book an MOT test. Vehicles this age are IVA exempt; if you import a younger classic that does need an IVA test (cars under 10 years old), we have an in-house IVA test lane at the same Milton Keynes site.

If the MOT reveals any issues (common with older cars that may have been sitting unused), our technicians photograph the problems, add them to your portal, and you authorise repairs with one click. We handle everything from worn brake pads to engine rebuilds.

Finally, we prepare the road-readiness paperwork, arrange number plates where appropriate, and your car is ready to collect. We can also arrange servicing, alarm installation, or full valet before handover.

Real Cost Breakdown

Under £17,000 for a classic American muscle car, prepared for UK road use, without lifting a finger. That includes the car itself, all shipping, insurance, import duty, testing, and road-readiness support.

Even with exchange rates not in our favour, importing classic American cars remains excellent value compared to UK prices for equivalent vehicles.