On UK plates
If you're buying
Registered with the DVLA and supplied with its V5C logbook. Tax it and drive it away like any UK car.
If you're selling to us
A straightforward purchase. We collect it free anywhere in the UK.
Buying & selling guide
LHD car registration, explained
Every car we sell is left hand drive. Where it's registered decides what happens next: drive it away, take it home on its current plates, or register it in the UK. Here's how each works, and what we handle for you.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026
Four situations
Which one is your car?
Each car page shows where the car is registered, with the same flags as below.
On European plates
If you're buying
Take it home on its current plates, or we register it in the UK for you. Many European cars come with an EU Certificate of Conformity (CoC), which makes registering them in another EU country straightforward.
If you're selling to us
We buy it as it is, on its current registration.
Registered outside the EU
If you're buying
We register it in the UK once the import duties are paid. It's a normal step for cars from outside the EU, and we handle the paperwork.
If you're selling to us
Tell us where it's registered and we'll talk you through it.
Not registered
If you're buying
Often a project or a car awaiting import. Ask us how registration would work for that car.
If you're selling to us
We still want to hear about it, registered or not.
What happens next
Two routes after you buy
Taking it abroad on its plates
For buyers in Europe, or anyone taking the car out of the UK.
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1
Buy it on its current registration
The car stays on its existing plates and papers.
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2
Get it home
We can help arrange transport and the paperwork for export.
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3
Register it where you live
With a Certificate of Conformity, registering in another EU country is usually straightforward. Your local registration office has the final say.
Putting it on UK plates
For cars registered outside the UK that will stay here.
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1
Import duty and VAT
Any duty and VAT due on the car's import are paid and declared to HMRC via NOVA, the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals service.
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2
Ready for UK roads
Headlights are adjusted for driving on the left, the speedometer shows mph, and the car passes an MOT or, for some newer imports, an IVA test.
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3
DVLA registration
The DVLA issues a UK registration number and a V5C logbook, and UK plates are fitted. This usually takes around 2-3 weeks.
For cars we sell, we handle all of this. We'll tell you the cost before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Registration questions we're asked most
Can I drive a foreign-registered car in the UK?
Visitors can usually drive a car on its foreign plates for a limited time. If you live in the UK, the car generally needs registering here. The rules depend on your circumstances, so check GOV.UK's guide to importing vehicles or ask us about a particular car.
What is an EU Certificate of Conformity?
A document from the manufacturer confirming the car meets EU type-approval standards. It lets the car be registered in any EU country without further technical checks. When a car we sell has one, we say so on its page.
Do left hand drive cars pass the UK MOT?
Yes. The main change is the headlights: they're set for driving on the right, so they're adjusted or fitted with beam converters for UK roads. Otherwise an LHD car is tested like any other.
How long does UK registration take?
Usually around 2-3 weeks, depending on the DVLA and any tests the car needs. We'll give you a date for the car you're buying.
Will you buy my foreign-registered LHD car?
Yes. UK, European or elsewhere, registered or not. Tell us about it on our Sell Your Car page and we'll come back with a free valuation.
Questions about a particular car?
Call 07801 110000 or send us a message and we'll explain exactly how registration works for it.