Importing a Car to the UK from Turkey

Importing from Turkey: Overview

Turkey has become a growing source of both classic European cars restored to a high standard and modern vehicles bought at competitive prices compared with the UK market. Most vehicles leave from Izmir Alsancak Port on the Aegean coast or Ambarli Port near Istanbul, both of which run regular RoRo and container services to Northern Europe. From these terminals, cars typically move via a transhipment hub such as Antwerp, Zeebrugge or Southampton before final UK discharge.

Because Turkey sits outside the EU customs union for finished vehicles (despite the wider Turkey-EU customs union covering many other goods), cars exported from Turkey to the UK are treated as third-country imports for customs purposes, exactly like a US or Japanese import. That means UK import VAT and duty apply on arrival, calculated on the vehicle's value plus freight and insurance (the CIF value), not on any Turkish domestic tax the seller may have already paid.

Buyers use The Ship Cars for Turkey imports mainly for three vehicle types: left-hand-drive European marques bought more cheaply in the Turkish domestic market, well-preserved classic and modern classic cars from Turkey's active enthusiast scene, and vehicles purchased at Turkish auction houses that specialise in ex-lease and ex-fleet stock. We arrange collection from the seller or auction yard, port handling at Izmir or Ambarli, ocean freight to the UK, and the full customs and DVLA registration process at the UK end.

The Import Process Step by Step

1. 1. Purchase & Turkish Export Paperwork

   Once you've bought the vehicle, the seller or dealer must de-register it from Turkish plates and provide the export form (İhraç Kayıtlı) along with the original registration document (ruhsat) and a notarised bill of sale. We can liaise directly with Turkish dealers and auction houses on your behalf.

2. 2. Inland Transport to Port

   The car is transported by trailer or driven under transit plates to Izmir or Ambarli, where it is inspected, photographed and either loaded onto a RoRo vessel or packed into a shared or sole-use container depending on value and condition.

3. 3. Ocean Freight to the UK

   Vessels typically route via Mediterranean and Northern European ports with a transhipment call before final discharge in the UK, most often Southampton, Tilbury or Sheerness. Transit time is normally 3-5 weeks door to port.

4. 4. UK Customs Clearance

   We submit the customs declaration through our clearance agent, applying the correct commodity code, calculating duty and VAT, and paying HMRC before the vehicle is released from the port.

5. 5. NOVA Notification

   Within 14 days of the vehicle arriving in the UK you (or we, on your behalf) must notify HMRC through the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals service. HMRC then confirms duty and VAT status before DVLA will register the car.

6. 6. IVA/MSVA & DVLA Registration

   Vehicles without EU/UK type approval, including many Turkish-market cars with different specification to UK models, must pass an Individual Vehicle Approval test before first registration. We book the test centre slot and prepare the vehicle for the inspector.

UK Rules & Compliance

Cars imported from Turkey are non-EU imports for UK customs purposes. Standard import duty is 10% of the vehicle's customs value (purchase price plus shipping and insurance) and import VAT is charged at 20% on top of the value plus duty. If the car is genuinely over 30 years old, unmodified from its original specification, and no longer in production, it can qualify for the reduced 5% VAT rate under the 'vehicle of historic interest' provisions, though the 10% duty may still apply unless it also meets the separate historic vehicle duty relief criteria. Every vehicle must be declared to HMRC via NOVA within 14 days of arrival, even if duty and VAT have already been paid by an agent. Turkish-spec vehicles that were never sold new in the UK or EU will usually need an IVA or Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval before DVLA will issue a registration number; classic cars over 30 years old are generally reg exempt from IVA testing.

Documents You Will Need

• Original Turkish export certificate and de-registration document
• Notarised bill of sale / purchase invoice
• Turkish vehicle registration document (ruhsat)
• Bill of lading from the shipping line
• HMRC NOVA notification reference
• Evidence of duty/VAT payment or C88 customs entry
• MOT certificate (if the car is over 3 years old and roadworthy)
• IVA/MSVA pass certificate where required

Transit Times & Costs

Door-to-port transit from Izmir or Ambarli to the UK typically runs 3-5 weeks depending on sailing schedules and transhipment connections, with an additional 5-10 working days for UK customs clearance, NOVA processing and IVA booking before the car can be registered and driven.

Typical all-in cost for a mid-size saloon from Izmir is £1,400-£2,200 including inland haulage to port, RoRo or shared container freight, UK port handling and customs clearance fees, before duty and VAT. Duty and VAT are calculated on top: for a car with a £15,000 customs value, expect roughly £1,500 duty plus £3,300 VAT (20% of value plus duty), so budget for total landed cost significantly above the purchase price. Container shipments for higher-value or classic cars cost more but reduce handling risk.

Turkey to UK Import FAQs