Got a UK Plated Car That’s Been Permanently Exported?

Found a great car with UK number plates, only to discover it has been flagged as permanently exported with DVLA? Don’t worry – this is actually more common than you think, and it’s completely fixable. We help people navigate this situation every day.

What’s an Exporter Marker?

Simply put, an exporter marker means the DVLA has recorded that this vehicle was officially exported from the UK. The confusing part? The car still has its UK plates, so it looks like any other UK-registered vehicle. But in the DVLA system, it’s been marked as exported and needs to be re-registered.

Why Does This Happen?

When someone exports a car from the UK, they notify the DVLA. The physical plates stay on the car, but the registration is cancelled in the system. If that car comes back to the UK – or you’re buying it from someone who imported it – it needs to go through the proper import process again.

What You Need to Do

The good news? We handle this kind of thing all the time. Here’s what’s involved:

HMRC Customs Clearance – The vehicle needs to go through customs, even if it was previously UK-registered. As authorized customs agents, we’ll complete your import entry and handle all the HMRC paperwork.

DVLA Re-Registration – The car needs a fresh V5C logbook. DVLA needs to be notified that the vehicle is back in the UK

Import VAT and Duties – Depending on where the car is coming from, there may be import VAT (usually 20%) and possibly import duty. (We can run a FREE check with you to see the most efficient and less expensive solution for your specific case)

CARS IMPORT UK – How We Make It Easy

At Cars Import UK, we’ve spent over 30 years specializing in vehicle customs clearance and HMRC procedures. Our decades of experience coordinating between HMRC and the DVLA means we make the import process as straightforward and cost-effective as possible for our customers.

Any questions?

If you’ve bought a car with an exporter marker, or you’re considering one and want to know if it’s worth the hassle, just get in touch. We’ll check the vehicle’s status and explain exactly what needs doing.

We’re specialised customs agents in importing cars to the UK and handling vehicles with exporter markers. Whether it’s an EU import, a car from outside the EU, or a classic vehicle, we’ll take care of the process

Get in touch with us today!

020 3826 8879

info@carsimport.co.uk