Car import to UK

Name

Car import to UK

Legal name

The Car Import

Website

https://thecarimport.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vehicle Import Brokerage

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Border Vehicle Logistics & Customs/Compliance (VIN, Documentation) (TLADAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Vehicle Shipping & Import Assistance (HSAKACAJ), International Vehicle Shipping & Export (RoRo/Container) (HSAKAFAJ)

Keywords

• Vehicle import services
• Customs clearance
• DVLA registration
• IVA testing
• International car shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Castle Donington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Car Import Services: Turnkey car import services including vehicle selection, transportation organization, customs clearance, and delivery to customer. Revenue generated through service fees for end-to-end import management.
2. Customs Clearance Services: Preparation of all necessary documentation for vehicle customs clearance. Specialist services for navigating UK import regulations and requirements.
3. DVLA Registration Services: Full registration services for imported vehicles using V55 form for imported vehicles.
4. IVA Testing Services: Modification and testing services to help vehicles pass Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) procedure for UK road compliance.
5. Car Insurance Services: Insurance services for imported vehicles including temporary car insurance options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Car Import provides turnkey vehicle import services into the UK, managing car selection, international transportation arrangement, customs clearance documentation, DVLA registration (using the V55 form for imported vehicles), IVA testing and modifications, MOT testing, car insurance, and door-to-door delivery. The company handles imports from nine or more countries including Japan, USA, Europe, Ukraine, UAE, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, serving both individual buyers and commercial importers.

Product overview

The Car Import is a vehicle import brokerage and logistics service providing turnkey solutions for importing cars into the UK. The core offering combines car selection assistance, international shipping coordination (via container and RoRo methods), customs documentation handling, IVA/MOT testing, DVLA registration, and door-to-door delivery. The service portfolio spans multiple country-specific import guides (Japan, USA, EU, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UAE, Ukraine, Hong Kong), supporting both standard and exotic/luxury vehicle imports. Ancillary services include an online import cost calculator, personalized quote requests, vehicle insurance, and technical modifications for regulatory compliance. The company positions itself as a multilingual, full-service import facilitator handling the complete journey from foreign market selection to UK road registration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Car Import Service Turnkey vehicle import service encompassing car selection, international transportation arrangement, customs clearance, DVLA registration, and door-to-door delivery from countries including USA, Japan, UAE, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Europe, Ukraine, and Hong Kong. Intended for individuals and small commercial buyers importing vehicles for personal use.
• Customs Clearance Service Preparation of all necessary import documentation and execution of vehicle customs clearance procedures for vehicles being imported into the UK. Available as a standalone service or as part of the full import package, intended for individuals and dealers needing expert customs handling.
• DVLA Registration Service Full range of services to register imported vehicles with the DVLA using the V55 form for imported vehicles. Intended for individuals and dealers requiring compliant UK road registration for an imported vehicle.
• IVA Testing Service Modification and testing service to help vehicles pass the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) procedure required for non-EU vehicle imports into the UK. Includes required physical modifications and the inspection booking. DVSA inspection fees from £199 to £294 apply.
• MOT Testing Service Vehicle safety inspection service checking brakes, suspension, steering, and lighting for cars over ten years old imported from Europe. Used to confirm an imported vehicle meets UK roadworthiness standards.
• Car Insurance Insurance services for imported vehicles in the UK. Provides cover arrangements for cars that have been brought in from overseas markets.
• Container Shipping Vehicle shipping via 40-foot containers, allowing transport of 2-4 cars simultaneously, including shared and full container options. Suitable for higher-value, classic, or non-running vehicles requiring enclosed transport.
• RoRo Shipping Roll-on/Roll-off shipping service where vehicles are driven directly onto cargo ships. Lower-cost option for running vehicles shipped from supported origins.
• Motorcycle Import Service Specialized import service for motorcycles from international markets. Applies the same end-to-end import workflow (shipping, customs, registration) to two-wheeled vehicles.

Quantifiable outcome

• We guarantee that the vehicle you receive will meet your expectations and requirements

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• ShipCars: Digital-first car shipping platform providing instant quotes and carrier dispatch for individual vehicle owners. Adjacent peer — comparable online self-serve quoting model, but operates in the US market and focuses on domestic transport.
• DVLA-registered vehicle importers (broader UK market): Broader UK market of small specialist vehicle importers and DVLA registration agents. Collectively represent The Car Import's most direct competitive set: local, often single-operator firms offering overlapping customs, DVLA, and IVA services.

Broad incumbents

• A-1 Auto Transport: Established US-based vehicle logistics broker arranging domestic and cross-border auto transport, including international shipping coordination. Comparable to The Car Import as a non-asset-based intermediary that arranges carrier capacity for vehicle movement.
• RoadRunner Auto Transport: Major US-based auto transport broker with online quoting and a wide carrier network. Comparable as a technology-enabled, broker-led vehicle logistics platform serving retail consumers.
• Montway Auto Transport: Large US vehicle shipping broker offering door-to-door transport for individuals and dealers. Comparable business model — arranging carrier capacity and managing end-to-end vehicle logistics for retail customers.

Direct peers

• ShipYourCarNow: Auto transport broker arranging domestic and international vehicle shipping via RoRo and container. Closely comparable to The Car Import in coordinating cross-border logistics, documentation, and door-to-door delivery for individual car buyers.
• Easy Auto Ship: Vehicle transport broker specializing in cross-country and international car shipping with online quoting and carrier arrangement. Directly comparable to The Car Import in arranging freight and providing customer-facing service for individual vehicle owners.
• JDM Imports UK (Japanese car import specialists): UK-based Japanese domestic market (JDM) car import specialists who source vehicles from Japanese auctions and arrange shipping and UK registration. Directly comparable niche focus on enthusiast imports from Japan into the UK.
• Import Performance Cars: UK performance and exotic car import specialist offering vehicle sourcing, shipping, and UK registration services. Directly comparable to The Car Import in targeting enthusiast/performance segments with a turnkey import proposition.

Regional players

• Autoeurope: Vehicle transport broker with established cross-border car shipping services into and out of Europe. Comparable in arranging international vehicle logistics but with a broader regional footprint than The Car Import's UK focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Car import to UK