NOVA declaration in the UK – when required, how to submit and what happens without it

If you are importing a vehicle into the United Kingdom — whether a car, motorcycle, scooter, tractor or any other motor vehicle — you have probably heard of NOVA. It stands for Notification of Vehicle Arrivals and is a mandatory notification required by HMRC (His Majesty's Revenue and Customs) for every vehicle entering the UK from abroad. Without a NOVA number you cannot register the vehicle with the DVLA, meaning you will not receive UK number plates or a V5C (logbook). The process is free of charge and can be completed online, but making a mistake or overlooking it at an early stage can delay the entire import by several weeks. This article explains: exactly what NOVA is, who is required to submit it, how to do so step by step, what data you need, what happens once you have a NOVA number, and the exemptions from this requirement.

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What is a NOVA Declaration?

NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrivals) is an HMRC system for notifying the authorities about motor vehicles brought into the United Kingdom from abroad. Its primary purpose is VAT tracking — HMRC needs to know when a vehicle enters the UK in order to identify any tax liabilities (import VAT and VAT on the purchase of the vehicle).

The NOVA system does not replace customs clearance — it is a separate procedure. You can have a vehicle fully cleared through customs and still need a NOVA number for DVLA registration.

NOVA is required for: - Cars and light commercial vehicles - Motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds - Heavy goods vehicles and buses - Trailers and semi-trailers (in certain cases) - Tractors and agricultural machinery registered in the UK - Motorhomes (residential caravans) imported from abroad

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Who must submit a NOVA?

The obligation to submit a NOVA falls on every person or company bringing a vehicle into the UK from abroad — regardless of: - whether they are a private individual or a business - whether the vehicle is new or used - whether the vehicle comes from the EU or a third country - whether the importer is a UK resident or not

This also applies to: - A Polish national relocating to the UK and bringing their own car (see: the Transfer of Residence (ToR) procedure, which may grant relief from customs duty and VAT but does not exempt from NOVA) - A Polish company importing a fleet of vehicles - A dealer purchasing a vehicle at auction in Germany and bringing it to the UK

Exception: visitors to the UK on a temporary basis (tourists) and non-UK residents may bring a vehicle in under Temporary Admission rules — they do not need to submit NOVA provided the vehicle does not remain in the UK permanently.

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NOVA submission deadline

HMRC requires the NOVA to be submitted before or at the time of importing the vehicle. In practice this means you should file the NOVA before the vehicle enters UK territory, or immediately upon its arrival.

Although HMRC does not impose a fixed financial penalty for a late NOVA submission, the absence of a NOVA number means the DVLA will refuse to register the vehicle until one is obtained. In practice, a delayed NOVA equals a delayed registration, which means the vehicle cannot legally be driven on UK roads.

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How to submit a NOVA online — step by step

The NOVA procedure is fully electronic and accessible through the HMRC website:

Step 1: Go to the HMRC NOVA Service Search for "NOVA vehicle HMRC" or navigate directly via gov.uk. The service allows you to submit a NOVA without needing to log in (if you do not have a Government Gateway account).

Step 2: Select the notification type - Individual notification — for private individuals - Agent / company notification — for dealers and commercial importers

Step 3: Enter the vehicle details

Field	Description
VIN / chassis number	17-character VIN code of the vehicle
Make and model	Manufacturer and model name
Year of manufacture	Factory year (not the year of first registration)
Vehicle type	Car, motorcycle, lorry, etc.
Value of the vehicle	Purchase price or market value in GBP
Country of despatch	Previous country of registration
Date of import	Date the vehicle entered the UK

Step 4: Provide the importer's details Full name / company name, UK address, email address for correspondence.

Step 5: Submit the notification and receive your NOVA number Once successfully submitted, HMRC sends a confirmation containing the NOVA number to the email address provided. The number is usually generated instantly (automatically by the system).

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What is a NOVA number and what is it used for?

The NOVA number is a unique identifier assigned by HMRC to your notification. It has an alphanumeric format (e.g. NOVA-XXXX-XXXXXXXX). It serves as proof that the vehicle has been notified to HMRC upon entry into the UK.

Where you need your NOVA number: - When submitting registration application V55/5 to the DVLA - When transferring ownership of a vehicle previously registered abroad - During customs clearance (as a supporting document, not a substitute for customs documents)

NOVA and customs clearance: NOVA and customs clearance are two separate procedures. Customs clearance (SAD/C88) deals with duty and import VAT. NOVA is a notification for domestic VAT record-keeping purposes. You can have one without the other — but for DVLA registration you need both.

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What happens without NOVA — consequences of failing to notify

The absence of a NOVA number has immediate practical consequences:

1. The DVLA will refuse to register the vehicle — form V55/5 requires a NOVA number. Without one, the application is rejected.
2. Inability to obtain a V5C — without a V5C (logbook) you cannot legally drive on UK roads, take out permanent insurance, or sell the vehicle in the UK.
3. Potential problems at a roadside check — a vehicle without UK registration and without a V5C may be stopped by the police.
4. Risk of double VAT — if HMRC determines that the vehicle was not notified, it may assess VAT retrospectively, even if VAT was already paid in an EU country.

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Sequence of procedures: NOVA and IVA/MSVA

Many importers find the order of procedures confusing. The recommended sequence is:

1. Customs clearance — payment of customs duty and import VAT, obtaining document C88/E2
2. NOVA Declaration — online notification to HMRC, obtaining the NOVA number
3. IVA or MSVA (if required) — vehicle type approval test
4. DVLA registration — form V55/5 with a full set of documents

NOVA can be submitted before or in parallel with the customs clearance procedure. There is no need to wait for the outcome of an IVA before filing NOVA — they are independent procedures.

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Exemptions from the NOVA requirement

There are several categories of vehicle exempt from the NOVA requirement:

Category	Condition for exemption
Military vehicles	Entry under NATO or MOD entitlements
Diplomatic vehicles	Owner enjoys diplomatic immunity
Exhibition vehicles	Temporary admission for trade fairs or shows — Temporary Admission
Transit vehicles	Passing through the UK only, with confirmed T1 transit
Short-term service provider vehicles	Specific sectors, documentation required

If you are uncertain whether an exemption applies, it is always safer to submit a NOVA than to risk a refusal of registration.

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NOVA for vehicles imported from the EU after Brexit

Since the UK left the EU (Brexit, 1 January 2021), vehicles imported from EU countries into the UK are treated in the same way as vehicles from third countries — that is, they are subject to full customs clearance and NOVA. There is no longer any special treatment for vehicles from the EU.

The only concession arising from the TCA (Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU) relates to the duty rate: vehicles with documented EU origin benefit from a 0% tariff (instead of the standard 6.5%).