Type Approval
Personal Imports
Non-type approved vehicles less than 10 years old that are personally imported are required to pass a Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) test. To qualify as a Personal Import [PI], each of the following conditions must be met:
- that the vehicle has been imported by a person entering the United Kingdom;
- that the person had, at the time the vehicle was imported, been normally resident in a country other than the United Kingdom for a continuous period of at least 12 months;
- that the person intends to become normally resident in the United Kingdom;
- that the vehicle has been in the possession of that person and used by him in the country where he has normally resident for a period of at least 6 months before its importation, and
- that the vehicle is intended for his personal or household use in the United Kingdom.
For a vehicle to qualify as a personal import, the SVA application must be supported by original documentation confirming that the applicant complies with the above criteria. (list of acceptable documentation). An original HM Revenue and Customs form C&E 388 may be acceptable for this purpose.
Personally imported vehicles over 4 years old, that meet the above criteria, will also be subject to the MOT test.
