Terms explained
Glossary
Acronyms on both sides of the world. Here's what each one means and where it matters.
- BN(O)British National (Overseas)
- A form of British nationality held by many people from Hong Kong. The BN(O) visa route lets holders and their families live in the UK. It has no bearing on whether a car qualifies for Transfer of Residence. More on BN(O)
- CDSCustoms Declaration Service
- HMRC’s system for import declarations. We are fully authorised CDS customs agents, so we lodge your car’s entry ourselves. More on CDS
- Customs value
- The value duty and VAT are worked out from: the price of the car, plus the cost of getting it to the UK for VAT purposes. More on Customs value
- Dedicated container
- A 20ft shipping container used for one car only, rather than shared. More on Dedicated container
- DVLADriver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
- The UK body that registers vehicles. We register cars through a dealer-level account, usually in around 10 working days. More on DVLA
- Historic rate
- No import duty and 5% VAT for cars over 30 years old in original condition, if HMRC accepts them as historic. More on Historic rate
- HMRCHM Revenue and Customs
- The UK tax and customs authority. It sets duty and VAT and decides Transfer of Residence applications. More on HMRC
- Import duty
- A customs charge of 10% of the car’s value on cars from Hong Kong, unless relief applies. More on Import duty
- IVAIndividual Vehicle Approval
- The test a car under ten years old takes to show it meets UK standards before registration. We run our own IVA lane. More on IVA
- Kwai Tsing葵青
- The district in Hong Kong’s New Territories that is home to its container terminals. More on Kwai Tsing
- Marine insurance
- Cover for the car while it is at sea, for total loss or significant damage. We arrange it for the voyage. More on Marine insurance
- MOTMinistry of Transport test
- The annual roadworthiness test. Imported cars ten years old and over take an MOT instead of an IVA; over forty need none to be registered, unless they have been substantially changed. More on MOT
- NOVANotification of Vehicle Arrivals
- How HMRC is told about a vehicle brought into the UK permanently. It has to be done within 14 days of the car arriving, and the DVLA cannot register the car until it is. We make it for you as part of customs clearance. More on NOVA
- TDTransport Department
- The Hong Kong government department that registers and licenses vehicles. More on TD
- TD184Notification for Cancellation of Vehicle Registration
- The Hong Kong form that cancels a car’s registration after it has been permanently shipped out. Due within 15 days of shipping. More on TD184
- ToRTransfer of Residence relief
- HMRC relief letting people moving their main home to the UK bring belongings, including a car, with no duty or VAT, if the conditions are met. More on ToR
- ToR1
- The GOV.UK application for Transfer of Residence relief. It must be approved before the car ships. More on ToR1
- V5CVehicle registration certificate
- The UK logbook, issued by the DVLA once the car is registered here. More on V5C
- VATValue Added Tax
- Charged at import at 20% on the car’s value plus shipping plus duty, or 5% for historic cars, unless relief applies. More on VAT
- VRDVehicle Registration Document
- The Hong Kong document showing a car’s registered owner. You need the original for export and for the TD184. More on VRD
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