How it works
From your street to UK plates
Six stops, about 12 to 14 weeks end to end. Here's who does what at each one, and which bit of paper goes where.
- 01
Your street 香港
Collection in Hong Kong
We arrange collection from your address, anywhere from Central to the New Territories, and take the car to the container-loading warehouse.
- You
- Fill in the quote form. Five short questions.
- Us
- A real person prices every line and sends it back, usually the same working day.
- Paperwork
- Nothing yet.
- 02
Kwai Tsing 葵青
Loading and export
The car is strapped into a shared container (or its own 20ft box if you prefer) and the export paperwork is done before it sails.
- You
- Say yes, and hand over the keys on collection day.
- Us
- Collect the car, take it to the loading warehouse, strap it into the container and handle the export paperwork.
- Paperwork
- Vehicle Registration Document, ID, proof of value. ToR1 approval if you are moving.
- 03
At sea 海上
3 to 6 weeks at sea
Marine insurance covers it for the voyage. You can follow progress in the customer portal while you get on with the move.
- You
- Send the TD184 within 15 days of the car shipping. Then get on with the move.
- Us
- Insure it at sea and keep the portal updated with the sailing and the estimated arrival.
- Paperwork
- The shipping document, which we send you for the TD184.
- 04
UK customs 英國
Customs clearance
Our in-house CDS customs team has the paperwork ready before the ship docks, so the car does not sit at the port racking up storage.
- You
- Nothing, unless we ask a question.
- Us
- Lodge the customs entry before the ship docks, pay duty and VAT on your behalf if due, tell HMRC about the car through NOVA, and bring the container to our site.
- Paperwork
- We prepare it all as your CDS customs agent.
- 05
Castle Donington
Unloading, conversion and testing
We unload the container ourselves, convert the speedo and fog light, and test the car on our own IVA lane, or book the MOT if it is ten or over.
- You
- Nothing. Maybe check the portal.
- Us
- Unload the container ourselves, convert the speedo to mph, sort the rear fog light, then test the car on our IVA lane or book its MOT.
- Paperwork
- Test certificate.
- 06
UK plates
DVLA registration and handover
Our dealer-level DVLA account registers it in around 10 working days. Collect it, or we deliver it to your door.
- You
- Book collection or delivery, and arrange UK insurance.
- Us
- Apply to the DVLA through our dealer-level account, fit UK plates, and hand you the keys.
- Paperwork
- Your V5C logbook follows from the DVLA.
Pick the bit you need
Or hand us the lot
Most people want the whole journey. Some have already shipped the car, or have a friend driving it to the port. That's fine: we'll pick it up wherever it is and price only the stops that are left.
Car already in the UKTypical timings
| At sea | 3 to 6 weeks |
|---|---|
| DVLA registration | around 10 working days |
| Paperwork to plates | around 12 to 14 weeks |
Questions
About the process
Do I need to be in Hong Kong for collection?
Someone needs to hand over the car and keys. It can be you, a family member or a friend, as long as we know who to expect.
Can I follow where the car is?
Yes. You get access to our customer portal, which shows each stage and the estimated arrival once the sailing is confirmed.
What if the car needs work before the test?
Most Hong Kong cars only need the speedo and the rear fog light. If anything else comes up, we tell you and price it before doing it.
Tell us about the car.
Make, model, year and where it is. A real person writes your quote, itemised line by line, usually the same working day.