Bringing a Ukrainian vehicle into the UK – tax and registration
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-21)

Vehicle tax and registration rules for people with a Ukrainian plated vehicle who have been issued a visa on the Family, Sponsor or Extension Ukraine visa schemes, or the Ukraine Permission Extension visa scheme.

Exemption from vehicle tax and registration

If you have been issued a visa under one of the Ukraine visa schemes, you do not need to tax or register your Ukrainian plated vehicle in the UK.

This applies for up to the first 3 years (36 months) from your entry into the UK, if you were:
- issued a visa under any of the Family, Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (HFU) or Extension Ukraine visa schemes
- initially granted an 18 month stay under the HFU and were granted a further 18 month visa extension under the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme
This exemption will apply for up to 4 years and 6 months (54 months) from the date you entered the UK if you were initially granted a 36 month stay under the Family, HFU or Extension Ukraine visa schemes and have been granted a further 18 month visa extension under the UPE visa scheme.

Eligibility criteria

You will only be eligible for the extended exemption for up to 4 years and 6 months (54 months) if you applied for UPE before the expiry of your current Ukrainian scheme leave.

You will be eligible for the exemption while your application for UPE is pending. The exemption will no longer apply if your application for UPE is refused, withdrawn or rejected.

If your application for UPE is not processed after 18 months, the period for which the exemption applies will be capped at 4 years and 6 months (54 months) from the date you entered the UK.

This exemption only applies to personally imported vehicles (vehicles used for private or personal use) with Ukrainian number plates, including:
- motorcycles
- cars weighing up to 3,500kg
Your vehicle must remain registered in Ukraine to benefit from this exemption.

You must make sure that you have insurance to drive your vehicle in the UK.

Vehicle tax is also known as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).

MOT test

You may need to take your vehicle for an MOT test. This depends on the age of the vehicle.

An MOT test makes sure that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards.

You may need to make alterations to your vehicle to pass an MOT test.

Read more information on MOTs (https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot).

Vehicle safety

You are responsible for making sure your vehicle is always safe to drive (‘roadworthy’). A vehicle can be unsafe even if you have a current MOT certificate. There are penalties for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition. Read more information on roadworthiness and penalties (https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-safe).

If you transfer to a different visa

You do not have to tax or register your vehicle for 3 years from when you arrive in the UK if you either:
- have been issued a Ukraine scheme visa, but within 3 years transfer to a different visa, such as a skilled worker visa
- entered the UK via an alternative route to the Ukraine scheme visa and you transfer onto a Ukraine scheme visa
This exemption will apply for up to 4 years and 6 months (54 months) from the date you entered the UK if you were initially granted a 36 month stay under the Family, HFU or Extension Ukraine visa schemes and have been granted a further 18 month visa extension under the UPE visa scheme.

Eligibility criteria

You will only be eligible for the extended exemption up to 4 years and 6 months (54 months) if you applied for UPE before the expiry of your current Ukrainian scheme leave.

You will be eligible for the exemption while your application for UPE is pending. The exemption will no longer apply if your application for UPE is refused, withdrawn or rejected.

If your application for UPE is not processed after 18 months, the period for which the exemption applies will be capped at 4 years and 6 months (54 months) from the date you entered the UK.

If you stay in the UK longer than 3 years

If you stay in the UK for more than 3 years and are not eligible for the extended exemption from tax and registration for up to 4 years and 6 months (54 months), you will need to tax and register your vehicle with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and receive UK licence plates.

If you are eligible for the extended exemption from tax and registration for up to 4 years and 6 months (54 months), you will need to tax and register your vehicle with DVLA and receive UK licence plates after the expiry of the extended exemption.

Read more information about how to tax and register your vehicle (https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/registering-an-imported-vehicle).