The short answer
NOVA is HMRC’s vehicle-arrival notification. For a permanent car import, establish who must notify HMRC within 14 days and keep confirmation of the outcome.
Do not leave notification until registration
HMRC notification is a separate stage from a DVLA registration application. For a permanent car import, GOV.UK sets a 14-day notification requirement after arrival. If the car is already here, establish the arrival date and check whether the notification has been handled; do not assume a transport booking also covered it.
These notes focus on Great Britain. Notification arrangements differ for Northern Ireland, including vehicles arriving there from the EU. Tell your adviser the destination and route, rather than using “UK import” as the only description.
Use the route that matches your circumstances
Current HMRC guidance distinguishes VAT-registered companies from private individuals and non-VAT-registered companies. The former use the NOVA service. For the latter, shipped vehicles may be notified through a shipping company, customs agent or HMRC’s CARS team; people bringing a vehicle themselves are directed to the CARS team.
Follow the linked guidance for the evidence required in your case, including customs and vehicle identity records. Do not rely on older instructions that tell every private importer to complete an online NOVA submission themselves. Customs declarations and any taxes due also need to be resolved through the appropriate route.
Keep a usable audit trail
Ask whoever handles notification to confirm what they have submitted and what remains outstanding. Keep that response with the purchase and customs documents. Compare the vehicle identity across those records before the DVLA pack is prepared; a reference attached to the wrong vehicle does not resolve the application.
If you cannot find confirmation, contact the person who arranged the import first and establish the position with HMRC. If the notification is late or the details are incorrect, explain the facts and ask how to put them right. Do not invent an arrival date or assume that no tax due means no notification needed. A registration adviser can help organise the evidence, while HMRC determines the tax treatment.
Check the official guidance
Requirements can change. These sources apply to the points discussed above; your vehicle may need a different route.
This guide explains the process. It does not confirm eligibility, tax relief or approval for an individual vehicle.