If you are buying the car
A clear import line only means no marker came back. Match the V5C to the seller, and look at the MOT history on the free report before you rely on the car.
Official guidance on bringing a vehicle into the UK is on GOV.UK.
Import status
Check if a car is imported
The free report does not show import status. That flag is on Hidden History, when we hold it.
5,000,000+ vehicle checks generated in the last 12 months
- Import flag
- Origin
- UK compliance
- Before you buy
- Import status
- Origin where held
- Check before you buy
- ImportedWhether the car was imported
- OriginCountry where we hold it
- UK useCompliance context
- RegistrationLook the car up first
What an import check can show
Free report first
The registration box opens the free VehicleScore: MOT history, tax status and vehicle details. That report does not show import status.
Import and export flags
Those flags are on Hidden History, when the provider returns them. They are a recorded marker, not a customs file.
What is not included
This check does not show the country of origin, duty paid, or whether the car is a parallel or grey import.
VIN
Hidden History can show the VIN from the report and check it against the plate you searched, when that field comes back.
How the import flag works
Enter a registration for the free report first. If you continue to Hidden History, an import or export marker is shown when the provider returns one.
What the flag does not say
It does not name the country, confirm duty was paid, or tell you the insurance premium. Parts supply and insurance are things to ask the seller and the insurer about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the free check show if a car is imported?
No. Entering a registration here opens the free MOT and tax report. Import and export flags are on the paid Hidden History check, and only when the record returns them.
Does it name the country or the duty paid?
No. A flag is not a customs history, and it does not say whether the car was a parallel import or a grey import.
Does an import flag mean the car is illegal?
No. It means an import or export marker was returned. Road legality is a separate question, and this check does not confirm it.