Exporting a Tesla Model 3 from the US to the UK
EV exports add a wrinkle: charging standards and connectors differ across the Atlantic.
By Sofia Berg, Customs & compliance writer · 6 min read
Standard 10% duty and 20% VAT apply; the US car is LHD, so RHD-market registration is the trade-off.
Connector and charging-network differences can mean adapters or hardware changes.
The full cost breakdown
Plug in your own purchase figure — everything below the vehicle scales only modestly with value. All amounts are researched 2026 estimates in USD.
| Vehicle (purchase price) | $38,000 |
| Seller-side export documentation | $150 |
| Ocean freight | $1,900 |
| Marine insurance (~1.5%) | $570 |
| 10% UK duty on CIF | $4,047 |
| 20% UK import VAT on duty-inclusive value | $8,903 |
| Customs broker & port handling | $830 |
| Type-approval / inspection | $2,500 |
| Inland transport & registration | $1,500 |
| Estimated all-in landed cost | $58,400 |
Compliance & the fine print
IVA approval plus practical EV concerns — connector type and software region — shape the real-world cost.
Frequently asked questions
Duty/VAT?+
10% / 20%.
EV-specific issue?+
Charging connector and region differences.
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