Guide · Slovakia

Driving a UK-registered car in Slovakia: how long you can keep UK plates, what registering it costs, and what to do instead

Slovakia has one of the more expensive registration systems in central Europe for a powerful car, and since Brexit a UK car also carries customs duty and VAT. This guide covers how long you can stay on UK plates, the steps and costs, and the alternative.

Last reviewed September 2026

How long can I keep it on UK plates?

Non-residents can drive a foreign-registered car while its home registration, inspection and insurance are valid. A Slovak resident must register the car in Slovakia; the UK registration cannot be maintained from abroad because the V5C needs a UK address and the MOT and UK insurance will lapse.

Can a right-hand-drive car be registered?

Right-hand-drive cars can be registered in Slovakia. The STK will require headlamps adjusted for driving on the right and suitable mirrors, and Slovak buyers discount right-hand drive heavily.

What registering it involves

Customs clearance as a non-EU import (through a customs broker), paying duty and VAT.
Individual approval of the imported vehicle by the district transport office where required.
STK technical inspection and emissions test.
Registration at the district police vehicle registry: registration fee, Slovak plates and certificate.
Compulsory PZP insurance.

What it costs

Customs duty: 10% of the customs value unless UK origin is documented under the EU–UK agreement.
VAT: 23% on the value plus duty.
Registration fee: scaled by engine power and vehicle age — modest for a small older car, thousands of euros for a powerful newer one.
STK, emissions test, translations, plates and fees.

Moving home? Transfer-of-residence relief

If you lived in the UK for at least 12 months and owned and used the car for 6 months or more, transfer-of-residence relief normally removes customs duty and VAT when you move back. The registration fee, STK and other costs still apply, and the car cannot be sold for 12 months.

The alternative: sell it back to the UK

Selling back to the UK trade avoids all of it. We buy UK-registered cars in Slovakia as they stand, collect free from any address, handle the export paperwork, and pay in pounds sterling on the day — into your UK bank account if you kept one.

Get a free valuation for your car in Slovakia

Free collection anywhere in Slovakia, all export paperwork handled, paid in pounds sterling (£) on the day.

Value my UK car

Common questions

Is the registration fee really that high?

For a powerful engine it can be: the fee rises with kW and falls with age. A small, older car pays little; a newer 200 kW car pays thousands.

What if the MOT has expired?

Not a problem — we buy cars with expired MOT or SORN and collect by transporter.

How soon can you collect?

Usually within a week of you accepting the offer; western Slovakia is on a regular run.

Rules, rates and thresholds change. This guide is a general summary as of September 2026, not legal or tax advice — check the current position with the registration authority or a customs agent before relying on it.

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