Entering the UK with vehicle via ferry?

My husband and I are relocating to the UK in June.  He is military and we are moving from Italy.  We would like to drive up so we have our car with us.  Is an international drivers permit sufficient to enter with?  Our car has insurance that will cover it in the UK.  Is there any kind of customs/immigration when you get off the ferry?  We will have all the documentation, but my concern is customs.  We wanted to load the car up with things the movers won't pack...wine, olive oil, vinegar, cheese.  Also, being the daredevil he is, my husband think he will be fine driving the second we get off the ferry...any advice?  We have a handbook with road rigns/rules etc to study before we leave, but...I am worried about him remembering to stay on the left side of the road.  We have an American spec left hand drive car that will be Italian license-plated to make matters worse.  Any help would be really appreciated!         

An American license is valid for the first 12 months of UK residence (international driver's permit is irrelevant), but after that you have to have a full UK license to continue driving.  I don't know if the rule is different for military personnel, but that's definitely how it works for regular American expats to the UK.

Since you're coming from within the EU, customs should be less of an issue- I would check out the HM Revenue and Customs website for your goods allowances.

There should indeed be customs and immigration officers there once you enter the UK, but you guys should sail through if you've got all your paperwork/visas ready.

You can probably get all the right advice you are looking for by contacting your Family Support center or TMO at your gaining base here in England.  There are many people who have done the same thing you are doing and these people would have all the answers or at least who you need to contact to make your move a successful experience.  When we have gone by ferry to and from England whether we were living in England or Germany, there wasn't too much concern about what we had in our car or about what license plate or drivers license we had. We've done ferry trips just to pick up foodstuffs and wine from Germany and France to bring back.  All that customs is concerned about is that you are only bringing back a personal supply and our personal supply is usually a car full!... What base are you moving to?  Good luck and happy moving.

Hi,

Just focussing on the motoring side of your post

Are you bringing the car permanently into the UK? if so, you'll need to budget for import tax which I think is 10% of the car's value. Also, you'll need to ensure you have adequate insurance and the Road Tax disc on display. You can sort all of this out before your trip in June so that you drive onto the ferry, enjoy some food while you cross and drive off in the UK knowing your car is covered and legal. Additional costs will be ensuring the car meets all UK road legal specifications, i.e headlamp beam patterns, a reversing light, a foglamp, amber indicators etc etc. The SVA test (Single Vehicle Approval) scheme can get your car tested to ensure it's road legal, I paid something like £250 (i think) to get the F150 Truck from Texas checked over in June 04. You'd be wise to get a GPS unit so when you roll off the ferry, at least you can program it to direct you on the correct roads. If he has an American license, it'll cover him to drive in the UK for one year - check into it's validity. Also, there may be special concessions as he's US military, there are a number of USA military bases in the UK and I know that some servicemen have American cars over here under special rules for them - maybe he can ask his military bods the questions! and a perk maybe he/you both wont have to incur the costs I mentioned above?!

Hope this helps

DtM! West London & Slough UK!