Importing from US/Canada to UK

[Craig]

Just one idea out of a few on the table at the moment..

Has anyone imported a vehicle from the US or Canada? What is involved in terms of paperwork/tax/whatever. Basically the idea would revolve around a three month holiday cruising the States, Canada, Alaska and perhaps even Mexico! Rather than renting a car for that length of time I thought about buying a car and then selling it when the trip ends. Then I thought - looking at the prices of new cars in the States - maybe we should buy new, get three months use out of it, then drive it to New York or Montreal and load it into a 20' ISO container then fly home. Pick it up a week later at Southampton... thoughts?

[thebear]

It is quite common for US citizens to buy a car in the US for European delivery and have it shipped home via the regular import channels. The `conversion' to US specifications is minimal and carried out in specialized centers. The savings are approximately 8-10% which makes it more timely for high end marques such as BMW & Mercedes-Benz as the savings will generally cover the cost of the trip. A friend picked up his BMW 540i that way a few years ago.

I would assume that some similar arrangment is a vailable for US marques in the UK. You have not mentioned what marque you would be interrested in. One obvious difficulty would be the l/h vs r/h steering as well as any UK specific technical/safety requirements. If the car originates and is returned to Canada that would simplify things as I am sure the tax/duty situation has been harmonized.

BMW has a pick-up location at their Spartanburg South Carolina manufaturing plant and they do build European versions of some models there for export. It is of course about 1,000 miles South of the Canadian border.

Perhaps someone in Canada might have additional information.

[Craig]

If we went this route we'd likely be looking at a Mustang, Corvette or something like a Ram or F350 - something that would sell at a premium in the UK. I'd arrange the purchase with a US or Canadian dealer whilst I am still here in the UK for collection upon our arrival. We'd then ship it back to the UK once our trip finished.

[thebear]

Obviously, the way to go.

[Alfaholic]

The first thing to consider is that cars such as the Mustang or Corvette attracts 10% import duty and 17.5% VAT while the pickups (and that includes the Chevrolet SSR) attract 22% duty and 17.5% VAT on the purchase price and the cost of shipping to the UK.

Once the vehicle is here, it is possible to complete the Customs entry yourself, but it's much easier to get an agent to make the entry for you - all you would need to do is complete the C384 and pay them the required duty and they arrange clearance. There's plenty around Southampton of Felixstowe, while some shipping lines such as Maersk have an in house Customs clearance section.

Once the vehicle has been Customs cleared, you will be issued with a C386 which is used to register the vehicle - I'm sure somebody else will be able to clarify the other requirements for registration such as inspections and the changes required to lighting, etc (SVA?).

[thebear]

Originally Posted by Alfaholic

The first thing to consider is that cars such as the Mustang or Corvette attracts 10% import duty and 17.5% VAT while the pickups (and that includes the Chevrolet SSR) attract 22% duty and 17.5% VAT on the purchase price and the cost of shipping to the UK.

Will there be no consideration for the fact that several thousand miles have been accumulated and it is definitely a USED vehicle? Hopefully your local dealer will have all the `numbers'.

[redshoes]

See http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/group...cst?n=6662&l=3 for DVLA's guide to importing vehicles. It mostly refers to PLG, I believe some of the bigger pick-ups are too big/heavy so come under commercial vehicle regs.

You'll need an SVA, which is covered in the document. Some items are fairly obvious (dipped headlights, indicators, etc), some aren't - remote locking radio frequency for example.

For new vehicles duty/VAT is based on the purchase price + shipping costs. For anything over 1 month old it's based on the UK wholesale value.

I'd agree with Alfaholic, find an agent to do it for you. It'll cost you more but be much less hassle in the long run. If you intend to keep the car once you get back check things like insurance and servicing, you'd hate to go through all that hassle only to find your insurance companyuu either won't touch it or will charge you a king's ransom. Wharever you decide, do your sums carefully.

[Bluebottle]

Lhd is no problem even for importing a new car. I don't know about 'used' cars and the SVA test (Single Vehicle Approval) but you will have problems if it needs an SVA test mostly regarding lighting. You'll need to change the headlamps for rhd units and they must be 'E' marked, if the tail lights have combined brake/indicator lights you'll need to change them as well.

[Craig]

Sounds like simplicity in itself...! Thanks guys - much food for thought.

Has anyone actually imported a vehicle themselves? Did you end up coming out on top by the time you'd paid for the vehicle, the shipping, an agent, VAT, duty, tests, certificates, etc? Or is it not worth me even working out what it'll cost? Should I just forget the idea and buy an old banger when we're out there?

[Truckosaurus]

The biggest problem you'll have, if you want to drive the car in the USA, is registering and insuring it without a US address or social security number etc. Also, there might be tax implications, you might not have to pay their sales taxes if the car is going straight out of the country.

Bringing the car into the UK and getting it on the road here is a Piece of Cake, there are loads of specialists to do the legal side of things and insurance is probably going to be less than trying to insure a hot hatch. Go and buy 'Classic American' magazine in any newsagent, plenty of ads to scour to see what the 'going price' is for the vehicles in the UK.

[thebear]

Originally Posted by Guy Humpage

The biggest problem you'll have, if you want to drive the car in the USA, is registering and insuring it without a US address or social security number etc. Also, there might be tax implications, you might not have to pay their sales taxes if the car is going straight out of the country.

That may not apply if the car is picked up and returned for shipment in Canada as there may be some sort of temporary registration The selling dealer in the UK should have all the information as I am sure that this has happened previously. Also, check with the RAC for an "International Driving Permit" (should cost no more than £5, good for 12 months.