Hey folks im considering importing a classic from the US and was looking into details on how to get it over here. Has anyone done this before? It would help to know the step by step from buying and getting the car picked up from someones house right to the car being released in a UK port for me to get picked up. Value will be anything between 3k-10k

 

Cheers

 

Marty

got this of Yahoo! Q&A

 

Shipping will cost around £1,500 - £2,000..

 

Import duty, V.A.T. and brokerage charges will add around 30% to the value, including the shipping charge (Example - if the car costs you £10,000 and the shipping charge is £1,500, you will pay about £3,450 in fees, before the car will be released to you by Customs).

 

If the car is less than 10 years old, it will have to pass an I.V.A. test at a V.O.S.A. testing station, before you can get it registered. This could cost you anything from £500 to around £2,000, depending on what need to be modified or replaced (and how much you know about the I.V.A. test), to make it road legal in the U.K.

 

Insuring it will cost you at least 50% more than you think, because the car is a left hand drive, private import. This means insurance companies regard it as a very high risk and they will load your premium accordingly. If you are under 25, it is unlikely that you will get insurance for it at all.

 

As the first answer correctly states, unless it's a very, very rare or unusual car, it's simply not worth it.

but I found this place: http://www.1stcarimports.co.uk/

 

who can supply cars to requirements, or can assist in importing a car you already found....

Yeah ive seen a few of those answers but with the car being around 40 years old i figure tax wont apply

Yeah ive seen a few of those answers but with the car being around 40 years old i figure tax wont apply

 

quite possibly, obviously its expemt from road tax, however the government do like to tax everything that comes into the country. Its not worth "under valuing" for import incase something does go wrong. I think your best of calling a company like the one I posted, just to check if you would face an import tax.

 

be interesting to know.

 

What car you go for? Make / Model.

The one and only dodge charger been an ambition of mine to own one and as i have a friend that has a shell sat in a gargage in silverstone i want one even more.

Fantastic choice. proper monster of a car :bow:

Fantastic choice. proper monster of a car :bow:

 

Agreed

good choice mate. and if you can find a decent example, defo worth it :D

Nice choice mate, they are only increasing in value, as is most of the Yank iron of that era !

 

Very helpfull place this, highly recommended !

 

http://www.goldenchariotsinternational.com/

 

Few Scottish guys have used this place, and they take care of the paperwork side of things.

 

http://www.kingstown-shipping.co.uk/

 

This mob can give you an instant quote, rough idea off the charges, customs, vat etc !

 

http://www.shipmycar.co.uk/

 

Once the car arrives at Felixstowe or Liverpool or wherever, if you are local and can pick it up yourself, all good, if not;

 

http://www.auto-haul.co.uk/

 

Or good old Shiply !

 

http://www.shiply.com/

 

Theres no replacement for displacement !! Yeehaw !!

 

 

Alan.............

Average cost of fully comp, classic policy, limited miles, breakdown cover, tyre, stereo and legal cover would be at a good guess around £350 max.

If you are over 25, no worries, over 30, garaged with a Thatcham 2 minimum, it would be around the £225 mark.

 

Alan...........

Excellent choice marty, can you squeeze me a '71-'73 Trans Am into the container? :rockon:

Nice choice mate, they are only increasing in value, as is most of the Yank iron of that era !

 

Very helpfull place this, highly recommended !

 

http://www.goldenchariotsinternational.com/

 

Few Scottish guys have used this place, and they take care of the paperwork side of things.

 

http://www.kingstown-shipping.co.uk/

 

This mob can give you an instant quote, rough idea off the charges, customs, vat etc !

 

http://www.shipmycar.co.uk/

 

Once the car arrives at Felixstowe or Liverpool or wherever, if you are local and can pick it up yourself, all good, if not;

 

http://www.auto-haul.co.uk/

 

Or good old Shiply !

 

http://www.shiply.com/

 

Theres no replacement for displacement !! Yeehaw !!

 

 

Alan.............

 

 

Thanks alot Alan i was hoping you would be along :)

 

 

Great help guys it looks like im gonna sell up the zeds except the slickie and get me a yank tank. After looking on US ebay they are not as crazy on prices as i thought and one in particular that is a runner on a 440 block needs a bit of work but is an absolute steal and i do love fixing my cars up anyway so i side project i would say :D

Hey folks im considering importing a classic from the US and was looking into details on how to get it over here. Has anyone done this before? It would help to know the step by step from buying and getting the car picked up from someones house right to the car being released in a UK port for me to get picked up. Value will be anything between 3k-10k

 

Cheers

 

Marty

 

 

 

Yes mate, give Julian Barnes at Severnside Imports a ring (or his mrs Karren Kinish), if there's no answer then look up Severnside Japanese Imports, Severnside Motorsports, Severnside Motorsport, LBD Clothing, Pinky's Paint Shop, Low Brain Drifters or the latest, Low Brain Speed Shop...or just pop down to Lydney and hand the cash over there and then

 

on a serious note, he ^^^^^ is now importing/exporting to and from the US so be careful mate (last shipment March 2012). Don't hand over any $ until you know exactly what the history of the company is, and don't assume that if it's a UK based company that it's all legit. The American guy who was the business partner of the Jap guy and Kiwi guy, ended up doing a runner back to the US with a lot of peoples $ and started importing/exporting under the name of Driving Sports US (since been changed).

 

It would probably be a good idea to give Autospecs a bell mate (when you're back), they have contacts in OZ so I would have thought that they'd know a reliable company who will import from the US

 

drop them a PM mate:

 

http://www.driftworks.com/forum/members/4241.html

 

After looking on US ebay they are not as crazy on prices as i thought and one in particular that is a runner on a 440 block needs a bit of work but is an absolute steal and i do love fixing my cars up anyway so i side project i would say :D

 

440ci !! The way to go dude ! Do as much research as you can on your selected vehicle, its amazing what can turn up at the docks !!

Pictures only look so good ? Dont be afraid to ask for info on anything you want to know/see ?

 

Insurance will be a wee bit cheaper if you are a member of a club.

Any other help I can be, email me minceyheid at msn.com Usual spacing involved.

Put something relevant in the subject title, so it doesnt get overlooked !

 

Alan.......