importing a classic car into the UK
Discussion
Its the same from the states. 10% duty and VAT on both the purchase price and duty. EU is simpler as long as you buy the car duty paid in the country of origin. You'll need to get a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer, that allows you to obtain the type approval certificate and then you can register the car. The last car I registered was a little more envolving. Had to telephone Porsche Cars UK. Very helpful chap kindly informed me that from 1998 on, Porsche had a type approval certificate for every Porsche manufactured. I said I think you'll find this car is a little different. I sent him the information on the car along with the required fee. Chap wrang me a couple of days later. Said you knew this was going to be a little more interesting did'nt you. I laughed and said well Porsche only made 21 of these cars. porsche then sent me a letter confirming the details and specification of the car and it was then straight forward from there.
They used to have a great system where you could import your car as historically important.
The UK used to interpret this as anything older than 1965.
The EU stopped them doing it....pointing out it was meant for importing say, james deans porsche, not just anyones old porsche.
I managed to import my motor for 5% duty/tax all told
Sorry for pointing out how good it "used" to be
The UK used to interpret this as anything older than 1965.
The EU stopped them doing it....pointing out it was meant for importing say, james deans porsche, not just anyones old porsche.
I managed to import my motor for 5% duty/tax all told

Sorry for pointing out how good it "used" to be

If it's pre-1950 it'll still come in at 5% all in btw.
Anyone planning on importing a classic pickup or van - commercials pay a higher rate than cars, so something to bear in mind if looking at a truck from 1950 or later..
Occasionally 1950-on can come in at 5% but it'd have to be something special, or a one-off uber-rarity.
Rick
Anyone planning on importing a classic pickup or van - commercials pay a higher rate than cars, so something to bear in mind if looking at a truck from 1950 or later..
Occasionally 1950-on can come in at 5% but it'd have to be something special, or a one-off uber-rarity.
Rick
Markh said:
Anyone know the stituation on importing a car into the UK from a no EU country, do I pay VAT? etc
thanks Mark
You should go to WWW.import-car.infothanks Mark
This provides the most accurate & up to date info on importing a car into the EU.
graeme36s said:
Its the same from the states. 10% duty and VAT on both the purchase price and duty. EU is simpler as long as you buy the car duty paid in the country of origin. You'll need to get a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer, that allows you to obtain the type approval certificate and then you can register the car. The last car I registered was a little more envolving. Had to telephone Porsche Cars UK. Very helpful chap kindly informed me that from 1998 on, Porsche had a type approval certificate for every Porsche manufactured. I said I think you'll find this car is a little different. I sent him the information on the car along with the required fee. Chap wrang me a couple of days later. Said you knew this was going to be a little more interesting did'nt you. I laughed and said well Porsche only made 21 of these cars. porsche then sent me a letter confirming the details and specification of the car and it was then straight forward from there.
It's too tempting to gloss over - I have to ask; only 21 built - which Porsche is it? ceriw said:
graeme36s said:
Its the same from the states. 10% duty and VAT on both the purchase price and duty. EU is simpler as long as you buy the car duty paid in the country of origin. You'll need to get a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer, that allows you to obtain the type approval certificate and then you can register the car. The last car I registered was a little more envolving. Had to telephone Porsche Cars UK. Very helpful chap kindly informed me that from 1998 on, Porsche had a type approval certificate for every Porsche manufactured. I said I think you'll find this car is a little different. I sent him the information on the car along with the required fee. Chap wrang me a couple of days later. Said you knew this was going to be a little more interesting did'nt you. I laughed and said well Porsche only made 21 of these cars. porsche then sent me a letter confirming the details and specification of the car and it was then straight forward from there.
It's too tempting to gloss over - I have to ask; only 21 built - which Porsche is it? so if one were looking to import a car from the US that had originally (in the '60s) been registered in an EU country and then subsequently exported, what's the story on the import duty? Can it be avoided? Or is it the case that because the EU didn't exist in the early '60s, it wouldn't qualify?
rubystone said:
so if one were looking to import a car from the US that had originally (in the '60s) been registered in an EU country and then subsequently exported, what's the story on the import duty? Can it be avoided? Or is it the case that because the EU didn't exist in the early '60s, it wouldn't qualify?
Unfortunately, you will have to pay duty at 10% on purchase price + cost of getting it to UK, then Vat on top of that. There was a scheme that allowed relief from duty on British return goods, however the time limit i think is 3 years. After that, its back to full rate.To summerise what everyone is saying:
Price of car + shipping cost + 10% of both + VAT on Cost, shipping & duty.
I import a lot of parts from the USA and its a similar scenario, although import duty is less. Apart from the tax on tax, I can never understand why we pay (double) tax on shipping since its like paying tax on the cost of a stamp on a letter from the US. I.e. the money is paid to the shipper in the USA, I can understand paying a USA tax on that, but how come we pay double tax on money spent in the USA?
G
Price of car + shipping cost + 10% of both + VAT on Cost, shipping & duty.
I import a lot of parts from the USA and its a similar scenario, although import duty is less. Apart from the tax on tax, I can never understand why we pay (double) tax on shipping since its like paying tax on the cost of a stamp on a letter from the US. I.e. the money is paid to the shipper in the USA, I can understand paying a USA tax on that, but how come we pay double tax on money spent in the USA?

G
Is this prioe of the car or value of the car. I'm looking to import a $65k Corvette C1 that will have a lot of work done on it pre shipping. The pink slip value is 65, but the cost of the work will shift it upwards to 120. So is tax on 120 or 65?
I hear much conflicting information about this - does anyone know the answer for sure
Cheers
I hear much conflicting information about this - does anyone know the answer for sure
Cheers
Depending on the car, they may have a "known market value" for the vehicle.
If it was say a Dodge Ram or something they've seen a lot imported.
Then they will use the known value over here to tax you on.
If it's something they can't value, like my 1958 Plymouth, they use your bill of sale to value it.
If it was say a Dodge Ram or something they've seen a lot imported.
Then they will use the known value over here to tax you on.
If it's something they can't value, like my 1958 Plymouth, they use your bill of sale to value it.
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