Is it cheaper to import cars?
Discussion
Just a random question after looking into moving to New Zealand.
I imagine the cheaper cars such as a focus are not cheaper to import but something like the aventador? $650,000 but you could pick one up in uk for £265,000-£300,000. That equates to roughly $500,000+ leaving a good $100k to sort out everything else. So would it be cheaper importing or buying new/used in NZ?
I imagine the cheaper cars such as a focus are not cheaper to import but something like the aventador? $650,000 but you could pick one up in uk for £265,000-£300,000. That equates to roughly $500,000+ leaving a good $100k to sort out everything else. So would it be cheaper importing or buying new/used in NZ?
If you have a look back through the NZ thread there are a number of posts regarding importing from the UK.
e.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Looks like exotics are certainly cheaper over there, but one needs to be careful about what car to bring if you wish to move it on relatively quickly.
e.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Looks like exotics are certainly cheaper over there, but one needs to be careful about what car to bring if you wish to move it on relatively quickly.
Others know more about it (as you'll see on the other threads if you can find them), but I think you have to have owned the car for a certain time before importing it and keep it for a certain time before selling it if you want to avoid paying GST - which is 15%, so quite significant on something of that value.
Whether it works out cheaper or more expensive overall probably depends on the specific example.
Whether it works out cheaper or more expensive overall probably depends on the specific example.
smiffy180 said:
Just a random question after looking into moving to New Zealand.
I imagine the cheaper cars such as a focus are not cheaper to import but something like the aventador? $650,000 but you could pick one up in uk for £265,000-£300,000. That equates to roughly $500,000+ leaving a good $100k to sort out everything else. So would it be cheaper importing or buying new/used in NZ?
Bad exampleI imagine the cheaper cars such as a focus are not cheaper to import but something like the aventador? $650,000 but you could pick one up in uk for £265,000-£300,000. That equates to roughly $500,000+ leaving a good $100k to sort out everything else. So would it be cheaper importing or buying new/used in NZ?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/lamborgh...
1)You could get it under 600k i am sure.
2)Second hand imports wtill have a stigma to them, esp exotics
3) selling it ater a year or two you would avoid GST, but probably still loose money as it will have depreciated heavily by then
4) need to be careful on compliance costs.
5) £300,000 equates to $600,000 in todays money, plus shipping and insurance
The most prudent method would be to research your cars and do your calculations at two to one + 15% GST + $3k to ship and a further $1k - $2k for compliance.
The more expensive the car the bigger the savings as the shipping and compliance become a smaller percentage of overall cost.
The cost effective method is to buy brand new and VAT free in the UK, save on the 20% vat for export purposes and add back on the 15% GST - again though the savings are car specific.
Example: BMW M135i UK cost with available discount and VAT free for export is $47,000 + 15% GST = $54,050+ $3k shipping + $1k compliance = $58,050 on your driveway, it would be an $80,000 - $90,000 car over here.
Used example: Good Clio V6 MK2 UK cost approx $26,000 + $3,900 GST + $3,000 shipping + maybe $2k compliance = $34,900 - NZ price is mid $40's to $50,000
Yes, you can land cars much cheaper than you can buy them here, do your homework, your maths and there are anomalies so choose well.
Mine's the Clio V6 with only 8,900 miles that's up for £15k please.
The more expensive the car the bigger the savings as the shipping and compliance become a smaller percentage of overall cost.
The cost effective method is to buy brand new and VAT free in the UK, save on the 20% vat for export purposes and add back on the 15% GST - again though the savings are car specific.
Example: BMW M135i UK cost with available discount and VAT free for export is $47,000 + 15% GST = $54,050+ $3k shipping + $1k compliance = $58,050 on your driveway, it would be an $80,000 - $90,000 car over here.
Used example: Good Clio V6 MK2 UK cost approx $26,000 + $3,900 GST + $3,000 shipping + maybe $2k compliance = $34,900 - NZ price is mid $40's to $50,000
Yes, you can land cars much cheaper than you can buy them here, do your homework, your maths and there are anomalies so choose well.
Mine's the Clio V6 with only 8,900 miles that's up for £15k please.
cheddar said:
The most prudent method would be to research your cars and do your calculations at two to one + 15% GST + $3k to ship and a further $1k - $2k for compliance.
The more expensive the car the bigger the savings as the shipping and compliance become a smaller percentage of overall cost.
The cost effective method is to buy brand new and VAT free in the UK, save on the 20% vat for export purposes and add back on the 15% GST - again though the savings are car specific.
Example: BMW M135i UK cost with available discount and VAT free for export is $47,000 + 15% GST = $54,050+ $3k shipping + $1k compliance = $58,050 on your driveway, it would be an $80,000 - $90,000 car over here.
Used example: Good Clio V6 MK2 UK cost approx $26,000 + $3,900 GST + $3,000 shipping + maybe $2k compliance = $34,900 - NZ price is mid $40's to $50,000
Yes, you can land cars much cheaper than you can buy them here, do your homework, your maths and there are anomalies so choose well.
Mine's the Clio V6 with only 8,900 miles that's up for £15k please.
Thanks The more expensive the car the bigger the savings as the shipping and compliance become a smaller percentage of overall cost.
The cost effective method is to buy brand new and VAT free in the UK, save on the 20% vat for export purposes and add back on the 15% GST - again though the savings are car specific.
Example: BMW M135i UK cost with available discount and VAT free for export is $47,000 + 15% GST = $54,050+ $3k shipping + $1k compliance = $58,050 on your driveway, it would be an $80,000 - $90,000 car over here.
Used example: Good Clio V6 MK2 UK cost approx $26,000 + $3,900 GST + $3,000 shipping + maybe $2k compliance = $34,900 - NZ price is mid $40's to $50,000
Yes, you can land cars much cheaper than you can buy them here, do your homework, your maths and there are anomalies so choose well.
Mine's the Clio V6 with only 8,900 miles that's up for £15k please.
the OH loves clio 
lestag said:
Bad example
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/lamborgh...
1)You could get it under 600k i am sure.
2)Second hand imports wtill have a stigma to them, esp exotics
3) selling it ater a year or two you would avoid GST, but probably still loose money as it will have depreciated heavily by then
4) need to be careful on compliance costs.
5) £300,000 equates to $600,000 in todays money, plus shipping and insurance
Cheers, theres no insurance though? Unless you want it?http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/lamborgh...
1)You could get it under 600k i am sure.
2)Second hand imports wtill have a stigma to them, esp exotics
3) selling it ater a year or two you would avoid GST, but probably still loose money as it will have depreciated heavily by then
4) need to be careful on compliance costs.
5) £300,000 equates to $600,000 in todays money, plus shipping and insurance
smiffy180 said:
Cheers, theres no insurance though? Unless you want it?
I meant insurance for shipping the car over.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Rena
lestag said:
smiffy180 said:
Cheers, theres no insurance though? Unless you want it?
I meant insurance for shipping the car over.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Rena
1 to 2K for compliance is a bit of an under estimate I would say. My TVR cost a lot more than that and it had just been sorted prior to leaving the UK! You also need to add on first rego cost and certification. Then of course if yoiu ever decide to move on you have to pay all the costs of moving again. You cant sell for the first two years as a minimum.
best way is to buy an older classic that has much less restrioctions (and costs) when importing. Also better if you pre owned the car and so are bringing it in as a "immigrant car". You dont pay any taxes at all then.
On a spereate thought, I was only speaking two days ago about bringing over a V6 Clio. Mmm I wonder??
Cheers
Dave
best way is to buy an older classic that has much less restrioctions (and costs) when importing. Also better if you pre owned the car and so are bringing it in as a "immigrant car". You dont pay any taxes at all then.
On a spereate thought, I was only speaking two days ago about bringing over a V6 Clio. Mmm I wonder??
Cheers
Dave
N1CERB said:
1 to 2K for compliance is a bit of an under estimate I would say. My TVR cost a lot more than that and it had just been sorted prior to leaving the UK! You also need to add on first rego cost and certification. Then of course if yoiu ever decide to move on you have to pay all the costs of moving again. You cant sell for the first two years as a minimum.
best way is to buy an older classic that has much less restrioctions (and costs) when importing. Also better if you pre owned the car and so are bringing it in as a "immigrant car". You dont pay any taxes at all then.
On a spereate thought, I was only speaking two days ago about bringing over a V6 Clio. Mmm I wonder??
Cheers
Dave
Isn't the 'Can't sell for two years' rule only applied to those that come in GST free on the limited import special vehicle quota?best way is to buy an older classic that has much less restrioctions (and costs) when importing. Also better if you pre owned the car and so are bringing it in as a "immigrant car". You dont pay any taxes at all then.
On a spereate thought, I was only speaking two days ago about bringing over a V6 Clio. Mmm I wonder??
Cheers
Dave
And,
Can we get two V6 Clio's in a container to share the costs?
mm, let me look into the Clio side of things. Its on a list of a few to be honest. Probably a Z3 Coupe before the V6. I will do my research.
You only get the GST free part if you pre owned the car for a qualifying period. Bring anything in as new and you will pay duty of some kind. With any SIV permit you have to also keep hold of the car, regardless of tax paid. Or so I am led to belive. I know with mine I cant sell it and also as I owned for a few years in teh UK I paid zero tax.
Something is telling me its longer than two years? I will go check.
Classifieds here we come...
You only get the GST free part if you pre owned the car for a qualifying period. Bring anything in as new and you will pay duty of some kind. With any SIV permit you have to also keep hold of the car, regardless of tax paid. Or so I am led to belive. I know with mine I cant sell it and also as I owned for a few years in teh UK I paid zero tax.
Something is telling me its longer than two years? I will go check.
Classifieds here we come...
Even at the cheaper end of the scale, surely someone could make money on this...
From the 'Exciting Cars £1-5k' thread:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mazda/au...Edited: to fix quote formatting.
From the 'Exciting Cars £1-5k' thread:
kiwifraser said:
snotrag said:
Found something extremely desirable on ebay for £4k
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-RX7-MK1-1986-LOW-M...
This one owner 1st generation (series 3) in New Zealand, with no NZ equivalent to MOT or Tax, and more miles on the clock is £11,500http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-RX7-MK1-1986-LOW-M...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mazda/au...
Edited by kiwifraser on Wednesday 12th December 23:23
A 4000 pound car should be around $14000 on the road in NZ, barring any unusual expenses like rust repairs.
You can get the VAT refunded on some used cars from the UK - they are normally ex-company fleet cars, usually 2-4 years old but there are others such as ex-police cars. Search ebay for 'VAT Qualifying'. Here's one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-11-RENAULT-TWINGO-R...
You can get the VAT refunded on some used cars from the UK - they are normally ex-company fleet cars, usually 2-4 years old but there are others such as ex-police cars. Search ebay for 'VAT Qualifying'. Here's one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-11-RENAULT-TWINGO-R...
Gassing Station | New Zealand | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff