LHD Pork Watch Thread - Euro crash edition

[V8KSN]

So, this car - http://www.autoscout24.eu/Details.aspx?id=24402805...

125k + VAT - NETTO 148750

So, as a private buyer, if I flew over to them, paid them 148750 can I then drive it home and once its all registered in the UK and MOT'd etc there it nothing else to pay?

Sorry for being thick

[FrankAbagnale]

thegoose said:

I think everyone is only after clarity as to "what will it cost me by the time it's here and I can use it?" - maybe it would have been easier to quote prices as "by the time UK registered", perhaps with the inclusion of a notional £1000 transport cost for simplicity?

Either way it's a bit hypocritical to make a statement about the VAT etc and then in your very next post to ask everyone to cease from doing so, don't you think?

Anyway, fair enough, rather than debate it I'd be keen to see more of the cars you or anyone else finds with a "landed in UK, ready to use" price as it will indeed be interesting to see them.

I called HMRC about this very point on Friday and spoke to the division that specifically deals with VAT on imports.

They said that if VAT had been paid on the car in any EU country at any point in its past, then it is not payable upon brining it in to the UK from an EU country.

I asked how they check if VAT had been paid.

She said there is no system in place to check if VAT has been paid but if it is a now used car that was purchased first in an EU country then it would have been subject to VAT and as such they don't look in to it any further. (she may have mentioned something about being older than 6 months but I don't remember exactly as it doesn't even nearly apply to me).

I know people have their own thoughts on this, but thought i'd post based on what I have been directly told on Friday.

I ended the conversation - "So, you're 100% sure that the car I am buying in Germany, which was last registered in Germany and first bought in Germany in 2005 won't have any VAT payable upon import/registering in the UK". To which she confirmed she was 100% sure.

[SignalGruen]

Yes, but some of the cars listed are Swiss so the treatment of VAT will be different ?

[V8KSN]

FrankAbagnale said:

I called HMRC about this very point on Friday and spoke to the division that specifically deals with VAT on imports.

They said that if VAT had been paid on the car in any EU country at any point in its past, then it is not payable upon brining it in to the UK from an EU country.

I asked how they check if VAT had been paid.

She said there is no system in place to check if VAT has been paid but if it is a now used car that was purchased first in an EU country then it would have been subject to VAT and as such they don't look in to it any further. (she may have mentioned something about being older than 6 months but I don't remember exactly as it doesn't even nearly apply to me).

I know people have their own thoughts on this, but thought i'd post based on what I have been directly told on Friday.

I ended the conversation - "So, you're 100% sure that the car I am buying in Germany, which was last registered in Germany and first bought in Germany in 2005 won't have any VAT payable upon import/registering in the UK". To which she confirmed she was 100% sure.

Thanks for this

Another question, how can a car with 10,000 miles on it be eligible to have the VAT claimed back?

If a car is being advertised as 'VAT reclaimable' I thought it had to be new!

[FrankAbagnale]

V8KSN said:

Thanks for this

Another question, how can a car with 10,000 miles on it be eligible to have the VAT claimed back?

If a car is being advertised as 'VAT reclaimable' I thought it had to be new!

As always with these things, do your own research. But, I am importing a car tomorrow and don't expect a VAT bill.

Fingers crossed.

[FrankAbagnale]

SignalGruen said:

Yes, but some of the cars listed are Swiss so the treatment of VAT will be different ?

Switzerland isn't in the EU? So, completely different.

[thegoose]

V8KSN said:

Thanks for this

Another question, how can a car with 10,000 miles on it be eligible to have the VAT claimed back?

If a car is being advertised as 'VAT reclaimable' I thought it had to be new!

See my earlier post re. who can claim VAT back on private cars. Age and mileage have no direct influence over whether VAT is included/reclaimable. A zero mile car can have no VAT element and a 100,000 mile 10 year old car can have a VAT element.

[redback911]

Carl_Docklands said:

997 GT2 Gen 1, 2008 Plate in Speed Yellow.

20k Miles, £78k inc. from OPC Geneva. OPC Swindon have a similar RHD car up for £159k.

Nice!

Also, great thread Carl. I have been at a loss for the last year as to why the Brits seem to be willing to pay a significant premium for the GTn LHD cars. My next Porsche will definitely be a left-hooker. A decision made easier since we seem to spend more time driving on the continent in the Porka, than the UK.

[Mogul]

The Geneva Yellow GT2 price is CHF116,900 (e.g. £78k) in the local market so £94k minimum with UK VAT added before any other import costs.

[paul0843]

This brings back memories of the mid nineties when deutchmarks where in use.
I remember flying into Munich and driving back a 964 speedster for the equivalent of £20k.
A trader friend I went with bought the first 911 he came across as it would still turn a profit
back in the uk.
I distinctly remember main dealers having 964 rs's for the equivalent of £24-£25k..
The fun is in the chase..
It's amazing the opportunities that are available by following currency rates.
Bought a car in America in June at $1.70 to th £..
Now it's nearer $1.40.. That's a 20% swing..
Looking forward to many happy hours on mobile.de

Paul

P.s. autoscout has a few ferrari 430s that seem very good value

[danp]

Are LHD examples better to drive than RHD? (E.g.. non offset pedals/compromised pedal linkages etc). Or has this ceased with recent Porsche's?

[roygarth]

danp said:

Are LHD examples better to drive than RHD? (E.g.. non offset pedals/compromised pedal linkages etc). Or has this ceased with recent Porsche's?

From 996 onwards, pedal position is not a negative issue on RHD.

[DiscoColin]

roygarth said:

danp said:

Are LHD examples better to drive than RHD? (E.g.. non offset pedals/compromised pedal linkages etc). Or has this ceased with recent Porsche's?

From 996 onwards, pedal position is not a negative issue on RHD.

There is still a bit of offset so the LHD is still slightly more optimal for pedal position, but it isn't much and nothing like the issue with earlier cars (air cooled cars for example have a huge offset and the right hand pedal box is shallower as well). The other minor point is that with the GT cars (which in this context includes the GTS) you could have a 90 litre fuel tank in LHD cars. This was not an option offered in RHD (it doesn't fit with the steering on our side of the car) so for long range continental touring there is that additional benefit to left hook.

[SkinnyPete]

I've driven LHD cars before, not sure how easy it would to become accustomed to driving one quickly though?

[Playo]

Great thread, since the prices of 996 GT3's jumped up I've been looking at EU car's, the difference in price is staggering at times.

A little over £41k gets you this Manthey fettled GT3 http://www.autoscout24.eu/Details.aspx?id=26206250...

What is needed to have one of these road legal for UK roads with regards to the lights? I know there's a 'T' switch in the clusters but is this enough to see it through an MOT?

[Cheburator mk2]

Playo said:

Great thread, since the prices of 996 GT3's jumped up I've been looking at EU car's, the difference in price is staggering at times.

A little over £41k gets you this Manthey fettled GT3 http://www.autoscout24.eu/Details.aspx?id=26206250...

What is needed to have one of these road legal for UK roads with regards to the lights? I know there's a 'T' switch in the clusters but is this enough to see it through an MOT?

If equipped with Litronics - yes, the T switch is enough. If it has standard lights - you will need RHD lights - plenty cheap ones on eBay. Also you will need to rewire the rear fog light - the cluster already has a bulb holder, you just need to run a set of wires across from the other side. Lastly, you need to flick the dash to show the electronic speedometer in MPH by using the zeroing button. Had to do this for my LHD Mk1 CS Manthey K400 last August.

[FrankAbagnale]

FrankAbagnale said:

thegoose said:

I think everyone is only after clarity as to "what will it cost me by the time it's here and I can use it?" - maybe it would have been easier to quote prices as "by the time UK registered", perhaps with the inclusion of a notional £1000 transport cost for simplicity?

Either way it's a bit hypocritical to make a statement about the VAT etc and then in your very next post to ask everyone to cease from doing so, don't you think?

Anyway, fair enough, rather than debate it I'd be keen to see more of the cars you or anyone else finds with a "landed in UK, ready to use" price as it will indeed be interesting to see them.

I called HMRC about this very point on Friday and spoke to the division that specifically deals with VAT on imports.

They said that if VAT had been paid on the car in any EU country at any point in its past, then it is not payable upon brining it in to the UK from an EU country.

I asked how they check if VAT had been paid.

She said there is no system in place to check if VAT has been paid but if it is a now used car that was purchased first in an EU country then it would have been subject to VAT and as such they don't look in to it any further. (she may have mentioned something about being older than 6 months but I don't remember exactly as it doesn't even nearly apply to me).

I know people have their own thoughts on this, but thought i'd post based on what I have been directly told on Friday.

I ended the conversation - "So, you're 100% sure that the car I am buying in Germany, which was last registered in Germany and first bought in Germany in 2005 won't have any VAT payable upon import/registering in the UK". To which she confirmed she was 100% sure.

Hello all,

As a quick update - I notified HMRC that I had brought a vechile in to the UK and I had pretty much immediate written confirmation from HMRC that NO VAT is due on the car.

Again, always do your own research. But, hopefully this helps a bit as a real life current example.

[majordad]

One point often missed is on a second hand car with less than 6000 kms ( 4000 miles ) you are liable to pay vat even if vat has already been paid . My son found this out when importing a three year old motorbike with less than the 6000kms.

[DiscoColin]

majordad said:

One point often missed is on a second hand car with less than 6000 kms ( 4000 miles ) you are liable to pay vat even if vat has already been paid . My son found this out when importing a three year old motorbike with less than the 6000kms.

That is covered in the link to the official rules above -
"You’ll have to pay VAT if your vehicle is classed as a ‘new means of transport’ - ie it’s less than 6 months old and has done less than 6,000km (about 3,728 miles)."

Presumably this means that subject to the interpretation of the HMRC, the AND in that statement may in some cases be viewed as an OR if despite its date of manufacture the vehicle is considered new. The moral of the story probably involves a very long test drive / delivery route being involved if buying something nearly new/barely used...