Buying or Collecting a UK Spec'd Car from abroad
Discussion
1st off apologies if this sounds stupid, and no doubt there will be the usual abusive responses but I am ready for that.
I was wondering if you buy a Car from abroad ie Dealer or collect from the factory and drive back to the UK, what plates will it be on. and what about road tax when you get to the uk?
I am not looking to buy one, but I noticed a few people have done this and I was intrigued as to how it worked?
I was wondering if you buy a Car from abroad ie Dealer or collect from the factory and drive back to the UK, what plates will it be on. and what about road tax when you get to the uk?
I am not looking to buy one, but I noticed a few people have done this and I was intrigued as to how it worked?
It used to be more common as cars were cheaper abroad. But things have changed recently to put a stop to that, and hence the advantage isn't there any more. However, when it happened, I think you would get a UK-spec car with local numberplates and local tax paid, and you had to register it as exported when you left the country and imported when you arrived in the UK, whereupon you were given a UK registration number and tax disk and you had to have some UK plates made up. ("When you arrived" was actually "within 6 months", which for some people meant 6 months of not paying parking fines, VED or speeding tickets.)
Nowadays such things are limited to collecting from the factory, in which case I guess it comes down to the individual situation. (I do know that Porsche charge you extra to collect from the factory. Cheeky buggers!)
Oli.
Nowadays such things are limited to collecting from the factory, in which case I guess it comes down to the individual situation. (I do know that Porsche charge you extra to collect from the factory. Cheeky buggers!)
Oli.
zcacogp said:
It used to be more common as cars were cheaper abroad. But things have changed recently to put a stop to that, and hence the advantage isn't there any more. However, when it happened, I think you would get a UK-spec car with local numberplates and local tax paid, and you had to register it as exported when you left the country and imported when you arrived in the UK, whereupon you were given a UK registration number and tax disk and you had to have some UK plates made up. ("When you arrived" was actually "within 6 months", which for some people meant 6 months of not paying parking fines, VED or speeding tickets.)
Nowadays such things are limited to collecting from the factory, in which case I guess it comes down to the individual situation. (I do know that Porsche charge you extra to collect from the factory. Cheeky buggers!)
Oli.
Thanks thats why I queried it was more to do with the driving on foreign plates for 6 months can see why you would want to collect your AMG from the factory if that is true. Porsche charge extra fantastic sales model £100k oh and £10k to collect surely it should be a discount!!Nowadays such things are limited to collecting from the factory, in which case I guess it comes down to the individual situation. (I do know that Porsche charge you extra to collect from the factory. Cheeky buggers!)
Oli.
A205GTI said:
I believe people still go to Germany to collect there Car from the factory off the production line, I may be wrong but thought I would ask the question!!
that's something else though surely... you buy the car in UK, then basically have a holiday and go and drive it home. Not the same as what I inferred OP meant, which is to buy a 'UK-spec' car abroad in order to save money. quite a lot of mfrs charge for you to collect AND charge you OTR charges too, at the same rate if you collected from UK dealer. This isn't entirely a stitch-up though, as with some e.g. Merc (I think) you get a factory tour, 'VIP' treatment, flights and a hotel all in with the cost. Besides its all to do with whether someone wants to pay or not, it is an option after all. People that have spoken about it on here reckon they are extremely glad they did it, so then its worth the money.
Germans issue export plates - these are valid for 1 month only & if you collect the car at the end of the month you only have a few days when they are still valid so you are better off collecting your car at the start of the month. The ADAC (a German AA/RAC) issues insurence to cover the car for the month but it is 3rd party only - meaning if you crash your new toy or it is stolen on your way back to your home country that's your problem.
You are also discouraged from driving longer than is strictly neccesary to simply collect the car & take it home by the German police too - they don't like seeing you driving around on the export plates for 2 or 3 weeks. At least, that's what they told me when they spotted me so-doing.
You will also be gently encouraged by the customs people in Dover to get your purchase onto British plates asap. & yes any offences commited on those plates will find their way home to you.*
You are also discouraged from driving longer than is strictly neccesary to simply collect the car & take it home by the German police too - they don't like seeing you driving around on the export plates for 2 or 3 weeks. At least, that's what they told me when they spotted me so-doing.
You will also be gently encouraged by the customs people in Dover to get your purchase onto British plates asap. & yes any offences commited on those plates will find their way home to you.*
- or so I was told, rather pointedly.
german tony said:
Germans issue export plates - these are valid for 1 month only & if you collect the car at the end of the month you only have a few days when they are still valid so you are better off collecting your car at the start of the month. The ADAC (a German AA/RAC) issues insurence to cover the car for the month but it is 3rd party only - meaning if you crash your new toy or it is stolen on your way back to your home country that's your problem.
You are also discouraged from driving longer than is strictly neccesary to simply collect the car & take it home by the German police too - they don't like seeing you driving around on the export plates for 2 or 3 weeks. At least, that's what they told me when they spotted me so-doing.
You will also be gently encouraged by the customs people in Dover to get your purchase onto British plates asap. & yes any offences commited on those plates will find their way home to you.*
christ... all sounds a bit fun-starved. Maybe best to just not go for the option, and then just take it on a driving holiday later on! I am sure you could turn up at stuttgart in a merc and they would let you tour the factory...You are also discouraged from driving longer than is strictly neccesary to simply collect the car & take it home by the German police too - they don't like seeing you driving around on the export plates for 2 or 3 weeks. At least, that's what they told me when they spotted me so-doing.
You will also be gently encouraged by the customs people in Dover to get your purchase onto British plates asap. & yes any offences commited on those plates will find their way home to you.*
- or so I was told, rather pointedly.
Unlikely but the Merc museum is A. Free (to the best of my knowledge) & B. Very good.
You could consider collecting your new car on a trailor - that way you avoid the insurence risks.
Is it possible to register your new car in Britain 1st & then go & collect it on British plates? I suspect the answer may be yes but am really not sure.
You could consider collecting your new car on a trailor - that way you avoid the insurence risks.
Is it possible to register your new car in Britain 1st & then go & collect it on British plates? I suspect the answer may be yes but am really not sure.
Blown2CV said:
A205GTI said:
I believe people still go to Germany to collect there Car from the factory off the production line, I may be wrong but thought I would ask the question!!
that's something else though surely... you buy the car in UK, then basically have a holiday and go and drive it home. Not the same as what I inferred OP meant, which is to buy a 'UK-spec' car abroad in order to save money. Buying a car from the factory doesn't = get a tour of the factory. You'll collect the car from their special "people collecting their cars from us" dept & get to look at their museum. Whether that experince is worth the money you have saved them by not having your new car delivered to your local dealer is debatable.
The are very few ways into a production line.
The are very few ways into a production line.
A205GTI said:
I believe people still go to Germany to collect there Car from the factory off the production line, I may be wrong but thought I would ask the question!!
They do, and a good experience
The car comes on German transit plates & tax, usually valid for 30 days across the EU. So you have time to get back to the UK and let the dealer (or you) sort out the registration plates and V5.The dealer also arranges insurance which is included in the delivery charge.
Easy and painless.
I picked my Merc up from the factory a couple of years ago no extra cost: MB fly you out, put you up in hotel for the night, then the next day there's a tour of the factory then you pick up the car. Eurotunnel back is paid for... can't remember if they also funded one night hotel on the way back or not.
Export plates on the car valid for 2 weeks plus insurance and all papers. When I got back to the UK I took the car to local MB dealer to have UK plates and tax disc put on.
All I paid extra for was flying out my wife, the extra hotel nights for the journey home and the boot load of champagne that Mrs R insisted on buying (we got it from the little place that Oz Clarke and James May visited on their French wine show - great wine and great value).
Fantastic experience to be recommended.
Export plates on the car valid for 2 weeks plus insurance and all papers. When I got back to the UK I took the car to local MB dealer to have UK plates and tax disc put on.
All I paid extra for was flying out my wife, the extra hotel nights for the journey home and the boot load of champagne that Mrs R insisted on buying (we got it from the little place that Oz Clarke and James May visited on their French wine show - great wine and great value).
Fantastic experience to be recommended.
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