Would you buy privately from abroad?

[sneaky schnell]

I am based in Ireland and have previously bought cars from the UK due to the better selection of enthusiast cars available as they are taxed heavily here and are therefore quite rare. When looking for my 964 I commissioned a number of PPIs and travelled to the UK on four occasions to view cars before I found the right one, which ended up being a local car. Typical

I am currently selling my car and am wondering if a car being based in Dublin would put off a prospective UK buyer, assuming that there are not many similar cars at a similar price available locally.

Any thoughts?

[williaa68]

I think it will complicate the process but it shouldnt be fatal. I think if you have a really good ad with lots of photos and details you should be fine but that means not just "full service history" but details of when, where, mileage, what was done, an honest assessment of any work that needs doing etc. You will also need to explain the import process to the UK (easy for a previously registered UK car) and will need to be a good reason why anyone would consider the time and expense of an offshore purchase so it either has to be an objectively better car or be cheaper or ideally both. Good luck with the sale.

[DS240]

It doesn't make things easy, but if someone is looking for the model you are selling and it ticks all their boxes then maybe.

It will be getting over the expense of travel, test drive, transport back etc.

No local market considering your original problem? I know the tax system is hideous in Ireland on cars.

[FactoryPilot]

It wouldn't put me off.

I think that the sort of 'specialist' cars that we are all into, warrants a bit of extra effort to find the right car. I've previously bought cars in South of France, Italy, Germany and USA. Wouldn't hesitate in jumping on a plane to Dublin if the car was what I wanted.

Good luck with the sale.

[sneaky schnell]

Thanks for the advice and reassurance lads. I just want to be as honest as possible due to the potential distances involved.

[anonymous-user]

I would only consider buying from Dublin if the car was either very rare or very cheap. Otherwise it's just a lot easier to buy something closer to home. I once considered buying a 1977 C3.0 from Dublin but it wasn't cheap enough to make it worth the extra effort. I think that will be your main problem selling into the UK, unless the car is very rare or in exceptional condition and so you will probably have to be very keen on pricing to attract significant interest.