Importing a classic from the Channel Islands . . .

[restoman]

Hi

I'm toying with the idea of importing a classic to the UK from the Channel Islands and have a number of questions:

What costs are involved other than the actual shipping - I gather there is VAT to pay (on the puchase price or perceived value?) but what about any other import duties?

Presumeably the car will then need to be registered in the UK before I take it for an MOT test. Will it have to be submitted for any other tests? If I insure it can it be driven on UK roads prior to being registered/MOT'd in the UK?

When it is registered will it receive an age related plate or a 'Q' plate?

Will it receive road tax free status? (Car was built in the UK '68)

All help appreciated and if there's anything else I need to be aware of please enlighten me !!

Many thanks

Restoman

[CY88]

If it is an ex-uk car that was imported into the channel islands somewhere along the way (worth checking), you should not have to pay the VAT, as it will already have been paid. If is was first registered in Jersey or Guernsey then you will.

[chard]

You can buy a new car in the UK registered in the UK and reclaim the VAT on export. So just because it's not registered in the channel islands does not mean it's VAT paid.

[CY88]

That may be the case, but lots of people bring cars to the Islands when they have relocated over the years. Assuming its a "classic car" its quite possible its already UK tax paid. I own two classics over here which were imported into the Island long after purchase (one by me) and upon which UK VAT is already settled.

Conversely a friend of mine recently exported his locally registered classic to the UK (ie: no UK VAT ever paid), selling to a UK Buyer. I understand that the buyer had to pay VAT on the market value of the car at the date of sale.