Bringing my Ultima to the UK
Discussion
I was wanting to come to Europe for a holiday (I am from Australia) and I want to bring my car with me. Does anyone know any information about doing this?
I presume it would be something like an import of equipment for trade shows, where I have to apply for an exemption from taxes or to have taxes refunded when I leave the country. I'm fine with that.
But what I am also interested in is insurance. I need some type of international insurance policy. What happens when you guys want to leave the UK with your cars? Do you have a EU wide insurance policy?
I guess if anyone has any information, that would be helpful. I wonder what people would think in Europe seeing a car with Australian plates haha!
Cheers
I presume it would be something like an import of equipment for trade shows, where I have to apply for an exemption from taxes or to have taxes refunded when I leave the country. I'm fine with that.
But what I am also interested in is insurance. I need some type of international insurance policy. What happens when you guys want to leave the UK with your cars? Do you have a EU wide insurance policy?
I guess if anyone has any information, that would be helpful. I wonder what people would think in Europe seeing a car with Australian plates haha!
Cheers
I'd suggest looking into a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD), wich is a FIA document you get from your national motorsport federation. It's basicly a custom guarrentee.
How it works is that you deposit a percentage of the value with the people you get the paperwork from and a small fee (here in Switzerland it was 200 CHf if I remember). They then give you about 20 "Carnet" which have multiple sheets. When the customer asks for it you give them 1 sheet on the way into the country and an another one out (gettting your one stamped).
You can also add equipemnt and spares to the Carnet.
Also have a chat with the freight foward or car shipping experts that is going to ship your car as they should be able to all the normal customs import paperwork.
I also know that the price of a container from Europe to the "East" (most goods are going in the other direction) should be quite cheap, so you could drive it to Europe with your Carnet and ship it back
How it works is that you deposit a percentage of the value with the people you get the paperwork from and a small fee (here in Switzerland it was 200 CHf if I remember). They then give you about 20 "Carnet" which have multiple sheets. When the customer asks for it you give them 1 sheet on the way into the country and an another one out (gettting your one stamped).
You can also add equipemnt and spares to the Carnet.
Also have a chat with the freight foward or car shipping experts that is going to ship your car as they should be able to all the normal customs import paperwork.
I also know that the price of a container from Europe to the "East" (most goods are going in the other direction) should be quite cheap, so you could drive it to Europe with your Carnet and ship it back
crafty said:
Just had a look at that form and it says on the front page you do not need it for UK, Europe and North America for touring purposes.Steve
AlexCim said:
I am waiting on some replies from some people at the momment but i find it hard to beleive thatd just be a matter of throwing the car in a container, then thats it.
Why? We used to drive all over Europe before the blasted EU hatched out. The only paperwork we needed was insurance and, for some countries, an international driving licence.Just something to consider.
What you've said is likely to be true however, that may not help when you're stuck at boarder having hours of discussion on the point with a clueless boarder guard/customs person where the default answer is NO!
For example you're suppose to be allowed to bring race cars (not road registered) which have been imported into "Europe" (don't forget there is a difference between EU and Europe (e.g. Switzerland is not part of the EU) into Italy. FORGET IT!! You'll be there for a long time and still not get in without depositing the entire value of the car with them! If you arrive on a weekend or out of business hours you just have to wait until they re-open, oh and still not get in!
Also my experience is that the UK customs are sometimes very "thorough ";)
Again if it’s out of the ordinary there can be hassles.
What you've said is likely to be true however, that may not help when you're stuck at boarder having hours of discussion on the point with a clueless boarder guard/customs person where the default answer is NO!
For example you're suppose to be allowed to bring race cars (not road registered) which have been imported into "Europe" (don't forget there is a difference between EU and Europe (e.g. Switzerland is not part of the EU) into Italy. FORGET IT!! You'll be there for a long time and still not get in without depositing the entire value of the car with them! If you arrive on a weekend or out of business hours you just have to wait until they re-open, oh and still not get in!
Also my experience is that the UK customs are sometimes very "thorough ";)
Again if it’s out of the ordinary there can be hassles.
i think you need to get approval from DOTARS hear in australia to be able to do the export/reimport thing, else it wont be allowed back in!!!!
you will need to get it steam cleaned on the way back in.
i think Ray vandersee has done what you are talking about with his skelta - Lucky P spoted it i think.
Ryan
you will need to get it steam cleaned on the way back in.
i think Ray vandersee has done what you are talking about with his skelta - Lucky P spoted it i think.
Ryan
It seems importing into the UK is simple enough, there is nothing special required as such. I just have a concern about entering other countries in the EU like Switzerland etc.
For anyone interested in more reading
1. http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Pr...
2. http://www.aaa.asn.au/touring/overseas.htm
3. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSell...
I might contact the Gumball guys, they had one Gumball one year where they went from London to Belgrade to Thailand to Las Vegas. I am sure they know what's up haha.
For anyone interested in more reading
1. http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Pr...
2. http://www.aaa.asn.au/touring/overseas.htm
3. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSell...
I might contact the Gumball guys, they had one Gumball one year where they went from London to Belgrade to Thailand to Las Vegas. I am sure they know what's up haha.
While you are over here don't forget to do a track day or two.
Would be nice to watch the British GP back home and say "I've blasted round there in my Ultima".
Brands and Donnington are great tracks too.
In Europe you could try Spa, Monza, Nurburgring and Le Mans.
Likely to be a once in a lifetime opportunity so make the most of it.
Paul
Would be nice to watch the British GP back home and say "I've blasted round there in my Ultima".
Brands and Donnington are great tracks too.
In Europe you could try Spa, Monza, Nurburgring and Le Mans.
Likely to be a once in a lifetime opportunity so make the most of it.
Paul
For me there are some must drive roads, and some must drive tracks.
My plan at the moment is shaping by entering via Romania, spending some time in Romania (I am from Romania originally, so I have family to see and the roads there are great, Transfagarasan and Transalpina) probably enter in Constanta, then heading west through Hungary, into Austria, into Northern Italy (Monza and northern lakes), then down a little along the Riviera into Monaco, head north into the French hills, continue north to Affalterbach (maybe) to see AMG factory (AMG owner), then north to The Ring, then Spa, then I really wanted to go north through Denmark into Norway, out Norway over into England, see the factory, drive a couple tracks and that's that. If I have the container going anyway I was also thinking of picking up a used 360 Modena/Gallardo/Murcielago to send back to Australia and sell at a profit to cover some expenses.
Logistics are going to be an issue, with fuel (range), tyres, brakes etc. I am also trying to get some people together to come with me but at this stage, I am still putting together research to present to others.
My plan at the moment is shaping by entering via Romania, spending some time in Romania (I am from Romania originally, so I have family to see and the roads there are great, Transfagarasan and Transalpina) probably enter in Constanta, then heading west through Hungary, into Austria, into Northern Italy (Monza and northern lakes), then down a little along the Riviera into Monaco, head north into the French hills, continue north to Affalterbach (maybe) to see AMG factory (AMG owner), then north to The Ring, then Spa, then I really wanted to go north through Denmark into Norway, out Norway over into England, see the factory, drive a couple tracks and that's that. If I have the container going anyway I was also thinking of picking up a used 360 Modena/Gallardo/Murcielago to send back to Australia and sell at a profit to cover some expenses.
Logistics are going to be an issue, with fuel (range), tyres, brakes etc. I am also trying to get some people together to come with me but at this stage, I am still putting together research to present to others.
AlexCim said:
thats what i was thinking. or pay someone to follow me around in a van. i am sure there are plenty of people out of work at the moment thatd do anything (i hope that doesnt come across as arrogant just honest)
Sounds like a really nice tour!
I don’t know if you saw it but Top Gear did their usual thing on the Transfagarasan and I have to say that part looks incredible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLxP_VHe0gg&fea...
You also might thing about the roads in the Apennines out behind Maranello as they’re fantastic! I’ve even had little old ladies cheering me on as I go rocketing past (only in Italy, eh).
Then there is the Route de Napoleon which I’ve not done, but though everyone raves about it, it’s definitely on my “to do” list .
Try to do a track day at Spa, as it really is a great place in an Ultima, or anything for that matter.
Alpine passes, the list goes on and on…..
I don’t know if you saw it but Top Gear did their usual thing on the Transfagarasan and I have to say that part looks incredible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLxP_VHe0gg&fea...
You also might thing about the roads in the Apennines out behind Maranello as they’re fantastic! I’ve even had little old ladies cheering me on as I go rocketing past (only in Italy, eh).
Then there is the Route de Napoleon which I’ve not done, but though everyone raves about it, it’s definitely on my “to do” list .
Try to do a track day at Spa, as it really is a great place in an Ultima, or anything for that matter.
Alpine passes, the list goes on and on…..
AlexCim said:
thats what i was thinking. or pay someone to follow me around in a van. i am sure there are plenty of people out of work at the moment thatd do anything (i hope that doesnt come across as arrogant just honest)
Is it owned by our friendly skier who also has the highly modied Ultima?
Dom
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