Buying Polish used car for export to South America - HELP?

[ThepiT]

Dear All,

I am new to the forum but have read it a lot of times and I found it to be very helpful and active.

I am originally from Argentina and I am living in London for the last 4 years, by the end of the year I will move semi-permanently to Paraguay (South America) and I want to take a car with me.

Cars here are RHD and is not allowed to be driven as such under Paraguayan law, so I am looking for a LHD.

There are quite a few, I found one BMW exec-type 2005 that has some cosmetic damage but seems to be in very good shape and price.

The car is on Polish Plates, I want it for exporting to Paraguay.

I have never done this, I don't know if the papers the seller would give me are going to be Okay for exporting or I would have any kind of issue.

Could you please anybody give some advise on what to ask for, what to check, etc.. please.

Thanks a lot for your help!

All the best!

[Papa Hotel]

I think you'll struggle to get good information here on how to import a car into Paraguay from Poland.

Sorry that's not the advice you were looking for but I'd ask the DVLA equivalent from Paraguay.

[ThepiT]

Hi Thanks for that, I know how to import it into Paraguay.

I am buying the car here in London.

I would not have questions if it was a UK registered car.

Only worried because it's Polish number plate.

Thanks anyway

[was8v]

You'd best check with the Paraguay equivalent of the UK DVLA, and customs what you need documentation wise.....

You'll probably need to pay some import duty to customs, and then will need some proof of age and "type approval" (i.e. that it meets lighting, safety regulations) for the country to register it.

Oh and you'll need to find someone who ships containers there to get it there.

[was8v]

Poland is in the EU so likely the same process applies as UK registered car.

[KTF]

Once you factor in the cost of shipping and who knows what at the other end, wouldn't it be cheaper just to buy a car when you move out there?

[ThepiT]

KTF said:

Once you factor in the cost of shipping and who knows what at the other end, wouldn't it be cheaper just to buy a car when you move out there?

Cars in Paraguay are all in very bad condition with unknown history, many of those are converted to RHD because many of them are imported from Chile and Japan.

Prices over there are quite expensive.

Example, in the UK I can buy a BMW 730D 2005 for around 5K, it will cost in Paraguay around 25K.

I have contacts, people who is currently buying cars here and send it there periodically.

I am only worried on what to do paper wise, as is not from UK.

Thanks

[dtmpower]

ThepiT said:

KTF said:

Once you factor in the cost of shipping and who knows what at the other end, wouldn't it be cheaper just to buy a car when you move out there?

Cars in Paraguay are all in very bad condition with unknown history, many of those are converted to RHD because many of them are imported from Chile and Japan.

Thanks

"converted to RHD because many of them are imported from Chile and Japan."

Don't you mean converted from RHD....

[ThepiT]

dtmpower said:

"converted to RHD because many of them are imported from Chile and Japan."

Don't you mean converted from RHD....

Exactly I wanted to know who is paying attention..

[aw51 121565]

ThepiT said:

dtmpower said:

"converted to RHD because many of them are imported from Chile and Japan."

Don't you mean converted from RHD....

Exactly I wanted to know who is paying attention..

, and . Good answer !

[dtmpower]

What I don't understand is Chile - don't they drive on the right and hence drive LHD vehicles ?

[ThepiT]

dtmpower said:

What I don't understand is Chile - don't they drive on the right and hence drive LHD vehicles ?

Yes, maybe I wasn't clear enough, the thing is that Chile has a lot of cars RHD because almost all imports from Japan goes to Chile (because it's a duty-free zone) (the city is called Iquique). From there they are taken to Paraguay by road and then in Paraguay there are a lot of people specialised in conversion from R t LHD specially japanese makers.

So.. shall I buy that BMW with Polish number plates?

Thanks Guys for your time.