Importing a car from the US of A
Discussion
It is quite a few years since I imported my Checker Cab from USA but the process couldn't have been easier and I don't think it has changed significantly.
The private vendor introduced me to his insurance broker and I purchased cover from him and then licensed the car in my name but at the vendor's house. We had to find a local 'notary' to certify the registration document. So far, total cost was a matter of $100 or so. I also got the notary to stamp my receipt confirming the price I paid.
I was advised to ship the car from Baltimore rather than New York because that port more 'relaxed' about the way they do things. That turned out to be good advice. I drove from Cleveland to Baltimore via New York (Just had to drive it in its home town didn't I?) over a couple of days.
Having now driven the car in the 'country of origin' it became a personal import.
At the terminal I just bought a ticket at the booth and drove to the assigned place on the quay to await the next Ro-Ro. Cost AIRC was about $500 and the paperwork included a Bill of Lading and a customs declaration which were needed at the destination.
Charming paperwork - a 3 part NCR set. one in the car one to the shipping line (Wallenius) and one which you take away. 6 weeks later the shipping line sent me their copy to confirm that the car was in Southampton. You turn up at the port, now with 2 copies and as long as they match the one in the car they will give you the key and off you go!
You can deal with HM Customs at your convenience and I paid VAT on the purchase price plus the shipping cost. However Car Tax was waived because it was a personal import and I undertook not to sell it on within 6 months. In fact I still have the car.
I insured it on the VIN, obtained an MOT and paid DVLA a registration fee.
Drove around on the US plate for several months with no problems and an additional bonus was that the car was found to have been built in one of the last shifts of 1972 so it has been tax free ever since!
All in all a great pleasure and I would like to do it again one day. Net cost was less than half the cost of using a shipping agent.
Best of luck!
The private vendor introduced me to his insurance broker and I purchased cover from him and then licensed the car in my name but at the vendor's house. We had to find a local 'notary' to certify the registration document. So far, total cost was a matter of $100 or so. I also got the notary to stamp my receipt confirming the price I paid.
I was advised to ship the car from Baltimore rather than New York because that port more 'relaxed' about the way they do things. That turned out to be good advice. I drove from Cleveland to Baltimore via New York (Just had to drive it in its home town didn't I?) over a couple of days.
Having now driven the car in the 'country of origin' it became a personal import.
At the terminal I just bought a ticket at the booth and drove to the assigned place on the quay to await the next Ro-Ro. Cost AIRC was about $500 and the paperwork included a Bill of Lading and a customs declaration which were needed at the destination.
Charming paperwork - a 3 part NCR set. one in the car one to the shipping line (Wallenius) and one which you take away. 6 weeks later the shipping line sent me their copy to confirm that the car was in Southampton. You turn up at the port, now with 2 copies and as long as they match the one in the car they will give you the key and off you go!
You can deal with HM Customs at your convenience and I paid VAT on the purchase price plus the shipping cost. However Car Tax was waived because it was a personal import and I undertook not to sell it on within 6 months. In fact I still have the car.
I insured it on the VIN, obtained an MOT and paid DVLA a registration fee.
Drove around on the US plate for several months with no problems and an additional bonus was that the car was found to have been built in one of the last shifts of 1972 so it has been tax free ever since!
All in all a great pleasure and I would like to do it again one day. Net cost was less than half the cost of using a shipping agent.
Best of luck!
It's basically what you pay for the car in the USA
Then you have shipping - containers are expensive but roll-on, roll-off is cheap enough (around $800 in 2004) but get marine insurance to cover any damage en route (I think I paid $400 for a $36000 car, not sure).
On arrival here, you pay dock fees of a few hundred quid.
You have to pay the import duty and VAT.
This is 10% on the price you paid, added to the price you paid.
That total plus the shipping then has 20% VAT added.
You used to get a slip showing you had paid the VAT and you tok that when you registered the car but nowadays, i think you have to apply for and wait for it.
You can generally insure the car for a limited time on the VIN number.
The next step is dependent on age.
Under 10 years old and it has to pas an IVA test and has to be converted to white sidelights at the front, side repeaters fitted, rear foglight and switch fitted and orange rear indicators disabling any flashing red brake lights etc.
With modern CANBUS, this is specialist stuff, not for amateurs and can cost £1000 or more, depending on what needs doing.
Most modern Yanks have FMVSS stickers which are automatic passes on IVA, it's the lighting you have to sort. Headlights are OK as they are flat beam.
Cars older than 10 years have to pass only an MOT before being registered but still require age-related lighting requirements and whites sidelights, orange rear indicators.
Once that is done, you register it (it was less than £50 in 2004, not sure what it is now), pay the appropriate VEL and they issue you with a number plate so you can get plates made up (can be short-cicuited if you buy a private plate in advance).
Then you have shipping - containers are expensive but roll-on, roll-off is cheap enough (around $800 in 2004) but get marine insurance to cover any damage en route (I think I paid $400 for a $36000 car, not sure).
On arrival here, you pay dock fees of a few hundred quid.
You have to pay the import duty and VAT.
This is 10% on the price you paid, added to the price you paid.
That total plus the shipping then has 20% VAT added.
You used to get a slip showing you had paid the VAT and you tok that when you registered the car but nowadays, i think you have to apply for and wait for it.
You can generally insure the car for a limited time on the VIN number.
The next step is dependent on age.
Under 10 years old and it has to pas an IVA test and has to be converted to white sidelights at the front, side repeaters fitted, rear foglight and switch fitted and orange rear indicators disabling any flashing red brake lights etc.
With modern CANBUS, this is specialist stuff, not for amateurs and can cost £1000 or more, depending on what needs doing.
Most modern Yanks have FMVSS stickers which are automatic passes on IVA, it's the lighting you have to sort. Headlights are OK as they are flat beam.
Cars older than 10 years have to pass only an MOT before being registered but still require age-related lighting requirements and whites sidelights, orange rear indicators.
Once that is done, you register it (it was less than £50 in 2004, not sure what it is now), pay the appropriate VEL and they issue you with a number plate so you can get plates made up (can be short-cicuited if you buy a private plate in advance).
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff