Ferrari import to uk

[328matt]

Anyone imported a car from Italy to uk? Just wondered how easy/ difficult it is. Car in question is 10 years old so I don't believe any tax is payable on import. I think I read that the number plates stay with the owner for life so these have to be sent back? finally are there any differences that would be costly to rectify to make it uk legal? I have searched the forums but cannot find anything similar. The wheeler dealers urraco episode never mentioned it so I presume it's really straight forward. Any help appreciated

[Wilmslowboy]

I've looked into this in the past, off the top of my head

Speedo in miles (simple enough)
Headlights (can be very expensive)
Insurance against VIN (while you wait for UK registration)
Certificate of Conformity
Road tax
MOT
number plates



Transport back to the UK (easyjet flight out and roadtrip home of a lifetime)

[Enricogto]

Not exagerately difficult but expensive.
Plates are not for life but belong to the State, so they have to be sent back together with the "Radiazione per esportazione" (cancellation for export) document that you can have a local agency to make for you.
As suggested the most expensive thing will be to replace/adjust the lights and the speedo. My suggestion would be to drive the car on Italian plates in here (you can get a 1-week insurance) and complete the process in Blighty.

[328matt]

I hoped the car would come with a speedo in both kmh and mph. I think its a single unit, but should be able to be programmed to use mph rather than kmh. Headlights, again is it as simple as just changing the direction for uk roads? Can you tell me any more about the certifcate of conformity? What it is, will the car have one or do i buy it? Any help appreciated!

[Enricogto]

Certificate of conformity is a document listing all the key measures and parameters of the car (number of seats, EUx emission directive etc). The car won't have it, will have a similar document called Libretto di Circolazione that has the same parameters but unfortunately the DVLA doesn't accept as equivalent. You can get one either by calling Ferrari UK or on internet paying 90£ there are websites offering this service.

Speedos are not double scaled, i'm not sure unless it has a digital speedo always visible that you can use that (ie. the one in the menu where you can also see odometer and other measures is not accepted). Lights, if they are xenon may have a switch in the projector that reverses the light direction, otherwise the whole structure has to be changed.
Now..... which V12 are we talking about?

[johnnyreggae]

328matt said:

I have searched the forums but cannot find anything similar.

Here's a recent one

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Also many more for various brands if you search for 'conformity' amongst other things

[328matt]

Thinking about a 575 with fhp. Sold my 550 in January and miss it like mad! Bought a 911 but ( and no offence) it's all the sense of occasion of ditchwater. Just starting to form a plan to get back behind that incredible v12! Looking at some cars for sale here I don't think I need to touch the speedo . Plenty of cars advertised with kmh only and an mot. I need to look into the headlights though. Thanks for your time, very helpful info! Maybe worth ringing ferrari uk ! I had a lhd 328gts for a few years imported from Dubai but cannot remember any of the import stuff. Dvla may have a better idea!

[johnnyreggae]

And another http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=113...

[farook]

Speak to Jack @ mycarimport.co.u, he can sort everything out, for what I think is a reasonable cost of ~£1500.

not connection, except I am a customer.

[328matt]

Thanks for the replies. I will certainly be in touch with the car import guy.£1500 sounds reasonable....I think its an easy process when you have done it once!. Just dont want to jump in and end up with a massive bill! Thanks again.

[phib]

Hi Matt, how are you getting on ? Did you find out about lights ? I only ask as I am seriously tempted to import one myself, seem like good value if it's just switch the lights over drive home and get an mot !!

Any further info would be great or drop me a pm

Thanks phib

[328matt]

Not too much further on. The dvla do a vehicle import pack which i have sent for. I have also seen plenty of cars for sale with speedo only in kmh so dont think thats a problem. Many old ferrari are on kmh 250 series etc. i cannot see a problem with the lights, just the direction will need changing. Next will be to contact ferrari uk and double check these items. The speedo for instance if i am wrong is 2.5k as its a sealed instrument unit. Let me know if you find any stumbling blocks!

[phib]

Thanks Matt, I have found a couple of things, I have heard a couple of things on the lights, the frdt being you need to change the whole unit for about £4k, however I know they have also been adjusted to be just a flat beam without replacing the whole unit.

The adjustment is supposed to just take an hour ( I still need to have this confirmed)

Re the speedo, I have also been told the electronic one can be reprogrammed to read mph, so that should not be an issue too.

As you say there seem to be loads about in europe if the dealers only returned calls !!!

Phib

[johnnyreggae]

I think the answer is the car needs to read mph to be street legal but the speedo is not part of the MOT requirement

Not sure how adjustable the 550 headlights are - flat beam I thought only applied to later xenon - Google found this http://www.ferrarilife.com/forums/modern-v12s-456-...

I'm sure FNE will try to sell you everything....

Edited by johnnyreggae on Tuesday 19th August 10:23

[phib]

Pretty sure the 575 has xenons ?

That's the ones I am looking at

Have call into my specialist and Ferrari uk so we will have to see

Thanks

Phib

[johnnyreggae]

Sorry yes - if not flat then MOT allows stickers - note that rules are less strict for registering cars over ten years old

[Nmj]

328matt said:

Anyone imported a car from Italy to uk? Just wondered how easy/ difficult it is. Car in question is 10 years old so I don't believe any tax is payable on import. I think I read that the number plates stay with the owner for life so these have to be sent back? finally are there any differences that would be costly to rectify to make it uk legal? I have searched the forums but cannot find anything similar. The wheeler dealers urraco episode never mentioned it so I presume it's really straight forward. Any help appreciated

Bringing a car to the uk that is over 10 years old does not require a COC with it

[Nmj]

328matt said:

Anyone imported a car from Italy to uk? Just wondered how easy/ difficult it is. Car in question is 10 years old so I don't believe any tax is payable on import. I think I read that the number plates stay with the owner for life so these have to be sent back? finally are there any differences that would be costly to rectify to make it uk legal? I have searched the forums but cannot find anything similar. The wheeler dealers urraco episode never mentioned it so I presume it's really straight forward. Any help appreciated

Bringing a car to the uk that is over 10 years old does not require a COC with it

[328matt]

Thanks for the replies. I last looked seriously at this in 2000/2001 when searching for my 328. ( i later bought a car in uk from talacrest lhd). Back then you could get a huge saving for buying in france, but by the time i was ready in 2003 prices were pretty stable. The pound seems to be slowly gaining strength, and it looks feasible. However i am also aware that we are in a price bubble, so any purchase needs a lot of thought! When i get my vehicle import pack i will post anything i find relevant. The drive back would be a great highlight on roads i have only read about. Need some more man maths lessons from harris i think

[phib]

The price bubble is the only thing I am marginally concerned about but have convinced myself its still worth ,mainly as there don't seem to be that many cars out there and I hope they retain their value.

My 355 is a keeper but I seem to still buy more cars that are "keepers"

I have said I will have my 575 for 2 years ... but we will see !!

Phib