importing from South Africa?

[lotus72]

has anyone had any problems importing a car from South Africa?

[hidetheelephants]

What's the rand exchange rate? One of the mags did an article about it 10 years or so ago, I doubt much has changed other than the SA economy going further down the pan.

[DonkeyApple]

I've just been doing some work on this.

It seems to be about £3,500 for a 40ft container door to door. In terms of taxes, as what I am lookin to bring in was originally shipped out from the UK in part form and assembled locally then there are no taxes payable.

[hidetheelephants]

I suspect HMRC will disagree with you unless it's a properly historic motor, they'll want 10% plus VAT.

[DonkeyApple]

hidetheelephants said:

I suspect HMRC will disagree with you unless it's a properly historic motor, they'll want 10% plus VAT.

They've confirmed its ok. They were knock down Rangies that went out as parts and are being brought back as parts.

[hidetheelephants]

I can see how that will change the category, some categories of machinery spares are about 3% duty, but how does that get around VAT?

[Desiato]

lotus72 said:

has anyone had any problems importing a car from South Africa?

Have a look in theLamborghini Classics/ Countach forum, one of the guys in there (Andrew I think) recently (re)imported a Countach, could be worth dropping him a line.

[lotus72]

thanks indeed for the replies, lads.

[DonkeyApple]

hidetheelephants said:

I can see how that will change the category, some categories of machinery spares are about 3% duty, but how does that get around VAT?

It's all second hand repatriation of parts where all the Relevent taxes were paid on export so I don't think VAT is a concern?

I think the key for my stuff is that it is a repatriation of parts.

[corporalsparrow]

I was recently looking at importing an Alfa from SA.

Despite the owner (who turned out to be a trader) supplying many photographs, a little research with experts in this country and a couple of phone calls to contacts in SA revealed that it was far from in the condition it was described as being in.

Just so you know...

Edited by corporalsparrow on Friday 8th April 10:14

[Mound Dawg]

corporalsparrow said:

I was recently looking at importing an Alfa from SA.

Despite the owner (who turned out to be a trader) supplied many photographs, a little research with experts in this country and a couple of phone calls to contacts in SA revealed that it was far from in the condition it was described as being in.

Just so you know...

I was just going to say this. I may have been one of the specialists you spoke to...

South African cars can be utter disasters, there's a reason they're cheap and it isn't always the exchange rate favouring the Pound against the Rand.