Importing from Europe .... pros., cons and cost.
Discussion
One issue is that the steering wheel is on the other side which may impact insurance - typical previous thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15... - many more
I would also have thought it would now be more likely to be the other way around and LHD cars heading to Europe. However I guess there could still be particular models that in Euroope have yet to rise in value as they have the UK.
In terms of registering a car from Europe I think there are plenty of hoops to jump through and some companies that will deal with everything, for a price. I'm sure someone will be along with a name as I can't recall.
In terms of registering a car from Europe I think there are plenty of hoops to jump through and some companies that will deal with everything, for a price. I'm sure someone will be along with a name as I can't recall.
I personally imported two cars from europe in 2015 at 1.41€ to £. I'm seriously considering selling them back into europe purely based on the exchange rate now! Agree its going to be hard to find a bargain with the rate where it is now.
Importing is very straight-forward despite what the specialist importers will tell you to justify their fees. One car was a classic, so from a paperwork perspective just needed an MOT and the registration paperwork sent off, the other I decided to IVA (rather than register with a european certificate of conformity) by IVA'ing it, I pay £230 VED rather than £400+
It does take quite a long time - you bring the car in, I had the classic shipped but drove the other one over from germany on german export plates. then you MOT it, send off the paperwork with the certificate of conformity or book the IVA.
You'll need to modify the headlights (can be simple or quite complex depending on the car), possibly add or reconfigure the rear fog light and change the speedo face to MPH if it's not dual numbered.
The IVA test is kind of like a detailed MOT, it helps if you have all the CE numbers for certain parts (airbags, seatbelts, lights etc) as they dont need to test stuff that has EU approvals already.
a 360 is likely to potentially struggle with noise and speedo accuracy - they all do that sir.
All in, It will cost somewhere around £500-£1,000 if you DIY and take 6-10 weeks.
I quite enjoyed the process - makes you 'work' for the car rather than just pop into a dealer and drive off.
Importing is very straight-forward despite what the specialist importers will tell you to justify their fees. One car was a classic, so from a paperwork perspective just needed an MOT and the registration paperwork sent off, the other I decided to IVA (rather than register with a european certificate of conformity) by IVA'ing it, I pay £230 VED rather than £400+
It does take quite a long time - you bring the car in, I had the classic shipped but drove the other one over from germany on german export plates. then you MOT it, send off the paperwork with the certificate of conformity or book the IVA.
You'll need to modify the headlights (can be simple or quite complex depending on the car), possibly add or reconfigure the rear fog light and change the speedo face to MPH if it's not dual numbered.
The IVA test is kind of like a detailed MOT, it helps if you have all the CE numbers for certain parts (airbags, seatbelts, lights etc) as they dont need to test stuff that has EU approvals already.
a 360 is likely to potentially struggle with noise and speedo accuracy - they all do that sir.
All in, It will cost somewhere around £500-£1,000 if you DIY and take 6-10 weeks.
I quite enjoyed the process - makes you 'work' for the car rather than just pop into a dealer and drive off.
I wouldn't buy a lhd car from Europe now.
As above I was lucky enough to bring two in at 1.4 ish to the pound. At 1.1 I couldn't afford them now !!!
Unless really cheap I can't see why you would import lhd now.
One was a 2000 and the other 2003 no paperwork only the registration notice. Drove them back one from Paris one from genk in Belgium.
I found insurers would cover the car based on its vin plate whilst I drove it back.
As above I was lucky enough to bring two in at 1.4 ish to the pound. At 1.1 I couldn't afford them now !!!
Unless really cheap I can't see why you would import lhd now.
One was a 2000 and the other 2003 no paperwork only the registration notice. Drove them back one from Paris one from genk in Belgium.
I found insurers would cover the car based on its vin plate whilst I drove it back.
I wouldn't buy a lhd car from Europe now.
As above I was lucky enough to bring two in at 1.4 ish to the pound. At 1.1 I couldn't afford them now !!!
Unless really cheap I can't see why you would import lhd now.
One was a 2000 and the other 2003 no paperwork only the registration notice. Drove them back one from Paris one from genk in Belgium.
I found insurers would cover the car based on its vin plate whilst I drove it back.
As above I was lucky enough to bring two in at 1.4 ish to the pound. At 1.1 I couldn't afford them now !!!
Unless really cheap I can't see why you would import lhd now.
One was a 2000 and the other 2003 no paperwork only the registration notice. Drove them back one from Paris one from genk in Belgium.
I found insurers would cover the car based on its vin plate whilst I drove it back.
I wouldn't buy a lhd car from Europe now.
As above I was lucky enough to bring two in at 1.4 ish to the pound. At 1.1 I couldn't afford them now !!!
Unless really cheap I can't see why you would import lhd now.
One was a 2000 and the other 2003 no paperwork only the registration notice. Drove them back one from Paris one from genk in Belgium.
I found insurers would cover the car based on its vin plate whilst I drove it back.
As above I was lucky enough to bring two in at 1.4 ish to the pound. At 1.1 I couldn't afford them now !!!
Unless really cheap I can't see why you would import lhd now.
One was a 2000 and the other 2003 no paperwork only the registration notice. Drove them back one from Paris one from genk in Belgium.
I found insurers would cover the car based on its vin plate whilst I drove it back.
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