Import or not to Import LHD 991 GT3 to UK

[mjablonskisa]

Hey All,

My work situation is changing and i will be relocating to London in the near future from Munich (originally from the US)

I am at two minds whether to take my 991.1 GT3 with.

I will not have to pay VAT, as the car is a 2015 model and passes the 6000km threshold.
I had plans to upgrade to a 991.2 (manual), but i bought this 2015 model with 500km on the clock, so i know this car inside out, i love it - and the idea of selling it now, and then buying a 991.2 in the UK - where the prices are 10%, sometimes even 20% higher - is giving me pause.

Of course LHD vs RHD is another variable to consider. I have driven both in my life, so this is not an issue...HOWEVER, if i am not going to stay in the UK long term, i am reluctant to buy and then take with me a RHD car, as the market for those is much smaller i reckon outside of UK.

I dont know how long i will be in the UK for. I reckon 2-3 years max, and then it will most likely be back to the US..so i could take the 991.1 with me again...

Darn - what do you think? Has anyone done something similar in the past? Any regrets - insights?

Appreciate your views,

Marek

[Rich_AR]

mjablonskisa said:

Hey All,

My work situation is changing and i will be relocating to London in the near future from Munich (originally from the US)

I am at two minds whether to take my 991.1 GT3 with.

I will not have to pay VAT, as the car is a 2015 model and passes the 6000km threshold.
I had plans to upgrade to a 991.2 (manual), but i bought this 2015 model with 500km on the clock, so i know this car inside out, i love it - and the idea of selling it now, and then buying a 991.2 in the UK - where the prices are 10%, sometimes even 20% higher - is giving me pause.

Of course LHD vs RHD is another variable to consider. I have driven both in my life, so this is not an issue...HOWEVER, if i am not going to stay in the UK long term, i am reluctant to buy and then take with me a RHD car, as the market for those is much smaller i reckon outside of UK.

I dont know how long i will be in the UK for. I reckon 2-3 years max, and then it will most likely be back to the US..so i could take the 991.1 with me again...

Darn - what do you think? Has anyone done something similar in the past? Any regrets - insights?

Appreciate your views,

Marek

I imported and registered my Gulf spec LHD 911 into the UK, then registered it in the Czech Rep a year later and shortly sold it to a chap in Holland. The only reason I sold it was restrictions on importing an non-US/Canadian spec car into Canada (thats not 15 years or older). I'd check to see if you can bring in a EU spec 911 into the US.

Also LHD values are stronger on the continent (unless its something super rare/special) for obvious reasons. So either you keep the car, register/use it in the UK and then export it back later and sell it in Germany etc (assuming you can bring it back to Germany tax free by re-registering as a resident again...). You might be able to sell a UK registered LHD 911 on the continent, but with Brexit, who knows how it will exactly work or how easy it will be in a few years.

Or avoid the hassle as such, sell it now, buy a GT3 in the UK and enjoy it.

Just my 2p's worth

Edited by Rich_AR on Friday 7th February 20:18