Buyng a new Lotus in UK

[rsch1]

Good afternoon,
I'm about to sell my '07 Exige S in the next few days, and I'd be after a new Exige 260
I've always bought cars here at my local Lotus dealer in Milan, but recently I've noticed a bunch of UK dealers now, keen to sell lhd cars on the continent and with the current GBP/EURO ratio it represents a huge saving compared with our local market.
Any tip for my purchase or dealer to go with will be much appreciated.
Roberto
Milan, Italy

[fuzzymonkey]

Don't forget that you'll have to pay your Italian VAT, taxes and registration. Will it still be cheaper?

[DamienCBR]

If you do it then it will be worth speaking to Paul Parkinson at Lipscomb in Maidstone, not far from the channel so easy to drive back.
http://www.lipscomb.co.uk/lotus

Mention FuriousD suggested you speak to them.

Good Luck
D

[The Bandit]

Met a German guy at a Sussex Lotus dealer a couple of months ago with a brand new LHD 2-11 which was UK registered and on a trailer,he told me he was saving 12,000 Euros by importing it himself

[jondude]

fuzzymonkey said:

Don't forget that you'll have to pay your Italian VAT, taxes and registration. Will it still be cheaper?

He won't. The VAT will have to be paid here (another 2.5% saving at the moment) and that's it. Under EU law you can only pay VAT once, and it is normally at the point and country of purchase.

All the Italians can ask for is their DVLA type registration fees and yes, possible additional taxes if they have them. But these cannot be protectionist taxes.


I guess if the cars were priced the same before the £ collapsed, you could well be looking at a good 25% off now......that would even make me tempted to buy new!

[rsch1]

Good morning you all,
Thank you for your replies, I have estimated about a 20/25% saving from the local price,
I' ve still to investigate about taxes but I suppse the pay the difference between VAT and local
tax at 20%. Is it 17,5 or 15% VAT at the moment?
Cheers
Roberto

[Beachbum]

I thought the whole point of people that used to import cars from europe into the UK was that cars were cheaper in Europe as after taxes were applied they became more expensive. Therefore the manufactures kept their prices low so once the taxes had been added people could/would still buy them.
Given the above, people in the UK used to buy the car in Europe without taxes and then import into the UK and pay the the UK VAT and other taxes, and still make a significant saving as the base price was lower.

Maybe worth investigating how the application of tax works. Is it that tyhe Tax is applied in the country that the vehicle ends up in, or can you elect which countries taxes to pay.

[edo]

jondude said:

fuzzymonkey said:

Don't forget that you'll have to pay your Italian VAT, taxes and registration. Will it still be cheaper?

He won't. The VAT will have to be paid here (another 2.5% saving at the moment) and that's it. Under EU law you can only pay VAT once, and it is normally at the point and country of purchase.

That's true in general but FALSE for cars ... For new cars VAT has to be paid in the country of registration.

If a UK resident buys new on the continent and import in the UK a car that is less than 6 months old or has less than 6k miles:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSell...

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

If you came over from Italy and purchased a new car from somewhere like Lipscombe for example, then they would charge you UK VAT @ 15% - The only way they could legally not charge you it is if you provided a valid VAT registration number to them. VAT is only paid once - however, it is complicated by the fact that if Lipscombe had already mades sales to Italian customers that took them over the VAT registration threshold for Italy then legally speaking they would have to register for VAT in Italy and charge the Italian rate of VAT to you.

[Stu_00]

Lipscombs are brillant, ask for Paul here will help you. Plus you will not pay VAT in UK but in Italy. (I think).

[rsch1]

Thanks for your advices,
I've heard from a friend today that probably I'd pay in uk the net price and total tax in italy.
I' ve also asked for a quote to a London dealer but still no reply, I'll try to Lipscomb.
Cheers

[edo]

rsch1 said:

Thanks for your advices,
I've heard from a friend today that probably I'd pay in uk the net price and total tax in italy.
I' ve also asked for a quote to a London dealer but still no reply, I'll try to Lipscomb.
Cheers

I've sent you an email ... I'd love to see a new cup 260 :-)

[rsch1]

Hi Edo,
I've sent you a mail but the server is returning it back

[edo]

rsch1 said:

Hi Edo,
I've sent you a mail but the server is returning it back

got it! replying soon ..

[edo]

edo said:

rsch1 said:

Hi Edo,
I've sent you a mail but the server is returning it back

got it! replying soon ..

I replied - I trust you won't buy a 260 Cup with full touring pack like this:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2337...
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Lo...

It's a full contrast to the white one showed at the presentations/shows,
which had the old non-airbag dash.

[DamienCBR]

Would be interested to see how you get on at Lipscomb, i mentioned this thread to Paul.


Cheers
D

[fasteddie71]

Another vote for Lipscomb's, they do sell a number of LHD's to Europe, they are the closest dealer to the tunnel/ports so it's probably your best bet. They are used to specc'ing for EU.

[rsch1]

It's a full contrast to the white one showed at the presentations/shows,
which had the old non-airbag dash.
[/quote]

Hi Edo,
Yes I meant it with track specs, hence without airbags and radio, but with fire ext. and battery master switch, because even if I rarely use it on track, I love the Exige concept at this ultimate stage.
Here in Italy every car advertised from dealers are with the specs above (see www.autoscout.it)
Roberto

[rsch1]

P.s.
I'm waiting the punter for my car today at lunch, then if it's going well, I'll get in touch with
Lipscomb.

[jondude]

edo said:

jondude said:

fuzzymonkey said:

Don't forget that you'll have to pay your Italian VAT, taxes and registration. Will it still be cheaper?

He won't. The VAT will have to be paid here (another 2.5% saving at the moment) and that's it. Under EU law you can only pay VAT once, and it is normally at the point and country of purchase.

That's true in general but FALSE for cars ... For new cars VAT has to be paid in the country of registration.

If a UK resident buys new on the continent and import in the UK a car that is less than 6 months old or has less than 6k miles:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSell...

OK....so the OP buys VAT free here then pays Italian VAT on registration, right?