Importing from USA, costs etc

[A.J.M]

Wishing to get the freeby a bit different looking, ive got landrover front spots and fogs that i want to fit to it. However, the LR uk a frame is naff looking. A search on the net has shown that there is a proper a frame sold in the us that is a bolt on to mine and looks far better, shame its chrome but that can get powdercoated black.

So anyone imported anything from america, i would recon the packaging would be about the size of an average telly and weigh a little bit less, how smoothly was it for you, did you get stung for taxs etc?

[SSC!]

I'm sure viperpict will be along shortly as he is forever putting stuff under the bonnet. I think last time I got stung for £90 customs on body parts but it was a few years ago now and my memory is shot to hell

Ave.

[6C4GTS]

A.J.M said:

Wishing to get the freeby a bit different looking, ive got landrover front spots and fogs that i want to fit to it. However, the LR uk a frame is naff looking. A search on the net has shown that there is a proper a frame sold in the us that is a bolt on to mine and looks far better, shame its chrome but that can get powdercoated black.

So anyone imported anything from america, i would recon the packaging would be about the size of an average telly and weigh a little bit less, how smoothly was it for you, did you get stung for taxs etc?

My quotes are out of date but to get a rear spoiler to the UK was best part of 350 quid including the taxes and it weighed feck all, so your probably looking at a fair few quid unless you send it by sea - guess you may not be in a hurray so that may be an option.

[Easty-5]

A.J.M said:

Wishing to get the freeby a bit different looking, ive got landrover front spots and fogs that i want to fit to it. However, the LR uk a frame is naff looking. A search on the net has shown that there is a proper a frame sold in the us that is a bolt on to mine and looks far better, shame its chrome but that can get powdercoated black.

So anyone imported anything from america, i would recon the packaging would be about the size of an average telly and weigh a little bit less, how smoothly was it for you, did you get stung for taxs etc?

Completely depends on the value of the goods and reason for export (from USA).

For example sake. I bought some items that came to circa 130GBP. I was stung with import fee's for £35. The higher the value of the items your buying then they higher the import fee's. They can potentially be avoided though if the seller ships the items as "gifts".

[A.J.M]

its roughly $350 to buy, would be getting it in the cheapest route, time aint a factor as ive a few other things to get done on the car to pass the time.

This is all going on the hope that the nice parts man in california is going to send it to me.

[onlynik]

You will have to pay import tax and VAT on the item, even if it is marled as a gift, if it is over a certain value (£90 IIRC) you'll still have to pay import tax.

Wife bought a coat from the US for around $400 dollars and had to pay about £100 in taxes once it arrived. Was still about £300 cheaper than buying it in the UK.

[Stu R]

Add a quarter as a general [almost a worst case] rule of thumb, but it depends on a few things.

Edited by Stu R on Monday 4th October 15:48

[ViperPict]

See if you can persuade them to mark down the value of the items on the relevant forms so that you pay less customs and duty (in total 27.5% of original cost I think currently). Or get someone you know coming back from the US to pack the items in their luggage! :-) The 'gift' thing sometimes works in avoiding tax but C+E seem to be getting far stricter these days.

[Easty-5]

I recently purchased a watch from oversea's. The seller was kind enough to mark the value as $30 (I wish that is what it cost!), marked it as a gift and he packaged the item so it looked home-wrapped with no company tape etc. Took about 4 weeks to arrive and no customs charges for me

[VetteG]

You will pay import duty on cost and shipping and then you will pay VAT on the total.
As I recall import duty for car bits is usually about 6%. WHy we are taxed on shipping which is paid in the USA I dont know and of course paying VAT on import duty means we are taxed on tax.

G

[OlberJ]

As G says, if it's correctly marked with the used parts code, rather than hit with the generic code if they haven't bothered, it's 5 or 6% import duty.

You still need to pay the VAT on the lot too.

[bigblock]

Are you sure that you can only buy it in the USA?

Have you tried some of the Landrover specialist websites,the in site adverts have a vast selection A frames, nudge bars, front bumpers etc. I am pretty sure you will find something you like without the hassle and cost of importing it.

[VetteG]

It may well still be woth buying from the USA, many things are cheaper there and the exchange rate can help, keep it as an option.

G

[A.J.M]

Landrover only sell a plastic half a frame. For those who have seen the freeby on runs and will have seen 04-06 reg freelanders, the frame starts at the top of the bumper and ends at the reg plate.

It looks terrible,

Just seen that the bar is down to $175, so with exchange rates its reasonable for what it is, should help with taxes.

Sadly i cant find a decent bar for my model, plenty for the shape before with the older headlights/bumpers.

Going to send an email to the dealer and see if they will ship across the pond.

[OlberJ]

Got a picture of this mate? Is it purely decorative?

Might be something we can fabricate up for a fraction of the price.