Bringing home a 1967-68 Mustang

[Animala]

hey,

I'm gonna be going to the US around 2014 to buy and import a 1967-68 Mustang Fastback into the UK. I know that you have to pay tax on the car on importing it but I have no idea how much or even how much it would be to import it (I was told by a colleague I would be looking around £1500 to physicaly import it but I don't know how valid that claim is). Plus I have no idea what paperwork I would need to complete to get it registered over here.

I went onto the DVLA site to try and find the answers but either i'm just being blind or the site really was that rubbish and wouldn't explain how much it would be/the correct process to get it registered if the vehicle was over 10 years old.

Any answers/help/advice/relevant links would be appreciated, thanks.

P.S. second time I've posted this thread but really want some answers.

[Roo]

Animala said:

hey,

I'm gonna be going to the US around 2014 to buy and import a 1967-68 Mustang Fastback into the UK. I know that you have to pay tax on the car on importing it but I have no idea how much or even how much it would be to import it (I was told by a colleague I would be looking around £1500 to physicaly import it but I don't know how valid that claim is). Plus I have no idea what paperwork I would need to complete to get it registered over here.

I went onto the DVLA site to try and find the answers but either i'm just being blind or the site really was that rubbish and wouldn't explain how much it would be/the correct process to get it registered if the vehicle was over 10 years old.

Any answers/help/advice/relevant links would be appreciated, thanks.

P.S. second time I've posted this thread but really want some answers.

Shipping from East Coast will be roughly £1,250. When it gets here you'll get charged 10% import duty on the value of the car. Add that to the pruchase price and shipping cost they'll then charge you VAT at the current rate.

As it's over ten years old there is no need for IVA test, just an MOT. You won't be able to do anything without the 'title' for the car.

You also need to factor in handling fees at either end and transport costs.

Rough rule of thumb is whatever the dollar value is you're paying for the car just change the symbol to sterling and that's about what it's going to owe by the time it's here.

[Animala]

Alright so say the cars around $23K + $2K for shipping and around another $1K for handling, that TAX would be 10% of $26K? is that right?

[Roo]

Animala said:

Alright so say the cars around $23K + $2K for shipping and around another $1K for handling, that TAX would be 10% of $26K? is that right?

Handling fees probably not quite as high as that.

Car price $23,000
Handling $1,000
Shipping $2,000
Import duty $2,600
VAT $5,005

VAT is going up on 1st January so that will then be $5,720

These figures are only approximate. The UK based charged will all be calculated in Sterling at an exchange rate set HMRC which may not be the best.

[Animala]

The import Duty is the TAX right?

If that's all the costs (before the MOT and insurance) then that's still not as bad as buying one over here in the same condition really.

That's really helpfull cheers, you know what the process is of getting it made road legal over here? like getting a V5 sorted for it and everything? or would that all be included in the costs mentioned?

[Roo]

Import duty and VAT are both taxes.

You'll need to get the lights sorted out to UK spec to get it MOT'd. Take the MOT, insurance, certificate of title, customs clerance forms, proof of ID and a cheque for £55 to your local DVLA office and they'll register the car. You'll get a V5c a few weeks later.

They will NOT register the car over the counter. They may want to inspect it. You're not allowed to drive it there and they won't inspect it if it's on a trailer.

[Animala]

So when it gets to the UK it'll have to be taken to an MOT centre on a flatbed, then on a flatbed again to my drive (hopefully after passing its MOT with the lights being altered) then i'll have to take all the docs to the DVLA and pay £55 to get it registered.

Then will it be road legal right? I won't have to wait for the V5 to arrive if they've already accepted it?

When you say they wont inspect it on the back on the back of a trailer, will they come to my address and inspect it there or will I have to transport it somwhere for them to inspect it off the transporter? like another MOT centre or an individual DVLA garage?

[Roo]

You need to go to your local DVLA office with all the paperwork.

The nearest one can be found here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Useful...

Once they've done their bit they'll send you a road fund disc in the post along with a letter that allows you to get number plates made. Then you're legal.

Yes, you will need to transport it on a flat bed, unless you know someone in the motor trade who can help out by using their trade plates.

[Animala]

I'm a sales exec, i've got access to trade plates and go to my local DVLA centre atleast twice a week :P I didn't even think of using the trade plates, good call. Hopefully i'll still have access to a few sets when the time comes to when i'm actualy looking to buy one.

You've been really helpfull Roo, thanks alot. Last thing I'm really wondering is about the registration plates. So they'll provide me with a new registration for the car with the V5 and then i'll just have to have the plates made?

[Roo]

Animala said:

I'm a sales exec, i've got access to trade plates and go to my local DVLA centre atleast twice a week :P I didn't even think of using the trade plates, good call. Hopefully i'll still have access to a few sets when the time comes to when i'm actualy looking to buy one.

You've been really helpfull Roo, thanks alot. Last thing I'm really wondering is about the registration plates. So they'll provide me with a new registration for the car with the V5 and then i'll just have to have the plates made?

No worries. Glad to help.

You'll get the registration number and tax disc within ten days of them processing the paperwork. The V5c will be a few weeks later but the car will be legal to drive as soon as they tell you the reg.

[Animala]

Think that's all sorted now then, got an insurance quote for one in the same circumstances as when i'll be looking to buy and that was really reasonable.

Once again thanks for all your help, I always liked looking around on the newport site :P and I guess somone that works there was probably the best person to speak to about importing an American car.

You got your California Special yet?

[Roo]

Animala said:

You got your California Special yet?

Me personally?

It's two years old today and done nearly 16,000 miles.

[Animala]

Oh right I thought you only just got it this October. It looks pretty badass. I forgot one last thing, what's the certificate of title? is that like the US equivilant of the V5?

[Roo]

Animala said:

I forgot one last thing, what's the certificate of title? is that like the US equivilant of the V5?

Yep. You won't even be able to get the car on a boat out of the US without it.

[Animala]

alright cool, slight snag though, do you know if i'll be able to get that on the day of buying the car over there?

[Roo]

A few states don't issue titles for older cars. However, most of them do. Do NOT buy a car without a title unless the seller can prove the lack of need for one.

[Animala]

If they do have one will they be able to provide me with one on the day?

[Roo]

The owner will have the title. Without it they are not in a position to sell it.

Do not buy a car without a title. Ask them to send you a copy of it.

[Animala]

Ok, sounds good, pretty filled in on what the process is for brining it in from the states.

Another suggestion that was made to me was to check on this German site that actualy had quite a lot on there and apparently there's no UK TAX to pay.

Know if that's true and also any other info about importing one from that region?

[Roo]

If the car is already in the EU with relevant taxes paid there is no more to pay when you bring it to the UK.