New member, big first question :)

[MrNoisy]

Hello all,

I'm a Brit currently living in viva las Vegas and an avid corvette fan. I'll be relocating to the uk in about 12 months or so and desperately want to import my c6. I have done tons of research on this subject and have it reasonably squared away but happy for any top tips.......

Now for my real question, which I reckon the PH crew will be able to help with.....

In approx 2 years we will be relocating again to France. Is it possible to bring my USDM c6 to the uk, sva it etc and then a year later get the vehicle swapped to French plates? I've been doing some research but it seems very difficult to get cars registered en France?

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[mitch_]

Howdy Mr. Noisy and welcome. Sadly you're not off to a good start as the answer to your question is 'no'.

Your car would have to go through IVA in the UK which would include a light conversion. Whilst registering the car in the UK is not an impossible task none of this would be much help in France where their IVA process is much more complex than ours. You would essentially be starting from scratch. In order for a car to move freely around Europe it would require a Certificate of Conformity which only Euro spec cars are issued with whereas US spec cars require an IVA in every country they are to be registered in. I hope this helps!

[Bowler]

^^^^^
This man knows the score!

From what I know (which is very limited) you will struggle register a turd-mobile on Mainland Europe without the European CofC

Sorry, but I suggest you think of alternative options......

HTH

[mark387mw]

Sell the C6 to me in New Zealand and buy something that red tape will allow

[BlackZeD]

Sold my C5 Z06 to a guy in France, obviously not a Euro spec car
and he didn't seem to be bothered.
Also Dave (V10BAT) sold his supercharged C5 Z06 to someone in France.
Why would it be so hard to get a C6 sorted for over there ??
Just asking.

Dave,

[mitch_]

BlackZeD said:

Sold my C5 Z06 to a guy in France, obviously not a Euro spec car
and he didn't seem to be bothered.
Also Dave (V10BAT) sold his supercharged C5 Z06 to someone in France.
Why would it be so hard to get a C6 sorted for over there ??
Just asking.

Dave,

I didn't say it was impossible, just more difficult. They have to cover off different issues with lighting and I believe they have to undergo emissions testing too. It is effort and costly, but if they feel they have bought the car well enough then it is worth the hassle. Countries like Belgium however are unfeasible for tax reasons.

[Gixer]

Our friends in France know someone that tried to register a US car in France. It cost them a fortune and went on and on for months. In the end they gave up. Every time it went back for a retest they moved the goal posts and failed it for something else

[Silver C6]

Apart from the issues/potential hassle mentioned above by Mitch, guess my question is this. With the UK£/$ exchange rate (ER) currently circa 1.55, is it cost effective to import a US car to the UK at that ER considering current US/UK spec car prices/values and the cost of importing? As well as the shipping, IVA, import duty & VAT, new UK spec lights are I believe circa £3.5k fitted? If you still want to import it and it happens to be black, you might want to buy these now (unless of course money is no object).

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/4053753.htm

[mitch_]

If I remember correctly Mr. Noisy wouldn't have to pay duty on the car if he has owned it for over 6 months but I think VAT is still payable. It may be worthwhile bringing it over for use in the U.K. but I think its onward journey to France may be a push too far.....

[z06tim]

Should be no VAT or duty levied on someone re-locating their home to the UK from the US providing they can prove ownership of the car is more than the required length of time of 6 months. This was certainly the case when i imported my C5Z four years ago.

[Silver C6]

You are right Tim, the HMRC (Transfer of Residence Relief) rules appear to be unchanged. No VAT or duty payable if 1) Your normal home has been outside the EU for 12 months 2) You have owned/used the vehicle outside the EU for 6 months 3) You are going to keep it for 12 months.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/sectors/consumers/perso...

Edited by Silver C6 on Friday 13th July 08:21

[vetteheadracer]

No help on this topic but bringing a US Spec car back from the UK to the US seems to be very simple. Agree with Mitch getting the car into the UK is reasonably simple but the French are a whole new level of bureaucracy on top! Can be done of course and maybe you should speak to Gerard Planche who works for GM and also runs the Corvette Corral at Le Mans every year. He probably can help if you decide to go down this route.

[MrNoisy]

Righto, first off sorry for such a late response to all you helpful lot! I have had a bit of a personal drama recently that took my head away from all this importing malarkey! Hopefully you won't take it personally and ignore me!

Just to clarify........

This is my daily driver which I have purchased over here. Believe me, you can get them much cheaper than first appears when you live here and do your research. By the time it comes to flying home I will have owned it 3 years, I've put the miles on it, I've serviced it etc etc etc. It has always been a southern car so it is basically as fresh as new underneath. Not a single spot of corrosion to be seen. We all know what those euro ones are like at 7 years old.

I will be totally free of import and duty as it is a personal import and my intention is to keep it for ages on return. I am reasonably handy and when it comes to modifying for inspection I will do most myself. This is a very cheap option for me to have a nice motor in themuk with known history etc.

I hear you all on the French thing, very difficult. Maybe possible, who knows but I suppose if the worst came to the worst it would have to find a new home in the uk somewhere!

So I've been reading up a little on the Iva and have a couple of questions for you chaps if you wouldn't mind?

Firstly bare in mind that the car is currently in a slightly modified state. Headers, magnaflow with hi flow cats. Fast intake with a hall tech CAI kit. Also has a JOC stage 1 suspension package. Just bolt on mods basically. It has tints (essential in Vegas) with blacked lamps all round but imam aware these would need removing.

First question - do I have any hope of getting an Iva certificate with the car modified?

Second question- if the car was put back stock for the Iva what would then stop me refitting the modifications? I would want to be legal and the mods in place would most definately pass an mot.

Thirdly - would I be better off flogging it and buying an 03 z06 which by the time I return will be more than 10 years old?

Thanks again guys, I promise I won't ignore your answers again!

[Gixer]

Window tints may have to come off. Police have a measuring device, if too dark they won't let you continue until removed. I'm guessing this may be picked up on the IVA. Also noise, police have a new toy

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

While noise is not tested at MOT I wonder if it may be at the IVA.

Other than that you just need the correct light set up and a couple of side repeaters.

As for the mods, shouldn't be a problem, TBH they won't have a clue anyway

[V10 BAT]

BlackZeD said:

Sold my C5 Z06 to a guy in France, obviously not a Euro spec car
and he didn't seem to be bothered.
Also Dave (V10BAT) sold his supercharged C5 Z06 to someone in France.
Why would it be so hard to get a C6 sorted for over there ??
Just asking.

Dave,

Mate, still trying to get over that lol,just call me idiot.

Anyways just to add the guy i sold it to in france really really wanted me to hand over the v5c
with nothing filled in.Not real happy to do that so had a chat,lets just say the new keeper lives in London.You guys will probably know what thats all about.
Anyone know of a cheap C5 ZO6 lol

[K2MDL]

David

Are you joining us for the Cheddar Gorge run? See: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[vaughan watkins]

V10 BAT said:

Mate, still trying to get over that lol,just call me idiot.

You and me both Dave, seriously loved that car, should have persuaded you to put it in my garage while you got over your moment of madness

[V10 BAT]

vaughan watkins said:

V10 BAT said:

Mate, still trying to get over that lol,just call me idiot.

You and me both Dave, seriously loved that car, should have persuaded you to put it in my garage while you got over your moment of madness

Thanks,makes me feel better now i know it`s your fault

Hope to go to the nationals,see whats about,thats if they let me in lol.