importing direct and the costs attached

[mrmop]

Hi all,

I bit new to this forum having migrated from the Cerbera area, My brother has recently bought Cubans C5 and loves the car ( he is also a former Cerbera owner) and as a consequence I have started looking seriously myself.

My question is, how difficult/expensive is importing direct, I have looked a quite a few American sites selling Corvette's and they seem great value at the current exchange rates and offer a much greater choice, I could also use the opportunity for a short break in the
US of A.

This one caught my eye,


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvette-...

Any assistance and advise you can offer, even very basic at this stage would be most useful.


Regards


MrMop

[anonymous-user]

This topic has been done often so your best bet is to search this forum. Here's a couple of starters,

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

[owenemyr]

I have now imported 5 corvettes ranging from C5 Z06's X2, to the current range of 07 C6 cars X3, it really quite easy and painless.
The car you have identified is in my opinion over priced, you would be better directly dealing with an owner, but beware that your car would require to be "lien free" (thats a sort of HP)
You can PM me if you like, but the main essentials (my opinions) are:
1, car preferably located on the east coast near to point of export, and with the owner flexible and willing to drive to said port (if you are unable to visit)
2, Shipping to be to an UK port as near to you as is possible, and a container is not essential or even desireable since it may limit both the exit and entry port.
There are plenty of web sites that offer private sales, try www.corvetteforum.com
I have consistently used Schumacher Cargo (Ian Jeffreys) and have found them to be extremely competitive, and helpful.
All my cars were bought "sight unseen" apart from exhaustive photos, and all were either as or better than described.
I would be happy to share my experience with you.

[uk_vette]

mrmop said:

Hi all,

I bit new to this forum having migrated from the Cerbera area, My brother has recently bought Cubans C5 and loves the car ( he is also a former Cerbera owner) and as a consequence I have started looking seriously myself.

My question is, how difficult/expensive is importing direct, I have looked a quite a few American sites selling Corvette's and they seem great value at the current exchange rates and offer a much greater choice, I could also use the opportunity for a short break in the
US of A.

This one caught my eye,


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvette-...

Any assistance and advise you can offer, even very basic at this stage would be most useful.


Regards


MrMop
,
,
Well hello Mr. Mop !

Is it a C6 you are really looking for?
This has just 11xxx miles on the clock

.
.

.
Graham

Edited by uk_vette on Tuesday 4th December 21:15

[mrmop]

Thanks for all the advise guy's, will continue to look in the UK, if nothing catches my eye between now and the spring I will take to plunge and go state side.

That is a great looking car Graham, but really dont fancy and rag top.

Will keep you posted on my search.

Thanks again for all your help.


MrMop

Edited by mrmop on Saturday 8th December 13:26

[Matt Harper]

owenemyr said:

but beware that your car would require to be "lien free" (thats a sort of HP)

A lein is a charge on the title. If a car is financed, the bank will have a lein on the title until the loan has been satisfied. It is a safeguard for the lender, which prevents the vehicle's title transferring without the lenders knowledge. A lein can also be placed on the title by a number of authorities (IRS, FBI and even local law enforcement - for unpaid fines etc). As stated, only consider cars with 'clear title' - if a notarized clear title can't be produced, don't go near it. Lein-holder has first charge on the vehicle - even if you bought it in good faith. I'm guessing you couldn't legitimately get a car out of the country without a clear title, now I think about it.

[owenemyr]

Matt Harper said:

owenemyr said:

but beware that your car would require to be "lien free" (thats a sort of HP)

A lein is a charge on the title. If a car is financed, the bank will have a lein on the title until the loan has been satisfied. It is a safeguard for the lender, which prevents the vehicle's title transferring without the lenders knowledge. A lein can also be placed on the title by a number of authorities (IRS, FBI and even local law enforcement - for unpaid fines etc). As stated, only consider cars with 'clear title' - if a notarized clear title can't be produced, don't go near it. Lein-holder has first charge on the vehicle - even if you bought it in good faith. I'm guessing you couldn't legitimately get a car out of the country without a clear title, now I think about it.

Before the car can be exported, it must be proven to be "lein free", and customs will check, and then place their export stamp on the title document, I have a collection of them now.Some dvla offices keep the originals, whilst others return them, theres no rhyme or reason to it.
You can still safely buy a car with a lein on it, most private sellers will have "a loan", you arrange to pay the lein holder and get all the documents sent to your agent/notary.Its easier if you are "on site", otherwise go for a secure title vehicle.

[C5RagTop]

owenemyr said:

You can still safely buy a car with a lein on it, most private sellers will have "a loan", you arrange to pay the lein holder and get all the documents sent to your agent/notary.Its easier if you are "on site", otherwise go for a secure title vehicle.

I agree - car finance is almost the norm for private individuals in the US. I bought my first Vette in LA and it had finance on it. I went to the HP company with the seller, gave the cash to the clerk who gave the title back to the seller which he signed over to me. I don't think the HP company had registered anything on the title so it was any easy process. Got the title notarised and off to the docks.........

[vetteheadracer]

A basic formula regarding costs:

1. Cost of car in USA
2. Cost of shipping (usually about $1000 from the East Coast ports via a Roll on - Roll Off Service) i.e. car is driven on and off of a ship and is stored for the journey in a floating multi-storey car park.
3. Duty is paid at the port of entry to HMCE and is currently 10% of Costs 1 & 2.
4. Agent fees usually about £100.
5. VAT again paid to HMCE and is 17.5% on top of 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

Car is now yours to collect from the port of entry and can be driven to your address or the place where the SVA work is to be undertaken. SVA compliance for a C6 involves adding rear fog light, converting rear indicators to amber and some fiddling about with the Daylight Running lights and also front side lights.
6. Cost from £300 - £1500 depending on whether you DIY or pay someone esle to do the work.
7. SVA Test which is currently £158
8. First registration fee of £80 plus I think you also pay £38 for something but I can't remember what.
9. Years road tax approx £200.

You are now done and can enjoy your new Vette

[anonymous-user]

vetteheadracer said:

9. Years road tax approx £200.

.... unless it's a C6 with a registration date after 23 March 2006 which will cost £300 now, rising to £400 in 2008.

Gordon Brown

[XTR2Turbo]

vetteheadracer said:

A basic formula regarding costs:

SVA compliance for a C6 involves adding rear fog light, converting rear indicators to amber and some fiddling about with the Daylight Running lights and also front side lights.

Plus HID headlights need to be modded for SVA as no self levelling or washers.

[owenemyr]

5 USA said:

vetteheadracer said:

9. Years road tax approx £200.

.... unless it's a C6 with a registration date after 23 March 2006 which will cost £300 now, rising to £400 in 2008.

Gordon Brown

Not so!
My current fleet are all Jan 07/May 07 US cars, and the road tax (excluding the initial "one-off tax" is still £180, and the last one was registered this month, but with the usual DVLA cock-ups of titled back to Jan 07.European cars are taxed at the higher rate because of "type approval" and full emissions details.
The MAC does not carry any of these details although I believe that emissions are measured as part of SVA, and when registering these details are not entered.
Its another advantage of buying in the US.!!!

[Matt Harper]

C5RagTop said:

I don't think the HP company had registered anything on the title so it was any easy process. Got the title notarised and off to the docks.........

If there is a finance agreement in place, the lender will have a lein on the title, no question. Otherwise, how could they repossess a vehicle where a default had occurred? My title clearly states 'GMAC and it's successors' as a lein-holder.
The responsibility to satisfy the loan and therefore the lein rests with the current owner, not the buyer. If I were to sell my car to anyone else (domestic or for export - not that anyone would want the bloody thing) it would be my responsibility to clear the title - not the prospective purchaser. The fact that the new owner has paid me, does not clear the lein - that only happens when I square-away the lein-holder - that's how it works here in FL, at least.

[anonymous-user]

owenemyr said:

5 USA said:

vetteheadracer said:

Year's road tax approx £200.

.... unless it's a C6 with a registration date after 23 March 2006 which will cost £300 now, rising to £400 in 2008.

European cars are taxed at the higher rate because of "type approval" and full emissions details. It's another advantage of buying inthe US!!!

Well, we're getting there slowly! The official line from DVLA is,

"If the CO2 emissions are not available on imported vehicles, from any country, the taxation class is determined by the engine size of the vehicle."

So importing looks set to become increasingly attractive as Gordon Brown and his mates continue to up the UK road tax differential every year!

[vetteheadracer]

On the subject of car tax explain to me how a 6.3 litre twin turbo Corvette is £180 per year to tax as is an 8 litre Viper but a 1.8 litre Lotus Exige is £205 because it is a 2004.....since when did the year a car was built have anything to do with the amount it allegedly pollutes?

Gordon Brown is a .

[anonymous-user]

I've noticed the Lotus Elise/Exige CO2 ratings in the past which seem surprisingly high for a light car with small "efficient" Toyota 4-pot.

Can't speak for the Viper though -

- or that new toy!

Yes, Gordon Brown certainly is.

[owenemyr]

Matt Harper said:

C5RagTop said:

I don't think the HP company had registered anything on the title so it was any easy process. Got the title notarised and off to the docks.........

If there is a finance agreement in place, the lender will have a lein on the title, no question. Otherwise, how could they repossess a vehicle where a default had occurred? My title clearly states 'GMAC and it's successors' as a lein-holder.
The responsibility to satisfy the loan and therefore the lein rests with the current owner, not the buyer. If I were to sell my car to anyone else (domestic or for export - not that anyone would want the bloody thing) it would be my responsibility to clear the title - not the prospective purchaser. The fact that the new owner has paid me, does not clear the lein - that only happens when I square-away the lein-holder - that's how it works here in FL, at least.

My experience of importing 5 cars has been that the title document ALLWAYS carries details of the lein holder as well as the registered owner, and this is true if buying privately or from a registered dealer, except that the latter will have cleared the lein before he can offer for sale.