IMPORTing a C2

[geeeman]

so is it true that cars over 30yrs old are now Duty free, and only 5% VAT?

[vetteheadracer]

Check this here:

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

[geeeman]

""You don't have to pay duty or VAT on the vehicle provided you meet all these conditions:

* you are moving your normal home to the UK
* you have had your normal home outside the EU for a continuous period of at least 12 months
* you have possessed and used the vehicle for at least six months outside the EU
* you didn't get the vehicle under a duty/tax-free scheme
* you're going to keep the vehicle for your personal use for at least 12 months after it's imported""

---the above applies to a car u already own.
what about a car u purchase and then import?

[Tom74]

I would suggest that the key is

"When you import a motor vehicle into the UK you must normally pay VAT. You won't have to pay if you are moving from another country to the UK on a permanent basis, or the vehicle is not new and VAT has already been paid."

If you import from outside the EU chances are no VAT has been paid.

[geeeman]

I'm mearly trying to ascertain if the 20% duty has now changed for cars over 30 yrs old. I'm told it should now be no duty to pay and only 5%vat as long as the car is mostly original.. As I said, the link above refers to a car that u already own and want to bring to the uk. That has always had different tax rules and much more lenient ones at that

[v8yea]

I don't know who is advising you but the duty on cars has been 10% not 20% for as long as I can remember ( commercials are 20%) I have not heard that cars over 30 yrs old have any concessions ( they do if you import into Australia, not here)
If you are importing a car you have bought in the past year and you have not lived abroad in that country you will pay:
10% duty on invoice price PLUS shipping($2500) costs and any other costs in the country of origin combined.
add that lot together and then add 20% VAT
add port fees at this end plus shippers fees and you are about there.

A $20k car will cost you $30k before you can take it from the dock.
Unless the government has decided that it will make it cheaper to import in this reccession ( which I doubt !)

[drivin_me_nuts]

Didn't the 5% come from a special dispensation for cars of historical importance? Whilst James Dean's porsche might have qualified, I suspect that a standard C2 would probably not. I'm not sure if this sceme is even running anymore.

[v8yea]

I think the 5% scheme went YEARS ago

[geeeman]

hmmm ok

please see inner page add of classic american mag...

Hill Shipping:
'vehicles over 30 yrs can now be imported FREE of DUTY (normally 10%) and just 5%VAT'... contact hill shiping for further information'

so this seems to be a NEW thing


hope its true!!
come on guys keep up!

[anonymous-user]

geeeman said:

'... contact Hill Shipping for further information'

Have you tried it?

We'll be fascinated to hear what they say.

[vetteheadracer]

geeeman said:

hmmm ok

please see inner page add of classic american mag...

Hill Shipping:
'vehicles over 30 yrs can now be imported FREE of DUTY (normally 10%) and just 5%VAT'... contact hill shiping for further information'

so this seems to be a NEW thing


hope its true!!
come on guys keep up!

Given that HM Customs are the ones that apply the duty and VAT I'd check with them not base my knowledge on a magazine advert........

Also it used to be 22% Duty on commercial imports compared with the 10% on non-commercial imports. As far as I'm aware the duty rates still apply but obviously the VAT on top of these duties has increased.
Regarding the 30 year thing never imported a car that old so I guess you need to check with HMCE to get a definitive answer.

[geeeman]

spoke to Hill

its been recently introduced. they seemt to know what they're talkin about. They say it is possible to do this now as long as the car is in mostly original condition....