Importing to UK

[Sexycelticlady]

I have been an expat for just under 4 years and am returning to the UK. I am still paying off my car (08 Mustang GT California Special Edition) but rather than sell it I would love to bring it back with me and import it. I adore my car and have owned since new, kept it in very good condition and really do not want to lose it. Does anyone have any experience of this?

I have checked customs duty and I do not have to pay it or VAT as I am re-patriating, but I will have to get the car up to UK specs. Any idea of the cost and what might be needed to meet UK and EU standards? Insurance would be less than what I pay currently even thought it is an import. I am tryng to gather as much info as possible before I make the move (in 2 months).

I will have to re-finance in the UK so that I can pay off the US loan, as it is very unlikely they will allow me to continue with the vehical outside of the country. Would I simply try a normal bank loan or are there any companies that deal with this type of situation?

Is there anything that I am missing that I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance for any advice you might offer.

[LuS1fer]

We have plenty of people who can convert the car to UK spec - Surrey Mustang, Teslayn, Sigma, Atlantic Sports Cars - just ensure you get it done correctly or you can burn out the junction box. Plenty of specialist insurers though they may be more picky coming in from abroad.

Sign up to the forums at www.mocgb.net (all model Mustangs) or www.S197.co.uk for 2005-on specialism. You'll find unlimited support there.

[Sexycelticlady]

Thanks for the links and recommendations. I will check them out.

[Twin Turbo]

Welcome!

LV51FER's spot on with those IVA specialists. Your choice will likely depend on where in the UK you will be living (although the login name possibly gives a clue!)


Definately sign up to the two websites, too, as there's a wealth of experience and you'll get a very warm welcome

[LuS1fer]

Twin Turbo said:

Welcome!

Definately sign up to the two websites, too, as there's a wealth of experience and you'll get a very warm welcome

"...as long as your vents are closed and aligned"
Twin Turbo.



Where in the UK are you going to be based?

[Sexycelticlady]

I will be based in Oxford but have family all over the UK, mostly Herts and near Aberystwyth in Wales (lived there for 10 years myself, hence the user name). I have checked out the sites but not signed up yet , i have been lurking and reading all the threads. I also have quotes from a couple of places regarding adjusting the car to IVA standards, very different prices, one just over 1000 pounds (sorry, US keyboard, doesn't have the pound sign) and the other over 3000 pounds. Both are places I have seen recommended on the boards. The latter definitely seems extravagant.

[LuS1fer]

I think Surrey Mustang do a good job and Trevor is a strong supporter of the S197 forum. He also does a nice rear light cluster with orange indicators and goes the extra mile. As a resident of South Wales,I can tell you there's b*gger all over here.

I'd check the insurance position before anything else although I assume you have UK citizenship and driving licence.

[Sexycelticlady]

Yes, to the citizenship and driving licence. I currently pay over $400 a month for insurance, simply because of lack of insurance history and recent US licence and currenyl location. I have not yet checked insurance quotes in UK but that is on my list of things to do.

[Twin Turbo]

Oxford eh? That's only 30 mins from Newbury where we have our monthly meet. I'll expect to see you there (and yes, your airvents had better be lined up - sorry, got a bit of a OCD problem with them )

£1000 should be sufficient for a decent conversion, and that sound like the sort of money Trevor at SurreyMustang charges. He comes highly recommended

[Twin Turbo]

Oh, and try Graham Sykes for insurance. Seems the S197 is not a favorite with insurance companies at the moment, but I've heard of a few getting good quotes from GS. Give them a call......the online offerings don't seem to work for imports like Mustangs.

http://www.graham-sykes.co.uk/

[Dr-Bob]

Be sure to get someone that knows what they are doing.. SJB (Smart Junction Box) is sensitive ......

Edited by Dr-Bob on Thursday 7th July 22:02

[Sexycelticlady]

@TwinTurbo

Yes, the quote was from SurreyMustangs, trevor got back to me very quickly with it. Good to hear the recommendations.

Monthly meet-ups, eh? May well take you up on that.

I have just realised that you cannot get online quotations so I have sent off details to the site you recommend and will see what they get back to me with. Thanks.

Dr-Bob - that is what i aim to do, so am getting quotes from places people have recommended on these and similar forums.

[Motorrad]

Regarding your finance situation you aren't going to be able to export the vehicle without holding the title in your name- I presume if it's on finance you haven't physically got the title? If you have then it needs to show no lien on it before you take it to the port which in Texas means getting a whole new title from the tax office. It all takes time you might want to look into it now.

[Sexycelticlady]

Motorrad - Yes, I am currently doing that, Thanks.

[Mogsin]

I Imported my 07 Mustang GT CS earlier this year - For all the same reasons you have mentioned. Since importing it I have noticed there are expensive and more affordable methods of implementing the required UK changes. As has been said the electronics side shouldn't be compromised but I have seen the rear lights done in two ways. 1) Convert the reverse lights to indicators. Add a new reverse light and rear fog light below the bumper. 2) Fit a whole new light cluster - Looks better but it must be more expensive. - Then again i never got quotes.
I lived in Texas so exported it through Galveston and I used 51st state Autos to do all the work.
Also you can export using a container or by RORO ship the latter is obviously cheaper - I was on a budget so did the RORO. Everyone warned me not to leave anything in the car so I replaced the shiny valve caps for 50C plastic jobs only to find them missing when the car was delivered! Made me laugh until I couldn't find the originals (lost in the garage somewhere). Also might be worthwhile packing a few oil filters etc in your home goods on the return. They are so cheep in Walmart you have nothing to loose.

Above all though, I have never regretted bringing it back. It makes me smile each morning I drive it to work.

[Sexycelticlady]

@Mogsin - Thanks for that advice. I appreciate it. I admire mine everytime I walk up to it and every time I drive it, so I can certainly understand your smiles and it is the reasoon I am doing my best to organise bringing it with me.

[Mustang Baz]

I imported my 2000 GT Convertible in similar circumstances six years ago when I returned from the US; the car took up one side of a large container with my furniture etc in the other. Export, collection and registration/SVA etc was remarkably easy and thereafter, finding a place to service not too bad. I settled eventually on Roy Holmes at the Mustang Workshop in Fleet and he serviced it regularly thereafter. Biggest issue was the cost of spare parts and when a major repair was needed - mine had done 75k when I exported it from the US and I did another 60k miles on top of this during my UK ownership until selling it last year. Don't expect a $60 oil change from Jiffy Lube when you get it over here! Insurance also easy - plenty of American car specialists to choose from.

[Yellastang Mike]

Hi there,
I dont do the IVA conversions but I am based in Oxfordshire.
Check out my web site. I'm sure I can help you with most things.
www.modurstang.co.uk

Definately go to Trevor for your conversion. He's your man.

Mike.

[Stig]

Nothing more to add on the import front other than congratulating you on your fine taste in cars Did notice from your profile that you picture a GT though? The CS has a different front/rear valance? Anyway - they're all good

Here's mine (I'm not far from Oxford either)

Edited by Stig on Thursday 21st July 13:07

Edited by Stig on Thursday 21st July 13:09

[Stig]

Yellastang Mike said:

Hi there,
I dont do the IVA conversions but I am based in Oxfordshire.
Check out my web site. I'm sure I can help you with most things.
www.modurstang.co.uk

Definately go to Trevor for your conversion. He's your man.

Mike.

Hadn't realised you were so local Mike! Must pop by sometime