Another exporting from UK to USA thread - Florida
Discussion
Hello everyone,
I use to be on the forum here 7-8 years ago when I was a lot younger so long ago in fact it seems my account has expired so I have reregistered in an attempt to gain some advice if possible.
I've been reading though various posts on here today about people that have managed to export their cars from the UK to the USA. Fingers crossed I’m in the final stages of negotiation to relocate with my company to the USA who are going to sponsor me and my partner out there.
I’ll be living in Kissimmee Florida as we already own a condo there and have done for several years. If all goes well I really want to take my VW out there, I guess to a lot of people it’s nothing special.
It’s a Mk4 VW Golf R32 2003, it’s still very low mileage and iv owned it from new. It does have quite a lot of performance modifications rather than cosmetic, suspension / brakes ect. Reading though peoples posts and other website info the car needs to be DOT compliant or a letter of conformity from VW USA I think ?
I know the car won’t comply strait away as there are several thing that will need changing from a proper 3rd seat belt in the rear to headlights, DRL’s ect but nothing too heavy I don’t think. The R32 was sold in the USA as a LHD model so the parts to do the work are readily available out there.
1st question is does anyone know if the car would make it through reregistration with the compliance mod’s carried out ? (broad question I know !)
2nd would be can I take it over on the 12month visitor’s visa, do all the work required and submit it for an inspection before it had to return to the UK or is this very clear cut. i.e 12month visit then exit the country ?
3rd can anyone recommend a reputable importer in the USA that may take this on, so far I have read quite a lot of negative stuff about various importers but you can’t trust everything you read on the net !.
Cheers
Matt
I use to be on the forum here 7-8 years ago when I was a lot younger so long ago in fact it seems my account has expired so I have reregistered in an attempt to gain some advice if possible.
I've been reading though various posts on here today about people that have managed to export their cars from the UK to the USA. Fingers crossed I’m in the final stages of negotiation to relocate with my company to the USA who are going to sponsor me and my partner out there.
I’ll be living in Kissimmee Florida as we already own a condo there and have done for several years. If all goes well I really want to take my VW out there, I guess to a lot of people it’s nothing special.
It’s a Mk4 VW Golf R32 2003, it’s still very low mileage and iv owned it from new. It does have quite a lot of performance modifications rather than cosmetic, suspension / brakes ect. Reading though peoples posts and other website info the car needs to be DOT compliant or a letter of conformity from VW USA I think ?
I know the car won’t comply strait away as there are several thing that will need changing from a proper 3rd seat belt in the rear to headlights, DRL’s ect but nothing too heavy I don’t think. The R32 was sold in the USA as a LHD model so the parts to do the work are readily available out there.
1st question is does anyone know if the car would make it through reregistration with the compliance mod’s carried out ? (broad question I know !)
2nd would be can I take it over on the 12month visitor’s visa, do all the work required and submit it for an inspection before it had to return to the UK or is this very clear cut. i.e 12month visit then exit the country ?
3rd can anyone recommend a reputable importer in the USA that may take this on, so far I have read quite a lot of negative stuff about various importers but you can’t trust everything you read on the net !.
Cheers
Matt
Matt,
I am trying to figure out why you would want to pay several thousand pounds to bring a RHD car to USA making needed changes and then take it back.
It will be much better to buy a car here and sell it when you are ready to return. You will have a very good choice of cars which are more suitable. Apart from VW, Audi an BMW are very common, similar vehicles but bigger engines to counteract the environmental stuff.
You would have to decide whether to store your car there or sell it.
Does yours have a good air conditioning system? Central Florida is very warm and humid about ten months of the year.
If you have deep pockets you can get a new BMW from their Spartanburg, South Carolina factory. This works for the wagons (X1, X3, X5, X6) which are made there, as well as for all their other models, made in Germany. The price is good and you get to drive any new models on the track - or off road. You set it up through your local UK BMW dealer who will take your VW in part payment.
Think about it.
Wilf.
I am trying to figure out why you would want to pay several thousand pounds to bring a RHD car to USA making needed changes and then take it back.
It will be much better to buy a car here and sell it when you are ready to return. You will have a very good choice of cars which are more suitable. Apart from VW, Audi an BMW are very common, similar vehicles but bigger engines to counteract the environmental stuff.
You would have to decide whether to store your car there or sell it.
Does yours have a good air conditioning system? Central Florida is very warm and humid about ten months of the year.
If you have deep pockets you can get a new BMW from their Spartanburg, South Carolina factory. This works for the wagons (X1, X3, X5, X6) which are made there, as well as for all their other models, made in Germany. The price is good and you get to drive any new models on the track - or off road. You set it up through your local UK BMW dealer who will take your VW in part payment.
Think about it.
Wilf.
The best thing you can do is contact VW of America Technical Service and give them the full VIN of the vehicle so that you can get a list of the required modifications required to get the vehicle to be compliant.
Here is their address:
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA INC
3800 HAMLIN RD
AUBURN HILLS, MI 48326-2829
The key issue is that there is potentially a great deal of difference that may not be easy to deal with, such as crash structure, bumpers, emissions components and the list goes on right the way to having DOT marked lights.
So I would investigate it first, then bring into compliance before export, because once you export from the UK all the work has to be done by a registered importer (RI) once you apply for permanent importation to the USA.
Until you get VW's to-do list and price out the parts, then figure out what the RI will do or require done to release the vehicle you'll have no idea whether this is going to be economically viable. The RI is going to be most concerned about protecting their name rather than cutting corners to save you money, and you are at their mercy as there is no other option but to use them.
Here is their address:
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA INC
3800 HAMLIN RD
AUBURN HILLS, MI 48326-2829
The key issue is that there is potentially a great deal of difference that may not be easy to deal with, such as crash structure, bumpers, emissions components and the list goes on right the way to having DOT marked lights.
So I would investigate it first, then bring into compliance before export, because once you export from the UK all the work has to be done by a registered importer (RI) once you apply for permanent importation to the USA.
Until you get VW's to-do list and price out the parts, then figure out what the RI will do or require done to release the vehicle you'll have no idea whether this is going to be economically viable. The RI is going to be most concerned about protecting their name rather than cutting corners to save you money, and you are at their mercy as there is no other option but to use them.
Thanks for the replies guys,
My plan wouldn't be to bring it back for quite a long time, if I stay and take the job it will be 5 years minimum. So not a quick trip really, I know the car isn't anything special to anyone but as you point out I have had the car almost 11 years now and have used it mostly as a Trackday weekend toy it's more sentimental to me really. I've been round most of Europe in it and been to the ring many many times.
I also have a hgp 460ps turbo kit sat in my garage waiting to install but I put that on hold once I found out about the USA job. I will start with trying to contact VW USA tech and see where that leads me.
Once I get established and SS number sorted ect, I already have a short list of cars drawn up as daily drivers
an F150 and either an RS4 / S5 or Camaro ZL1 are ticking the boxes for now.
I'm out at the start of July for 3 months so ill see how it goes.
Cheers
Matt
My plan wouldn't be to bring it back for quite a long time, if I stay and take the job it will be 5 years minimum. So not a quick trip really, I know the car isn't anything special to anyone but as you point out I have had the car almost 11 years now and have used it mostly as a Trackday weekend toy it's more sentimental to me really. I've been round most of Europe in it and been to the ring many many times.
I also have a hgp 460ps turbo kit sat in my garage waiting to install but I put that on hold once I found out about the USA job. I will start with trying to contact VW USA tech and see where that leads me.
Once I get established and SS number sorted ect, I already have a short list of cars drawn up as daily drivers
an F150 and either an RS4 / S5 or Camaro ZL1 are ticking the boxes for now.I'm out at the start of July for 3 months so ill see how it goes.
Cheers
Matt
Bringing a UK spec car into the US can be surprisingly costly, even for apparently identical models. There are often a lot of hidden and expensive to implement modifications to perform in order to get it to DOT specs. Given that R32's are already available over here it makes little sense to go to the hassle and expense of importing a UK spec one that once here will be much more expensive to insure and very hard to sell on (should you decide) for good money as it's RHD.
Also consider that whilst an R32 is good for UK roads (fuel economy aside) it may not be all that suitable as an only car in the US. Roads can be very poorly surfaced compared to the UK (even in Florida) and a long distance comfy cruising ability is a much bigger consideration over here than in the UK. Everything in the US is much further apart, and the cities are physically much larger in area so you usually have to drive miles to get anywhere.
Either way best of luck, but as R32's are readily available here you're best off storing or selling yours and just buying one over here.
Also consider that whilst an R32 is good for UK roads (fuel economy aside) it may not be all that suitable as an only car in the US. Roads can be very poorly surfaced compared to the UK (even in Florida) and a long distance comfy cruising ability is a much bigger consideration over here than in the UK. Everything in the US is much further apart, and the cities are physically much larger in area so you usually have to drive miles to get anywhere.
Either way best of luck, but as R32's are readily available here you're best off storing or selling yours and just buying one over here.
Looks like the general consensus is that this is not a great idea - and I tend to agree. I appreciate the emotional attachment you have to your care - but it really will be a bit of a liability here.
That said, I brought my C5 Corvette with me when I moved to Central FL in 2001. I did a temporary import on mine, so for the first year it cost other than the price of shipping a 20' sea-can from Thamesport to Miami + the cargo handling and customs fees. I ran it on the UK number plate and insured it on a blanket policy with my company.
At month 11 I permanently imported it, which entailed a very perfunctory DMV inspection, check of the paperwork and a tax calculation based on Kelly trade book, a year after it arrived.
The DMV inspection was scant because it was a car they were familiar with, LHD and a VIN # in the US system. It's likely to be a lot more complex with your UK originated Golf.
You also mentioned a partner. Are you married to that partner? Just curious about the visa situation...
That said, I brought my C5 Corvette with me when I moved to Central FL in 2001. I did a temporary import on mine, so for the first year it cost other than the price of shipping a 20' sea-can from Thamesport to Miami + the cargo handling and customs fees. I ran it on the UK number plate and insured it on a blanket policy with my company.
At month 11 I permanently imported it, which entailed a very perfunctory DMV inspection, check of the paperwork and a tax calculation based on Kelly trade book, a year after it arrived.
The DMV inspection was scant because it was a car they were familiar with, LHD and a VIN # in the US system. It's likely to be a lot more complex with your UK originated Golf.
You also mentioned a partner. Are you married to that partner? Just curious about the visa situation...
mattcony said:
2nd would be can I take it over on the 12month visitor’s visa, do all the work required and submit it for an inspection before it had to return to the UK or is this very clear cut. i.e 12month visit then exit the country ?
My understanding is that it's all about how the car is imported on the HS7 upon arrival. If you check the temporary import box, you have to export it within 12 months, then if you want to import it as a conforming car, you still need to go through a Registered Importer to make the declaration that it does conform. These RI's may not be interested in helping - I believe the majority of their work is for commercial clients or for exotic vehicles, and they charge accordingly.If I was as attached to the car as you apparently are, I'd ship it over as cheaply as possible (roll on, roll off) and enjoy the sunshine for a year. Insurance shouldn't be too terrible, RHD makes almost no difference in terms of ease of driving, as you probably know from you European excursions. If you wanted to, you could have the car officially 'destroyed' and keep it for track days only. Here's the form: http://www.hillstax.org/espanol/vehMotorizadoSpn/d...
David
I had a vehicle that was temporarily imported destroyed. The customs agent checked the VIN and the guy from the scrapyard lifted the car off the trailer with a forklift and then flipped it around. It rolled over a few times and the customs agent picked up his paperwork and left. As the agent said, nobody was going to turn that car into a runner with ease.
If the paperwork says export or destroy, they mean one or the other, not keep in the garage for a track day.
If the paperwork says export or destroy, they mean one or the other, not keep in the garage for a track day.
This may come across as particularly harsh, so I apologise in advance as you're probably not going to like it.
You need to ditch the sentimental attachment to the car, it's really not worth it. I could understand if it was a priceless classic, that you could never own again, but lets take a reality check. It's a VW Golf, and a mass produced one at that.
See - told you it was going to sounds harsh....
Now for the softly softly approach:
Moving across the pond is a big deal, when you make the decision to come here you can't really do it successfully by trying to hold onto certain aspects of your lifestyle that you enjoyed in the UK and bring them over to the US. You have to fully commit to it, and unfortunately you're going to have to be ruthless with certain things and accept the fact that you're going to lose them, whether they are sentimental or not. Think of it as a band-aid (plaster) - at some point you're going to have to just accept the pain and rip it off.
When my wife and I came over here we left sentimental furniture in the UK and even got rid of two family pets that we'd had for a few years as it wouldn't have been fair on them to expect them to put up with such a major lifestyle change, it just wouldn't work (for info 'getting rid' didn't mean we killed 'em - we found new owners for our two cats, we moved from the countryside to where they were 'outdoor' cats, to inner city Manhattan). We both sold our cars that we'd had for years and enjoyed, I sold my trackday car that I'd poured time and money into, and we rented out 'our' house.
It hurt, it was a difficult decision, we shed tears (no really, we did), we felt awful for giving away two loved pets, giving up our home that we'd made ours, and getting rid of our cars, but three years on, it was the right move. I no longer feel the pain from ripping off the band-aid. I look back on it and it seems easy.
You need to do this with your car. Start telling yourself now that you're not sentimentally attached to it, its just a car. You can get another one, a nicer one, a lower mileage one, a nicer condition one, whatever. If you're serious about the move, make yourself do it. A RHD Golf in the USA is a silly idea, regardless of how much you've bonded with it. You'll spend all the time and money getting it over here, and then 6 months down the line you'll think it was a stupid idea. You'll be cursing RHD, you won't be able to pay for tolls easily, parking will be a nightmare, insurance will probably be more expensive, you'll never re-sell it as nobody wants the steering wheel on the 'wrong' side, and you'll be stuck with it. Then you'll have to do it all over again to bring it back to the UK if you ever come back.
How about two other options:
- If the car is that special to you, can you afford to mothball it for a few years?
- Have you considered removing all of the modified bits, returning the car to standard, selling it, and buying a new Golf over here and putting all your bits back on to make a US equivalent of 'your' R32?
You need to ditch the sentimental attachment to the car, it's really not worth it. I could understand if it was a priceless classic, that you could never own again, but lets take a reality check. It's a VW Golf, and a mass produced one at that.
See - told you it was going to sounds harsh....
Now for the softly softly approach:
Moving across the pond is a big deal, when you make the decision to come here you can't really do it successfully by trying to hold onto certain aspects of your lifestyle that you enjoyed in the UK and bring them over to the US. You have to fully commit to it, and unfortunately you're going to have to be ruthless with certain things and accept the fact that you're going to lose them, whether they are sentimental or not. Think of it as a band-aid (plaster) - at some point you're going to have to just accept the pain and rip it off.
When my wife and I came over here we left sentimental furniture in the UK and even got rid of two family pets that we'd had for a few years as it wouldn't have been fair on them to expect them to put up with such a major lifestyle change, it just wouldn't work (for info 'getting rid' didn't mean we killed 'em - we found new owners for our two cats, we moved from the countryside to where they were 'outdoor' cats, to inner city Manhattan). We both sold our cars that we'd had for years and enjoyed, I sold my trackday car that I'd poured time and money into, and we rented out 'our' house.
It hurt, it was a difficult decision, we shed tears (no really, we did), we felt awful for giving away two loved pets, giving up our home that we'd made ours, and getting rid of our cars, but three years on, it was the right move. I no longer feel the pain from ripping off the band-aid. I look back on it and it seems easy.
You need to do this with your car. Start telling yourself now that you're not sentimentally attached to it, its just a car. You can get another one, a nicer one, a lower mileage one, a nicer condition one, whatever. If you're serious about the move, make yourself do it. A RHD Golf in the USA is a silly idea, regardless of how much you've bonded with it. You'll spend all the time and money getting it over here, and then 6 months down the line you'll think it was a stupid idea. You'll be cursing RHD, you won't be able to pay for tolls easily, parking will be a nightmare, insurance will probably be more expensive, you'll never re-sell it as nobody wants the steering wheel on the 'wrong' side, and you'll be stuck with it. Then you'll have to do it all over again to bring it back to the UK if you ever come back.
How about two other options:
- If the car is that special to you, can you afford to mothball it for a few years?
- Have you considered removing all of the modified bits, returning the car to standard, selling it, and buying a new Golf over here and putting all your bits back on to make a US equivalent of 'your' R32?
I get it a lot, but in the opposite direction.
People relocating from the US to the UK and want to bring their car with them.
Nine times out of ten once the costs of legislation compliance have been explained, and the fact the car is worth twice its value in its domestic market compared to its imported market, they sell them where they are and buy something else when they get here.
Unless it's something particularly rare/exotic/desirable it's not worth doing.
People relocating from the US to the UK and want to bring their car with them.
Nine times out of ten once the costs of legislation compliance have been explained, and the fact the car is worth twice its value in its domestic market compared to its imported market, they sell them where they are and buy something else when they get here.
Unless it's something particularly rare/exotic/desirable it's not worth doing.
dvs_dave said:
Ouch. What sort of car? Also how did you end up getting the attention of and then falling foul of customs?
It was a Ford Sierra XR4x4. They never sold them in the USA, I wanted one, so I brought one in. Nearly a year later I saw no sense in re-exporting it (cost of re-exporting was greater than it's value) so I went to my local customs and asked about having them witness the destruction. We made arrangements to meet at a designated scrapyard and the job was done. It was clean, easy and legal.I would not repeat the experience.
Thanks again for all the reply’s,
Mac - Harsh but fair as you say, I know I have to put things in prospective long term. Were pretty much the same have a big house in the countryside which were going to give up and live in a 3 bed Condo. Dog & cats too will have to go ect. It’s a massive move but hopefully one that will pay off in time and be the right decision in the end. I’ve spent quite a lot of time in the US and CA now for work and do think it’s going to be the right move in the end.
Matt – well spotted there, wedding is in 5 months !, Just enough time before we start the L1 Visa application with work and I start work for the US side of the company.
Cheers
Matt
Mac - Harsh but fair as you say, I know I have to put things in prospective long term. Were pretty much the same have a big house in the countryside which were going to give up and live in a 3 bed Condo. Dog & cats too will have to go ect. It’s a massive move but hopefully one that will pay off in time and be the right decision in the end. I’ve spent quite a lot of time in the US and CA now for work and do think it’s going to be the right move in the end.
Matt – well spotted there, wedding is in 5 months !, Just enough time before we start the L1 Visa application with work and I start work for the US side of the company.
Cheers
Matt
Excellent and congratulations! It sounds like you have things pretty well nailed-down, but don't hesitate to shoot me a personal message if you need any logistical or local perspective.
I live in Belle Isle, just to the west of OIA and did pretty much what you are about to in 2001. My road to permanent residency was a rocky one - mainly due to my psychotic L1-A sponsor, so I would urge you to be careful and not rely on anyone but yourself and your own resources, as you move along this journey.
Best of luck with your move!
I live in Belle Isle, just to the west of OIA and did pretty much what you are about to in 2001. My road to permanent residency was a rocky one - mainly due to my psychotic L1-A sponsor, so I would urge you to be careful and not rely on anyone but yourself and your own resources, as you move along this journey.
Best of luck with your move!
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