Importing a classic
Discussion
I am in the middle of importing a Spanish registered 1970 Porsche 911 from Spain.
I have organised insurance against the chassis number given no registration documents for the UK. The likely route is for the car to be transported to South UK and then I will need to travel down and drive the car back to Glasgow.
Looking on the DVLA website and trying to get my head round the regulation for importing a car, it would appear that I need to get the vehicle registered immediately. To the extent that I need to seek dispensation to drive the car for its MOT for approval in the UK.
Is anyone able to offer advice on whether the car can legally be driven or not?
I have organised insurance against the chassis number given no registration documents for the UK. The likely route is for the car to be transported to South UK and then I will need to travel down and drive the car back to Glasgow.
Looking on the DVLA website and trying to get my head round the regulation for importing a car, it would appear that I need to get the vehicle registered immediately. To the extent that I need to seek dispensation to drive the car for its MOT for approval in the UK.
Is anyone able to offer advice on whether the car can legally be driven or not?
as long as you are insured and it has number plates you will be fine, i think... i used to run about with stuff on american plates before having them registered and never had an issue... even helped by traffic police to move one car to the side of the road when a blocked fuel filter caused it to cut out at a junction - that car was wearing 1929 penna plates..
We did this last year with a '66 Fiat 500 that we drove back from Italy (slowly...)
Strictly speaking you aren't allowed as a uk resident to drive the car on the foreign plates in the uk. You should be fine to get to the pre-booked Mot that you will need to get it registered though, and we drove ours to and from a couple of garages when it failed...
Biggest problem we had was the 14 days (extended to 28 begrudgingly by the insurance) that we could be insured on the chassis plate. Factor in driving it back, failing the mot, getting parts, fixing it, re-MOT and the time for the DVLA to process and give you a uk registration and that became a bit fraught! (didn't want it uninsured).
The DVLA local office were brilliant by the way.
Good luck!
Bob
Strictly speaking you aren't allowed as a uk resident to drive the car on the foreign plates in the uk. You should be fine to get to the pre-booked Mot that you will need to get it registered though, and we drove ours to and from a couple of garages when it failed...
Biggest problem we had was the 14 days (extended to 28 begrudgingly by the insurance) that we could be insured on the chassis plate. Factor in driving it back, failing the mot, getting parts, fixing it, re-MOT and the time for the DVLA to process and give you a uk registration and that became a bit fraught! (didn't want it uninsured).
The DVLA local office were brilliant by the way.
Good luck!
Bob
Thanks for the advice.
In terms of it being financially viable, the car is not a family car, it came onto the market after a six month search, the condition was right. Unfortunately this has coincided with the pound being the weakest in don't know how many years (possibly the lowest on record).
The weak pound couple with the car being in the most obscure region of Spain has hopefully allowed me to find a good Italian delivered, original, untouched 911t.
Can't wait.
In terms of it being financially viable, the car is not a family car, it came onto the market after a six month search, the condition was right. Unfortunately this has coincided with the pound being the weakest in don't know how many years (possibly the lowest on record).
The weak pound couple with the car being in the most obscure region of Spain has hopefully allowed me to find a good Italian delivered, original, untouched 911t.
Can't wait.
Legally UK residents are not allowed to use a foreign registered vehicle on UK roads. If your plan is to drive it from the South of England to Glasgow on Spanish plates before you have registered it in the UK then you may have a problem.
Technically you can drive it without plates to a pre-registered MOT appointment but I think you may be asking for trouble if that appointment is 600 miles away in Glasgow. At the very least you would get stopped by every traffic car that saw you without plates.
There are new rules being introduced as of April which means that you will have to inform HMRC immediately it arrives in the UK that it is being permanently imported, there are substantial fines if you don't, and you will have to settle any tax before it is released.
Because it is over ten years old and is being imported from the EU is only liable for VAT unless this has been paid previously in another member state. You might want to look into this in more detail so you are not liable for any VAT. You will also need the HMRC forms stating the date of import and that all duties have been paid before you can register the car.
I would suggest that you use a good shipping company and get the Porsche through customs and then transported to Glasgow where you can then complete the registration process with it safely tucked up in your garage
Technically you can drive it without plates to a pre-registered MOT appointment but I think you may be asking for trouble if that appointment is 600 miles away in Glasgow. At the very least you would get stopped by every traffic car that saw you without plates.
There are new rules being introduced as of April which means that you will have to inform HMRC immediately it arrives in the UK that it is being permanently imported, there are substantial fines if you don't, and you will have to settle any tax before it is released.
Because it is over ten years old and is being imported from the EU is only liable for VAT unless this has been paid previously in another member state. You might want to look into this in more detail so you are not liable for any VAT. You will also need the HMRC forms stating the date of import and that all duties have been paid before you can register the car.
I would suggest that you use a good shipping company and get the Porsche through customs and then transported to Glasgow where you can then complete the registration process with it safely tucked up in your garage
I think the issue is expats like myself, now living abroad and earning considerably more than we were in the UK, now being able to afford the cars we lusted after - this coupled with the weak pound and the recession/ increased living costs is making it difficult for UK owners to hang onto their P&J. Its far more economical for us to buy them in UK and ship them out than to source locally.
last year while back on holiday on a whim I bought an '85 911 and '88 Esprit turbo and exported them, I am one of a very large number. I will be coming back later this year for an F355 or AM DB9 V12 as I want something more modern, after that I will be turning my attention to an early E-type.
last year while back on holiday on a whim I bought an '85 911 and '88 Esprit turbo and exported them, I am one of a very large number. I will be coming back later this year for an F355 or AM DB9 V12 as I want something more modern, after that I will be turning my attention to an early E-type.
bigblock said:
Legally UK residents are not allowed to use a foreign registered vehicle on UK roads. If your plan is to drive it from the South of England to Glasgow on Spanish plates before you have registered it in the UK then you may have a problem.
Technically you can drive it without plates to a pre-registered MOT appointment but I think you may be asking for trouble if that appointment is 600 miles away in Glasgow. At the very least you would get stopped by every traffic car that saw you without plates.
There are new rules being introduced as of April which means that you will have to inform HMRC immediately it arrives in the UK that it is being permanently imported, there are substantial fines if you don't, and you will have to settle any tax before it is released.
Because it is over ten years old and is being imported from the EU is only liable for VAT unless this has been paid previously in another member state. You might want to look into this in more detail so you are not liable for any VAT. You will also need the HMRC forms stating the date of import and that all duties have been paid before you can register the car.
I would suggest that you use a good shipping company and get the Porsche through customs and then transported to Glasgow where you can then complete the registration process with it safely tucked up in your garage
A lot of my fears confirmed B Block. The VAT issue I have sorted,car is currently taxed so I have the documents to confirm that VAT has been paid previously so no duty to pay. I have a few forms to fill in. Technically you can drive it without plates to a pre-registered MOT appointment but I think you may be asking for trouble if that appointment is 600 miles away in Glasgow. At the very least you would get stopped by every traffic car that saw you without plates.
There are new rules being introduced as of April which means that you will have to inform HMRC immediately it arrives in the UK that it is being permanently imported, there are substantial fines if you don't, and you will have to settle any tax before it is released.
Because it is over ten years old and is being imported from the EU is only liable for VAT unless this has been paid previously in another member state. You might want to look into this in more detail so you are not liable for any VAT. You will also need the HMRC forms stating the date of import and that all duties have been paid before you can register the car.
I would suggest that you use a good shipping company and get the Porsche through customs and then transported to Glasgow where you can then complete the registration process with it safely tucked up in your garage
Currently awaiting a price for delivery to Glasgow.
Thanks all
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