Car imports

[MikeD1384]

Interested in the possibility of importing a Ford F-150 from the states. I’ve brought a car in from Europe (Subaru) . Agents are quoting £20k . This has put me off completely. Any price knowledge from those who have achieved would , of course, be incredible.

[monarodom]

I've recently imported a 2016 Challenger through shipmycar. You might have already got a quote via their website but the shipping costs and IVA work were all pretty reasonable. Import duty and VAT is the killer though.

[samoht]

What age / model F-150 ?
£20k for the truck, or £20k on top of the cost of the truck?

My baseline expectations would be
£500-£1000 shipping
10% import duty
20% VAT
plus some commission for the exporter and the importer

based on my experience bringing a used car in from Japan. I don't know if the sheer size of the F-150 puts it into much more expensive shipping territory.

Note that international shipping was completely thrown into disarray by Covid, so you might be getting crazy quotes for shipping due to that, but should settle down sooner or later if it hasn't already.

[Herb ashus boarder]

Try asking near Upper Heyford or Molesworth where there are or have been US bases

[LuS1fer]

The thing is that it's the cost in the US, plus shipping, plus 10% import duty plus 20% VAT on everything.
Plus marine insurance for when it's on the high seas.
Plus IVA costs unless it's over 10 years old when you'll just have to convert it to MOT standards, meaning orange indicators, front and rear, white sidelights, side repeaters and rear foglight though the requirements may be less stringent for a goods vehicle.

It used to be worthwhile when the exchange rate was good and VAT was lower and partly the reason American car prices have shot up in the UK.

[NMNeil]

Just make sure you buy one from a desert State. Any State where they are liberal with winter road salt will already have major rust issues.
https://raybuck.com/salt-rust-corrosion-by-state/