Importing a car from the US.
Discussion
Hi there
Just so I've got this right and were talking newish Corvettes.
I pay the cost of the car from the dealer in the US. So say circa $45,000-$50,000 US Dollars.
Next is shipping cost and shipping insurance, anyone with experience how much does this cost for such a car roughly?
Then once in the UK there is obviously 17.5% VAT and 10% Duty to addon to the total cost of the car and shipping, is that correct?
Next up is the SVA, how much can one expect to pay for this to be done on a Corvette?
Thanks guys
Just so I've got this right and were talking newish Corvettes.
I pay the cost of the car from the dealer in the US. So say circa $45,000-$50,000 US Dollars.
Next is shipping cost and shipping insurance, anyone with experience how much does this cost for such a car roughly?
Then once in the UK there is obviously 17.5% VAT and 10% Duty to addon to the total cost of the car and shipping, is that correct?
Next up is the SVA, how much can one expect to pay for this to be done on a Corvette?
Thanks guys
HI, I bought and shipped over my Saleen myself, what you will be looking at in terms of cost is purchase price (no sales tax as it is direct for export if buying from a dealer) shipping RORO approx £5-700, shipping insurance is a percentage of vehicle value (1% i think)associated dock handling fees this end approx £1-200 add all that together then add on 10% import duty,when you have the total sum you then add on 17.5% VAT yes you pay tax on tax!
as for the SVA, give Ben a call at Sigmanautomotive he will help you out with a price
as for the SVA, give Ben a call at Sigmanautomotive he will help you out with a price
Edited by steve.c on Thursday 31st May 21:56
I imported mine in 2004.
Basically, as has been said, dollar cost - so the cheaper you get that bill of sale for, the better.
I paid $820 ro-ro with Wallenius Wilhelmsen - often better to purchase on the American websites so you get the benefit of the dollar exchange rate.
10% import duty on cost
17.5% VAT on top of everything
One thing I forgot was that it's no good woerking on the basis of $2 to the £ because when you transfer your money to the US via your bank, they will give you the holiday money rate and also stiff you about £25 to transfer the money.
Better to let the shipping rep clear the car through C&E and pay them.
After that, it goes like this (note the registration fee has now gone up to £50):
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/627465/2
Basically, as has been said, dollar cost - so the cheaper you get that bill of sale for, the better.
I paid $820 ro-ro with Wallenius Wilhelmsen - often better to purchase on the American websites so you get the benefit of the dollar exchange rate.
10% import duty on cost
17.5% VAT on top of everything
One thing I forgot was that it's no good woerking on the basis of $2 to the £ because when you transfer your money to the US via your bank, they will give you the holiday money rate and also stiff you about £25 to transfer the money.
Better to let the shipping rep clear the car through C&E and pay them.
After that, it goes like this (note the registration fee has now gone up to £50):
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/627465/2
Hi Wayne,
Got mine ready for SVA now. The cost of SVA is £158
Before I sent the SVA form off, I phoned Swansea, and asked which VOSA test station in my area had the shorter time queue
I would have prefered Manchester, but was told only end of July !!
However Carslisle will get it in within 10 days.
A 2 hour trip, but at least I get on the road for July.
Here is the back of mine.
I have fitted lights like you suggested to the front.
I have a question,
It looks like the Euro tail lights do not have a built-in retro reflector.
Did you have to stick temporary reflectors to the rear of your C5 ?
Got mine ready for SVA now. The cost of SVA is £158
Before I sent the SVA form off, I phoned Swansea, and asked which VOSA test station in my area had the shorter time queue
I would have prefered Manchester, but was told only end of July !!
However Carslisle will get it in within 10 days.
A 2 hour trip, but at least I get on the road for July.
Here is the back of mine.
I have fitted lights like you suggested to the front.
I have a question,
It looks like the Euro tail lights do not have a built-in retro reflector.
Did you have to stick temporary reflectors to the rear of your C5 ?
UK_WS6 said:
I have a question,
It looks like the Euro tail lights do not have a built-in retro reflector.
Did you have to stick temporary reflectors to the rear of your C5 ?
The short answer is no. The long answer is no. I probably had the softer tester at the local SVA Centre and it wasn't mentioned and my mate had the hard tester who makes people cry and he didn't mention it either. Nice car.It looks like the Euro tail lights do not have a built-in retro reflector.
Did you have to stick temporary reflectors to the rear of your C5 ?
Thanks for the re-assurance.
I was almost ready to go out and buy some stick-on 60mm circular reflectors.
Don't think I will bother now.
I have the mesh to fit infront, but, like you mentioned, I will leave it off until I get the SVA pass certificate.
What peeves me is the fact I have to go for a M.O.T. aswell.
Another outlay that I can do without.
When you went to get your registration, was the clerk at the local dvla O.K. with the date of registration,?
Mine just says 2004.
Will I need to get an first actual registration date, from USA, or can I just say October 2004 for example?
I was almost ready to go out and buy some stick-on 60mm circular reflectors.
Don't think I will bother now.
I have the mesh to fit infront, but, like you mentioned, I will leave it off until I get the SVA pass certificate.
What peeves me is the fact I have to go for a M.O.T. aswell.
Another outlay that I can do without.
When you went to get your registration, was the clerk at the local dvla O.K. with the date of registration,?
Mine just says 2004.
Will I need to get an first actual registration date, from USA, or can I just say October 2004 for example?
UK_WS6 said:
Thanks for the re-assurance.
I was almost ready to go out and buy some stick-on 60mm circular reflectors.
Don't think I will bother now.
I have the mesh to fit infront, but, like you mentioned, I will leave it off until I get the SVA pass certificate.
What peeves me is the fact I have to go for a M.O.T. aswell.
Another outlay that I can do without.
When you went to get your registration, was the clerk at the local dvla O.K. with the date of registration,?
Mine just says 2004.
Will I need to get an first actual registration date, from USA, or can I just say October 2004 for example?
Ah. I filled out the registration form myself and with the original certificate of title which shows first registration, went in person and had no problem getting my 02 registration date (although I was fitting my personalised 51 plate). My mate did his by post. His was an 03 but despite his certificate of title saying it was a Jun 03 registered car, they issued a 52 plate. A lot of people have had problems as they can't give the car a newer identity so will look for any way possible to backdate it. In the end it doesn't matter as long as you keep a copy of the original title (and everything else as DVLA keep everything) to show the next owner it's true age.I was almost ready to go out and buy some stick-on 60mm circular reflectors.
Don't think I will bother now.
I have the mesh to fit infront, but, like you mentioned, I will leave it off until I get the SVA pass certificate.
What peeves me is the fact I have to go for a M.O.T. aswell.
Another outlay that I can do without.
When you went to get your registration, was the clerk at the local dvla O.K. with the date of registration,?
Mine just says 2004.
Will I need to get an first actual registration date, from USA, or can I just say October 2004 for example?
UK_WS6 said:
Hi there, Lu51fer,
Look what I got today.
Coldn't have done it without all the help and advice on your cardomain pages.
Thanks.
I have the MOT planned for tomorrow (Tuesday)
Fantastic news, mate. I wonder if thhe MOT machine is linked to the SVA machine. If so, it should be an automatic pass. Odd if it isn't. You'd think the SVA certificate would count as an MOT wouldn't you? LOL.Look what I got today.
Coldn't have done it without all the help and advice on your cardomain pages.
Thanks.
I have the MOT planned for tomorrow (Tuesday)
Another American car on UK soil is always good news. Enjoy it and spread the word for you are on a holy mission.
Vat on everything,
Even the shipping in the States that you paid in dollas.
Also, if you used a trucking company to move your vehicle from the dealer lot to the agents warehouse.
Now ain't that a load of bo
ocks.!
How should we have to pay UK vat on some thing that was done over in USA.
i suppose if i bought some car mats over in US then damnn C&E would want VAT on them too. !!!!!!!
Even the shipping in the States that you paid in dollas.
Also, if you used a trucking company to move your vehicle from the dealer lot to the agents warehouse.
Now ain't that a load of bo
ocks.!How should we have to pay UK vat on some thing that was done over in USA.
i suppose if i bought some car mats over in US then damnn C&E would want VAT on them too. !!!!!!!
eldudereno said:
Has anyone bought a car from a private individual in the States and if so, did you receive a bill of sale? As LuS1fer said earlier, the lower the bill of sale the better.
Also, a big thank you to LuS1fer for his brilliant pictorial write up on how to get your C5 through the SVA.
Let me put this theoretically. I used an agent to whom I paid $600 to look at cars and put one on a boat. What he paid for it is his own business, is it not and then he can sell it to me for whatever price he wants, can he not, the car having already depreciated through him buying it (it works the other way too, he may have paid less by negotiating better than me and kept the change). So lesson one is value on used cars is always arbitrary - you may have paid over the odds or under the odds, who is to say. However, two things would theoretically have to be borne in mind - firstly marine insurance will only cover the value on the bill of sale so if it goes down, so does your bank account and if C&E smell a large rat or think the value is wildly wrong, they can assess the value themselves and charge you that.Also, a big thank you to LuS1fer for his brilliant pictorial write up on how to get your C5 through the SVA.
As an example, someone bought a high miles ex-Police 90's Impala for a pittance and brought it over. C&E questioned the value and made him provide proof of the transfer of the money to the US so they could check it wasn't an undervalue. Sometimes letting the shipping company clear it through Customs is a lot easier. Hypothetically of course.
largelunchbox said:
if i purchased a used car at a bargain price with a bill of sale, and then added extras in the us,would the import duty be on the extras as well or just the car value?
In theory, both, but who's going to know. Just bear in mind though that once you modify a car in the US, the SVA gets a whole lot tougher and longer because all the things they take as equivalent may no longer be accepted as such.Gassing Station | Yank Motors | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff