Newbie needs advice on poss Camaro import
Discussion
Hi all, newbie here after some advice.
I was in the States recently and the new Chevy Camaro is singing to me!- and with the exchange rate, seems like a bargin.
A few questions if I may-
1) Can anyone advise on import duty rate (which I assume is in US Dollars)?
2) Approximate shipping costs (does this depend on where the car comes from?)
3) If I did decide to order one, how do I go about it? Order straight from the US manfacturer or some other method?
4) On top of VAT, are there any other charges and/or issues that I should be aware of?
5) Any idea what insurance would run out to on said car, Im 31, male, 10+ years no claims, no convictions/offences.
6) I sat in a Camaro in the US and although I am an experienced driver I was concerned about manual gears and LHD. Its not a problem to adapt to I take it?
7) And finally, any other advice/info on Camaro ownership that I should be aware of?
Many thanks in advance.
I was in the States recently and the new Chevy Camaro is singing to me!- and with the exchange rate, seems like a bargin.
A few questions if I may-
1) Can anyone advise on import duty rate (which I assume is in US Dollars)?
2) Approximate shipping costs (does this depend on where the car comes from?)
3) If I did decide to order one, how do I go about it? Order straight from the US manfacturer or some other method?
4) On top of VAT, are there any other charges and/or issues that I should be aware of?
5) Any idea what insurance would run out to on said car, Im 31, male, 10+ years no claims, no convictions/offences.
6) I sat in a Camaro in the US and although I am an experienced driver I was concerned about manual gears and LHD. Its not a problem to adapt to I take it?
7) And finally, any other advice/info on Camaro ownership that I should be aware of?
Many thanks in advance.
I looked at douing this last year following a trip to the States. Unless you know exactly what you're doing, it really isn't worthwhile importing yourself (IMO). You can pick up a new one over here now for £37,000, and save yourself a world of grief. I suppose you may save £2000 overall. Someone on here will be better placed to give you a breakdown of taxes and charges. Don't forget IVA work will need to be carried out. As said, all IMO.
Insurance; I pay £500 fully comp. Bit older than you, clean license, no claims. Always used A-Plan before, but they couldn't match Flux.
Adapting to LHD is no problem at all. 10 minutes and you'll be there.
Insurance; I pay £500 fully comp. Bit older than you, clean license, no claims. Always used A-Plan before, but they couldn't match Flux.
Adapting to LHD is no problem at all. 10 minutes and you'll be there.
Shipping from the East Coast will roughly £1,250.
Import duty will be 10% of what you paid for the car. Add those two figures together and then the VAT will 17.5% of the total.
IVA test is £200, registration will cost £260, light conversion costs anywhere from roughly £750 to £2,500 depending on who you use.
Insurance will obviously be very individual specific but shouldn't be more than £600.
Whatever the cost is in US Dollars if you changed that symbol GBP is a rough guide to final price over here. The fact that they are $37,000 at an exchange rate of ~ $1.5/£1 doesn't mean it's only going to cost you about £25,000.
Oh, and you won't get any sales rebates on offer as the car will be going for export - if you can find a dealer willing to export one in the first place. GM don't like them doing it.
Import duty will be 10% of what you paid for the car. Add those two figures together and then the VAT will 17.5% of the total.
IVA test is £200, registration will cost £260, light conversion costs anywhere from roughly £750 to £2,500 depending on who you use.
Insurance will obviously be very individual specific but shouldn't be more than £600.
Whatever the cost is in US Dollars if you changed that symbol GBP is a rough guide to final price over here. The fact that they are $37,000 at an exchange rate of ~ $1.5/£1 doesn't mean it's only going to cost you about £25,000.
Oh, and you won't get any sales rebates on offer as the car will be going for export - if you can find a dealer willing to export one in the first place. GM don't like them doing it.
Thank you all for the replies, was very helpful.
It seems that, on reflection, the price could add up to being quite expensive once all the charges/taxes are taken into account.
I read somewhere that when the camaro comes out in the UK next year, they will be starting around £28,000. Is this accurate?
'Light modifications' was mentioned, is this modification that is required for road-worthiness or personal modifications for my own sake?
It seems that, on reflection, the price could add up to being quite expensive once all the charges/taxes are taken into account.
I read somewhere that when the camaro comes out in the UK next year, they will be starting around £28,000. Is this accurate?
'Light modifications' was mentioned, is this modification that is required for road-worthiness or personal modifications for my own sake?
If you do go ahead, don't scrimp on the light conversion. With modern vehicle electronics, it's not as straightforward as it used to be. There's a real possibility of frying lighting modules (SJB's) as several Mustang owners found out to their cost. Unscrupulous garages, apparently, just chucked a couple of extra bulbs in the circuit and buried them under panels/carpets.
Teslayn did my Camaro; as their advert says, "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of the lowest price is forgotten".
Not affiliated, just a happy customer. They also did my Z06, and it was a quality piece of work.
Teslayn did my Camaro; as their advert says, "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of the lowest price is forgotten".
Not affiliated, just a happy customer. They also did my Z06, and it was a quality piece of work.
VAT will be 20% from next January. It seems to me that with the current bad excvhange rate, an Americam muscle car is not the bargain it was last year. Besides which, there are plenty of low mile Mustangs in the UK for half the price.
The UK price is going to depend on many factors including the exchange rate and as they are built in Canada, probably the Canadian exchange rate. If, as they say, they are only bringing in the Camaro SS, I think £28k is a pipe dream and it will be pitched nearer £35k which is what they sold the VXR8 for. then again, they were turning the VXR8 out at £23k at one point but that was dependent on the Australian dollar rate.
The UK price is going to depend on many factors including the exchange rate and as they are built in Canada, probably the Canadian exchange rate. If, as they say, they are only bringing in the Camaro SS, I think £28k is a pipe dream and it will be pitched nearer £35k which is what they sold the VXR8 for. then again, they were turning the VXR8 out at £23k at one point but that was dependent on the Australian dollar rate.
Needs new wheels said:
Christ! North of 40K, well thats definately out of my price range then! Even 28 was quite dear for someone in my position. Balls...
It might just be possible to import the 305hp V6 for that as it retails for about $23000. That's the same power as the V8 4th gen Z28 put out.LuS1fer said:
Needs new wheels said:
Christ! North of 40K, well thats definately out of my price range then! Even 28 was quite dear for someone in my position. Balls...
It might just be possible to import the 305hp V6 for that as it retails for about $23000. That's the same power as the V8 4th gen Z28 put out.
Needs new wheels said:
Christ! North of 40K, well thats definately out of my price range then! Even 28 was quite dear for someone in my position. Balls...
Move to the USA. My 2SS with RS pack, auto and other bits and bobs was GBP 26k out of the door, tax paid at the prevailing exchange rate on the day I bought it. 
It loves gas stations.................
Ref 2010 camaro.ive got one over here witch i bought from american car imports in woodgreen back in march ,but are no longer there .how can i help.well,first up check build date on drivers door shut coz most of the camaros for sale as new in uk are 1 year old,it takes 16 weeks to have one built to spec from factory and about 1 month to get shipped to uk SVA is now £500.If you wait till march you will be able to by one from chevy dealer over here,but remember uk spec cars will pay more road tax of about £500 a year compered to £190 for an inport.but the cars are the same.the manual V8 is the one with 426 hp auto has 400.good luck.
if you were to bring over a second hand yank car would you still be hit for import duty? i seem to remember many jap cars coming in that you could buy at the docks just complete sva fog light get mot and go down to your local car tax office and your were all good to drive onthe road, maybe 3 to 5 days tops?
any one brough over a second hand recently i was think ing if a 2005 lotus.....look forward to your advice
any one brough over a second hand recently i was think ing if a 2005 lotus.....look forward to your advice
tonypilot101 said:
if you were to bring over a second hand yank car would you still be hit for import duty? .
Yes.You need a rear fog light and illuminated marked switch, white sidelights and amber rear indicators though a Lotus would presumably have a European Type Approval somewhere.
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