Importing a race car from Europe

[gavin wot]

I've used the search function and couldn't find anything on this, in regards to customs duties etc,

Has anyone recent experience of bringing a race car from Europe into the UK, and specifically Northern Ireland.

It's a certified race car, was never a road car,

I'll be bringing it back through Calais,

Thanks in advance,

[stevieturbo]

I would presume at a minimum there will be VAT payable of some sort ?

Might be easier bringing it into the South, within the EU, and then up home ?

[gavin wot]

Yeah I’ve looked at the Cherbourg to rosslare sailing, but lack of availability is an issue,

[A110MW]

Bookmarked.

I am also looking into the possibility of importing a race car into the UK from Sweden and am interested to know if any VAT or import duty would need to be paid.

VAT has already been paid in Sweden and it is being sold by a Ltd company if that makes any difference.

[stevieturbo]

A110MW said:

Bookmarked.

I am also looking into the possibility of importing a race car into the UK from Sweden and am interested to know if any VAT or import duty would need to be paid.

VAT has already been paid in Sweden and it is being sold by a Ltd company if that makes any difference.

I would like to think if it is being exported, VAT should not be being paid in the sellers country.

[EddyP]

Was talking to someone about this recently, his solution was to bring it back as parts rather than a complete car.

[stevieturbo]

EddyP said:

Was talking to someone about this recently, his solution was to bring it back as parts rather than a complete car.

And how does that change anything ? You're still importing parts with value. So VAT or duties are likely to be liable

And if it is something that then needs road registered....not sure how that affects anything ?

Although there have been posts of people who have taken their race car away and back, and not a single problem at any borders despite there supposed to be various paperwork in order etc

Not quite the same, but maybe nobody will simply care when coming back ?

[Truckosaurus]

Isn't the important fact of this matter that Northern Ireland is still within the single market, so doesn't need the same paperwork or taxes compared to England/Scotland/Wales?

You might need suitable paperwork to show you have bought it and are taking it all the way to NI rather than dropping it off on the way.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/trading-and-moving-goo...

GovDotUK said:

There will be no tax or duty due on personal goods carried into Northern Ireland from the EU if they are for personal use or to give as a gift.

[gavin wot]

Yes I think Northern Ireland is the key difference, my concern would be confusion at Calais or Folkestone, having to pay VAT or import duty, and not getting it back!

[stevieturbo]

gavin wot said:

Yes I think Northern Ireland is the key difference, my concern would be confusion at Calais or Folkestone, having to pay VAT or import duty, and not getting it back!

It's all paperwork I guess ?

Although same years ago, one time I bought a car in the south of England and came back through Rosslare. I was nabbed at customs and asked lots of stupid questions. But when it was obvious where I lived etc and was going, they let me go.
But they were probably busting their balls to get paid a load of VRT for the car I'd just bought

The VRT in the South is utterly criminal, how the people let them away with it is crazy

[Truckosaurus]

stevieturbo said:

It's all paperwork I guess ?...

Indeed. You would hope that a fair minded customs official would give you the benefit of the doubt that a Northern Irish person, in an NI registered towcar, with a ferry booking across the Irish Sea would actually be driving home, and at worse would flag you up to be rechecked at Hollyhead (or where ever) to make sure the race car was still there.

If you are totally paranoid you could always buy a carnet for the UK leg.