Importing a 2nd hand LHD 993 from Belgium
Discussion
Ohhh, jeez. There are lots of things to consider. I imported two cars from Germany in the days before SVA testing, when it was simpler.
Please make sure the car you are getting there is cheap enough to warrant the hassle. You can get a 993 Targa for 24k from an independent dealer in the UK, and a tidy 993 Carrera for 20k or so (see Scottster's car in classifieds).
Basically, imported cars need to be over a certain age and mileage to avoid VAT (which a targa 993 will be), then you'll need to go through the hassle of personal importation. You'll need a certificate of conformity from Porsche, saying what it needs to be legal in the UK, then you have to swap headlights (easy), fog light and even speedo I think. Then you may need to get it SVA'd (500 quid) or Mot'd (it was an Mot in my day!) then registered and pay the road tax. Errm, 75 quid or something for first reg, then 90 quid for road tax. Then a set of plates and you're off.
The whole procedure takes about three weeks, it used to be about three days.
And you'll have the travel costs, and the hassle/lack of comeback buying cars in foreign countries, to contend with. So budget on between 800 and 1500 in costs for the whole exercise.
I'd suggest haggling hard on a LHD car already in the UK, say 23k for a Targa. You'd need a foreign car to be at least 3k-4k cheaper to warrant a trip overseas. And then it may be cheap for good reason...
Overall, buy a LHD one that someone has already brought over. The UK prices are not far off German ones now that there are so many LHD Porsches here. I was going to import a 964RS, but check out www.dennigcars.com and you'll see the 24k I paid in the UK was about as cheap as a German one anyway.
Rgds
Domster
Please make sure the car you are getting there is cheap enough to warrant the hassle. You can get a 993 Targa for 24k from an independent dealer in the UK, and a tidy 993 Carrera for 20k or so (see Scottster's car in classifieds).
Basically, imported cars need to be over a certain age and mileage to avoid VAT (which a targa 993 will be), then you'll need to go through the hassle of personal importation. You'll need a certificate of conformity from Porsche, saying what it needs to be legal in the UK, then you have to swap headlights (easy), fog light and even speedo I think. Then you may need to get it SVA'd (500 quid) or Mot'd (it was an Mot in my day!) then registered and pay the road tax. Errm, 75 quid or something for first reg, then 90 quid for road tax. Then a set of plates and you're off.
The whole procedure takes about three weeks, it used to be about three days.
And you'll have the travel costs, and the hassle/lack of comeback buying cars in foreign countries, to contend with. So budget on between 800 and 1500 in costs for the whole exercise.
I'd suggest haggling hard on a LHD car already in the UK, say 23k for a Targa. You'd need a foreign car to be at least 3k-4k cheaper to warrant a trip overseas. And then it may be cheap for good reason...
Overall, buy a LHD one that someone has already brought over. The UK prices are not far off German ones now that there are so many LHD Porsches here. I was going to import a 964RS, but check out www.dennigcars.com and you'll see the 24k I paid in the UK was about as cheap as a German one anyway.
Rgds
Domster
, come and have a look at mine, the price is getting more and more flexible as I get closer to signing on the dotted line for the new house..... Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff