Anyone brought a classic car back from the Netherlands?

[StuVT]

I have the opportunity to purchase a classic vw in the netherlands and will be bringing it back to the UK to register.

I can't find anything definitive regarding driving the car to the port at hook of holland and then driving it 3 hours from Harwich home. I would then start the process if registering it in the UK.

Has anyone done this?

I looked into trailering if but trailers in the NL need to be registered.

Thanks in advance
Stu

[smokey mow]

StuVT said:

I looked into trailering if but trailers in the NL need to be registered.

They only need registering if commercial or over 3.5tonnes. Even then it’s only £26 to register and you can do it all online.

https://www.gov.uk/register-trailer-to-take-abroad

[lornemalvo]

Can't help but what about a self drive hired car transporter, Transit type?

[kylos27]

Is it a RHD car? If not get a uk spec car over here
It’s not worth something bad happening when overtaking in accordance with the new Highway Code

[StuVT]

lornemalvo said:

Can't help but what about a self drive hired car transporter, Transit type?

That's a good call. Presumably I'd need additional insurance from the hire company

[bolide]

Am I right in thinking that cars imported from Europe now attract 20% VAT as well as import duty?

[aka_kerrly]

kylos27 said:

Is it a RHD car? If not get a uk spec car over here
It’s not worth something bad happening when overtaking in accordance with the new Highway Code

What is this highway code overtaking rule that effects LHD cars?

My guess is the Op has found a classic VW in a spec that isn't available in the UK, it could be something like a MK2 Golf GTi synchro, mk2 Golf edition 1 or similar.

In terms of transport, you can buy the car, insure it in the UK on just it's VIN number and arrange to drive it for a pre-booked MOT. It would be a lot easier to sling it on a low loader/recovery vehicle though.

[kylos27]

aka_kerrly said:

kylos27 said:

Is it a RHD car? If not get a uk spec car over here
It’s not worth something bad happening when overtaking in accordance with the new Highway Code

What is this highway code overtaking rule that effects LHD cars?

My guess is the Op has found a classic VW in a spec that isn't available in the UK, it could be something like a MK2 Golf GTi synchro, mk2 Golf edition 1 or similar.

In terms of transport, you can buy the car, insure it in the UK on just it's VIN number and arrange to drive it for a pre-booked MOT. It would be a lot easier to sling it on a low loader/recovery vehicle though.

You now get gaggles of cyclists in the middle of the road instead of 8” from the kerb like in the good old days

[toyracer]

I live in the Netherlands, and we exported a car back to the UK in 2019 (RHD car, 5 years after importing it onto an NL registration with our move here - we have stayed longer than anticipated, RHD not worth much here). Newer cars (I think up to 7 years old) can attract tax complications on sale/transfer, but classics should be easy.

As a resident here you can get export papers with 14 days insurance included and drive it (or if you know someone, or the seller has an option to help). You need new numberplates, same reg number but white background instead of yellow (or black for classics). An English friend living here in NL drove ours back to the UK and handled that side as he had a motor industry contact to arrange sale etc. I transferred the car into his name here and he then applied for the export, drove it back and handled the UK side. We did this before EU/notEUanymore arguments had changed anything (no extra query at the border) - I don't know how that works now.

Some info here - https://www.rdw.nl/particulier/voertuigen/motor/in...

Not a Dutch resident? From the website here it seems you can get the car with export registration in your name if you are at the RDW agency office in person with the seller. I do not know if you can get the insurance part to drive it if you are not Dutch resident (I would guess not). There are companies here handling this import export process, also with delivery, but I don't know the costs. It was circa 1000euro for bringing a car into NL from Germany (no ferry of course..) also arranging the export paperwork when I looked couple of years ago.

Trailers owned here by residents need to be registered (any braked trailer, caravan etc has its own registration plate) but I think as a visitor from UK those rules don't apply, just have the Trailer paperwork with VIN with you to show it's not stolen if asked. If I import a trailer to NL (as a resident) I need to apply for temporary registration plates before towing it in - I have a car trailer in the UK so I looked into it.

FYI Hook Holland-Harwich and Amsterdam-Newcastle are easy car ferry routes, we have used them both.

Good luck if you go for it!