Hi all, I am a newbie to the forum so if this is in wrong place i apologise as I searched for similar questions elsewhere
Has anyone imported a car from the EU?

I am looking to buy a Fiat 500 that is not restored as I want to do this myself (hobby). I notice on most advertised cars tend to be either fully restored or EU imports. I am concerned about the importing procedures has have never done this and wondered if it is (fairly) straightforward or a minefield?

The adds make out its just a case of "all docs to register supplied......wander to nearest DVLA....no problem etc. What about HMCR taxes when importing etc?
Any guidance much appreciated.

Many thanks
Chris

Hi welcome,
I imported mine from Belgium last year and it was really easy, Just fill in the forms at the DVLA and pay a fee I think I paid £50. 2 weeks later all registered. Had to have it moted and insured before

Give us a call and I'll go through the process with you. (07725134307)

Main advice triple check the documents you get with the car are legit.

Thanks very much for reply and conversation Abarth 695. Sounds like the way forward.

Chris

Chris

Getting it registered in the UK is easy as long as you have the right documents to evidence original registration, insurance and an MoT - exactly as Abarth says.

No Vat is payable if you buy the car privately. If you buy a car from a dealer in Italy, you do pay Italian Vat. Not sure about other countries.

Again, not sure of the rules in other countries, but we had a nightmare getting the paperwork right to export our car from Italy. If the guy we bought from hadn't been so helpful, we would never have managed it. We were bounced from their version of the DVLA to their Minsitry of Transport and then to their Post Office all with different Forms and taxes to pay - no one spoke english! We were driving back, so we needed export plates. We had a specific route we had to stick to and 5 days in which to leave the country. We were stopped by the police en route and all our papers were checked!

If you are trailering the car back, it might be a lot easier!

So check the rules in the country in which you are buying - I suspect they are all different!

Have fun!

Best regards

Ian

Thanks Ian, yes I suppose it all hinges around the CORRECT documentation. I suppose the EU might standardise these one day

I assume that cars already imported into UK by dealers etc would just require re registering by new owner?

An example in question is a car advertised from Bulgaria on Gumtree (I had to double check its EU membership)

Who knows what a Bulgarian log book looks like?

Cheers
Chris

Just a quick question Ian & Abarth did you have to complete any forms for UK customs or did you just drive through?

PS Just bought myself a small trailer on Ebay so next stop Holland, Belgium ....?

The wife as put Ebay on the child filter to stop me spending any more money

Chris

We just drove straight on through! Calais - Eurotunnel - M20!!

As a secondhand car bought privately and from an EU country, I am certain there is no need for customs to be involved. I believe that if you buy from a dealer and pay Vat to them, there is no liablity here. If you don't pay them, than I think you should pay here. Either way, I don't think Import Duty applies to EU member countries. I brought the Cobra in from the USA and we had to pay Import Duty + Shipping + Vat on the car and Vat on the Import Duty and the Shipping - tax on tax!

In case I am wrong, this post will self-destruct in 15 seconds!!

Ian

Thanks Ian, I thought as much after looking at HMRC site but it hardly mentions the EU; as you say its more outside EU. Better to ask though if you have done it before.

I am jinxed at customs, in 2011 I came through Dover with my VW camper and and they did a quick search of the vehicle. They looked puzzled and I asked me why I had volunteered to be checked over? as I had slipped into wrong queue on the docks :bang: They thought it was funny

Yep same here, Just drove through Eurotunnel, no one checked. Just laughed at the car