Import to the UK

[MovingShadow]

I'm just wondering something (think maybe araf can help with this)..

I'm having some crazy idea (just brainstorming) but how much trouble and costs would it be to import a car to the UK?

 

[133_Ads]

Are you moving to the UK?

I'm not too sure, have you checked google?

 

[MovingShadow]

No, not exactly.

In the 'For Sale' section, the Twingo Mark I that is for sale got me thinking.. I dunno maybe it's too crazy.

I'm quite attached to this car because it helped me through some depressive times but what if I imported it to the UK and register it on my brother's adress and then drive it in Belgium with UK plates?

If I had to go the MOT I could combine it with a visit to my brother (in 5 hours I'm from Belgium to his place in Suffolk)

If I could get it registered with UK plates I can basically do any mod to the car. From a full on engine swap to some crazy project car with a V6 in the booth (much like the Clio V6).

 

[BlackTwingo-i]

Sounds like a brill idea..

Not to be a kill joy, but do you not think that whoever decided to create the Tüv thingy would have thought of that?

 

[singlespeed]

Heres the official stuff
https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/registering-an-imported-vehicle

 

[MovingShadow]

I dunno how they do it then, but at my work here in Toyota Motor Europe you see plenty of UK plate cars on the parking lot. From Nissan S13's, S14, Sabura WRX and Mitsubishi's Evolution's (you only see them when it's not raining or snowing though).

Those cars have been here for a couple of years..

 

[MovingShadow]

Heres the official stuff
https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/registering-an-imported-vehicle

Thx!

Certainly it's not something for now but it's something I could consider.


I blame websites like Speedhunters who show project cars of people who keep onto their first car, going from mildly modding it over the years to a full on garage project.

 

[JE_GT]

It's quite a ball-ache to import a car, me and my friend were looking the other night about importing one from Japan. Alot of paperwork!

 

[DrDrew]

Would it not also affect your insurance etc?

 

[MovingShadow]

Possibly.. it could even be cheaper.

Anyway, it's just brainstorming.

I've also considerd buying a daily car that runs cheap and is pratical and have something like this in the garage for the weekends and sunny days.

 

[Araf]

It's very easy to bring a second hand car from another EC state to the UK. If the car is over 3 years old, then you get it MOT'd against the chassis number, then get insurance against the chassis number. Take a bill of sale, insurance, MOT and foreign registration document to his local vehicle licencing office.
You fill in a registration form, take it to the counter, pay for 6 months tax and first registration fee, and they issue you with a registration number and tax disc.
You then get UK plates made, and advise your insurance company of the registration number. Job done.

You may have trouble insuring the car if it is being kept abroad, but others seem to get around it, so why not?

 

[MovingShadow]

That makes it sound alot more easier!


Thx for the info Araf!

If I ever do it, I'll come to you and you can help me out

 

[Araf]

You won't, as your brother is in East Anglia somewhere, so his nearest DVLA office is no where near me. There's no papers to be completed at arrival from another EC country, and used means of transport have VAT paid in the country of sale, not the country of arrival. As it will be a private sale, my guess is that neither party will be VAT registered anyway.