Importing a 230 SL to the UK

[Ian]

I recently imported a 1966 230 SL from the USA to the UK and the price I paid to do so seemed very high. Does anyone know how much you should pay for import duty and VAT - eg as a percentage of the car's value - in case I need to query it. Many thanks. Ian

[jameshoward]

Ian,

Can't help directly, although you know what VAT is so that should be pretty straight forward, and import duty is also a set figure for the UK and should be easily obtainable (not that I kow what it is, helpfully). I imported a car to Germany from the US and so paid Germany costs (their VAT, or mwst as they call it, is 19% but was 17% at the time). I actually paid about $1300 in total to ship the car, which included two road moves. One of 200 miles to Baltimore on a flatbed, and one from Bremen to where I live (another 150 miles) on a car carrier. The cost of actually shipping the car was $800 or so.

I just wondered if your forwarder/shipping agent was over charging and putting the blame on taxes?

JH

[Ian]

Thanks James. Someone told me that the VAT on vintage cars was only 5% of the value rather than the full 17.5% which I appear to have been charged. It would be good to know that for sure. Ian

[Ion]

Not sure if my experience helps but check out earlier post http://index.php?topic=3571


1971 280SL automatic

[seixever]

In Italy, from all the world except ECE and Swiss, we must pay 20% (vat) on the car's value and 10%(duty) on the total amount (car+delivery and vat).
If the cars has more than 30 years or is istoric (min. 20 years), the vat is reduced (10%).

[Romeobob]

Ian,

Last year I imported a 230sl in to Sweden from the US and discovered some inconsistent rules inside the EU regulations on this matter.
It seams that every incoming port has there own rules regarding importation, first you must find out there definition of what is to be considered for a VAT reduction, i.e.. 20 years or 30 or what ever, then if it meets this criteria than they state what the VAT will be.
This should be less than the normal VAT, for instance in Sweden it was 10% vs. our VAT at 25%. Always remember that this includes the cost of transport on top of the car price you paid. In addition you also have to pay duty, and this is normally 10% of the total.
The most reasonable port I could find in the EU was Rotterdam at 8% VAT but transportation for me to Sweden from there was not worth the difference.

O

[AGT]

Ian

I imported a 230SL last year and paid £50 fixed customs duty plus VAT at the rate of 17.5% of the value of the car which HMRC accepted as the price per the Bill of Sale. I have also heard that there is a lower 5% VAT rate for vintage cars but have never tracked this further to find out whether I am due a repayment.

I would suggest enquiring at your local HMRC VAT office. They can be unexpectedly helpful.

Regards
Andrew

[jameshoward]

Ian,

A further thought. Where do you live? I have recently had dealings on importing a car with DVLA Maidstone and DVLA in London. They were TOTALLY up to speed with the whole process and were very helpful. Unusually so. The offices in the SE, like Maidstone, and those in London, do a lot of business for people bringing cars into the UK. You could visit them for advice or call. If they have a phone number. They really did the whole thing for me.

JH

[Ian]

Thank you all for your help and advice. I think I'm going to have to chalk it down to experience. Exporting it to Europe certainly seems easier and cheaper than bringing it in from the States. Regards. Ian

[albertross]

Hi everyone just joined the site.
I have imported a 230 sl from the U.S. I went to the local DVLA in Preston Lancashire and they delited in giving me wads of paperwork. Does anyone know is I need a Type aproval cetificate? Or do I just put exempt due to the age of the vehicle?
Many thanks.

[Danesgate]

Hi

This may help your VAT question...

http://www.topgear.com/content/buyersguides/08/4.html

Cheers

[babarsheikh]

Hi everyone,

Currently have my 280sl on sale but am now thinking that I should keep it and take it with me from LA to London.  

Would love to get recommendations as to good shipping companies... and/or turnkey importing services...

Thanks,

Bobby