Importing second-hand from Germany
Can someone tell me what rules and regulations I have to comply with to successfully import a second hand G from Germany. What would be the approximate costs involved?
Grateful for your thoughts.
jaz
I believe that the EU-wide rule is as follows:
As long as the car is more than 6 months old (after first registration) and has been driven for more then 6,000 kms (4,000 miles) it is deemed as an used car and therefore qualifies for personal import.
If you are importing from Germany (or any other EU-country for that matter) and you can prove that the car has paid VAT on a previous purchase -i.e. if the car was formerly registered in the name of an individual rather than a VAT-registered company or individual- then importing is almost cost-free.
In this case only a £ 25 registration fee plus the normal road-fund tax (currently £ 165 p.a. if you pay for a full year) apply.
BUT there is a catch. This is the case if you are buying a 230 GE, 280 GE or 300 GD (W460) or a 300 GE, or 300 GD (463). For any other GWagen never officially imported by MBUK you will need the type approval (some silly paper certifiying that the car complies with EU standards) to be able to register the car in the UK. There's been some controversy as to where to get it from. In the past MBUK would kindly issue such paper but I have heard that they are quite reluctant to do it lately.
But those should be the costs really. £ 25 and a morning trip to the DVLA. That's how I got my 300 GD imported.
Cheers,
not quite EU wide,because if you lived in Ireland,you would also get to pay a Vehicle Registration Tax,equivalent to about 30 % of the current market value of that car,or one similar ,in Ireland,adjusted to take account of optional extras.This mysterious tax,appeared overnight,just after Excise Duty was abolished many years ago in 1992 I think.Coincidently the rate of VRT was the same as the Excise Duty which had dissappeared,but this was just a coincidence of course.
bob
not quite EU wide,because if you lived in Ireland,you would also get to pay a Vehicle Registration Tax,equivalent to about 30 % of the current market value of that car,or one similar ,in Ireland,adjusted to take account of optional extras.This mysterious tax,appeared overnight,just after Excise Duty was abolished many years ago in 1992 I think.Coincidently the rate of VRT was the same as the Excise Duty which had dissappeared,but this was just a coincidence of course.
bob
Yes, I only meant EU-wide with regard to the VAT exemption on used cars....
But before you get too upset about your Vehicle Registration Tax, think that it's not only Ireland, but also Portugal, Greece, Spain, Denmark, Sweden (that I can recall) and in some country the tax is over 100% :cry: :cry: :cry:
In Spain they did the same thing..... they had luxury tax at 28% in lieu of VAT and when they introduced VAT at 16% they added a 12% VRT. Result? You end up paying the same 28% but at least 16% is deductible for business purposes.
Vultures!
Cheers
Chaps
Many thanks for this info. So assuming I succeed in importing a LHD second-hand G. What do I have to do to get it road legal in the UK, any idea of approx. costs?
thanks
jaz
You don't have to do anything special to have an imported car road legal.... only the normal stuff: have it MOTd and insured before you'll be able to register it with the DVLA.
Read my previous posting slowly...... cost is only £ 25 (or rather was in 1999, say that now is £ 40).
Cheers
You'll also need proof that the headlamps have been changed for righthand drive and that the speedo has been converted to MPH. Well, I needed that when i imported my LHD citroen last year, there is a checklist on the DVLA website for importing vehicles.
hope this helps
richard
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Chaps
Many thanks for this info. So assuming I succeed in importing a LHD second-hand G. What do I have to do to get it road legal in the UK, any idea of approx. costs?
thanks
jaz