Importing A Car From The Usa To The Uk

[notonuksoil]

i have also posted this on the rav4 forum so apologies to those that have read this twice

Hi

we are living in the usa at the moment and bought a new 2008 rav4 in November 07

we plan to be here for at least 2 years before moving back to the UK

i would like some opinions if you think it would be a good idea to bring back to the uk, and if you think we would be able to sell it in the UK

the spec is slightly different to those available in the uk, firstly we need to get rear fog lights fitted and a few other minor alterations as it is a left hand drive

spec (forgive me but i'm not a car person and i'm female! so am just copying this from the sales invoice)

year and model 2008/4432A

pacific blue

2.4 liter

4cyl engine w/VVT-i

4 speed ECT automatic transmission

elec on demand 4WD 4WD manual lock

17' steel wheels w/full whl cap P225/65R16

black roof rails and crossbars

daytime running lights

50/50 split and stow third row seats that fold flat (i know this option is not available in the UK)

i await your opinions

thank you

[vmail]

it will be expensive to do

it might be better to sell your automobile in the US and by a stick shift in the UK

plus you will need a front licence plate, indicator color might have to be changed

as for the additional features, you might be able to do the mods yourself

you might not beable to sell a US spec car in the UK for a lot of money

[T600]

As cars are so much cheaper in the USA there could be some logic in this.

But you didn't mention the major difference between US cars and British ones. One you won't see on the spec sheet, but which makes a big difference to value if you try to sell in the UK.

[Fidgits]

the biggest problem is, you'll have to pay import duty to bring the car in - which will bump up the cost.

Add to that shipping, eSVA, re-registering, modifications for Euro standards.

You'll be looking at spending a lot of money to bring a LHD car to the UK, which will be hard to sell.

Whereas, in the US, residual values are much better, so selling it over there and buying an equivalent UK used car would probably work out cheaper..

Now, if you were talking about a Corvette ZO6 or Shelby GT500, i'd be saying a very different thing ;)

[T600]

If you've owned the car for more than 6 months before you ship it, then apparently you can avoid the 10% import tax.

I'd agree though - still a lot of money to spend for possibly no gain when you can already buy the same thing here in RHD.

Whereas if you bring over something rare, then that could be a different matter. There are people making a good profit doing this now, even when they have to pay the 10% duty, so that suggests to me that someone who can legitimately bring in something without the duty can make a few pounds.

www.import-car.info looks like a good resource if you're going ahead with this.

PS - tax is on 'landed value' so add all those costs that fidgits mentioned - then calculate the 10% tax.

[notonuksoil]

thanks for the replies

i have been in contact with customs who have told me that as long as we have had the car for 2 yrs + as a family car we are not liable for any tax bringing it into the UK

as far as shipping costs go we have two quotes both about the same $950 + US taxes from New York to southampton

considering we payed less than $24K (yes 12 000 pounds) for a brand new 7 seater rav 4 selling it here (USA) in two years would we be able to use that money to buy a similar car in the UK when we get back, i don't think so!

i think we will have to look carefully at all the options before deciding what to do so its been worth while hearing ppls points of view on here

thank you

[Fidgits]

thats fair enough - but you would need to want to keep it, as its pretty much going to be worthless to sell on.

and if you'd be happy with a LHD car and the extra costs then do it...

But you'll be throwing money at a car that will lose most of its value the moment it arrives...

i'd still sell it on in the US to maximise its value and buy something new when you get here..