I know this has probably been done to death in the past, but can some kind soul who has imported a car from Europe tell me if I am missing any important information?
1) Find a dealer in Europe
2) agree on price and pay a deposit
3) wait 5 months
4) get a ferry accross to the mainland
5) pay balance of car
6) collect certificate of conformity

*This is were I am a bit lost*
Do I drive the car back on Belgium plates? How can I insure the car without a reg number?

7) Get on ferry and head back to the UK
8) Drive to local DVLA office, fill out some forms and apply for log book. *what forms are they called?*
9) Get reg plates & tax *Am I issued with the reg number at the DVLA office?*
10) Get a CAT1 alarm fitted
11) Be very happy with the £5k I just saved.

Have I missed anything?
FYI I have just been quoted €20,198 for a MY2003 WRX in Metallic paint from a dealership in Belgium.
That's £15,095 with VAT inc.
Can anyone recommend a place that fixes exchange rates?
TIA

 

Is that including the tax into this country???
If so i dont suppose you can mail me off line and give me some info??
M

 

Yes, this is part of the e-mail I recieved this morning
So basically €20,198 = £12,845.03
VAT = £2,247.87
Grand Total give or take a few quid = £15,092

The dealer is the same as what Keyring Cars use apparently
http://www.subarutroch.com/ speak to Hans.

 

You insure the car against the VIN number prior to picking it up. You are then allowed to drive the car from the port of entry to the UK, directly to your address only on transit plates or similar. You are not allowed to drive anywhere after that until your tax disk comes through with the reg. no, which generally takes about a week. A week with the car sitting on your drive, but it being illegal to drive anywhere = frustration, so just think of the £5k.

Keep an eye on insurance on the ferry - apparently not all insurers cover you against the VIN if it gets damaged on the boat. Worth checking.

I got my tracker and alarm fitted in the "waiting time". Can't help much more as I did use an agency.

 

Danny,
I can recommend Currencies Direct for all your currency exchange.
Tel: 0207 813 0332 or WWW.Currenciesdirect.com
They certainly looked after me very well.

Have you thought of paying someone to bring your car into the country. For £500 I got 'Cars from Europe' Tel 01487 773033 to collect my car from Holland. The service included delivery to my door(On a trailer), all the paperwork, they dealt with all the VAT and put plates on the car.
The benefits of this is you save on ferry fees, no worry about insurance whilst in transit, you get to drive the beast as soon as it is delivered and you don't have to take time off work to collect it. Money well spent IMHO.
Good luck with the car

Martin

 

Martin,

Was transported on a trailer for the entire journey or just in the UK?

 

You will need to add the following to your price:-

Road Tax
First Registration Fee £25 (if I remember correctly)
Cat 1 Alarm £275
Locking Wheel Nuts £20
First Service £80 ish (you have to pay the labour on EU imports)
Ferry Costs £200 ish

Still a bargain but I've seen 'em advertised by Emperor Imports for £16400

Imported my MY00 from Holland. Its easy

Cheers,

Ian.

 

Turbo WRX

Transported all the way on a trailer.
Arrived at my door with only 4 miles on the clock.
Hope this helps
Martin

 

Martin,
Thanks for the info (numbers noted) I'm working to a very strict budget so paying £500 for the delivery of my car might not be affordable but you never know if the £ keeps on gaining against the Euro.
Cheers

 

Danny
When I imported my 2000MY turbo from Belgium, I used my bank to fix the currency. I used a forward exchange contract from Lloyds bank, didn't cost me a penny and they even sorted out payment directly to the Belgian dealer for me. If you ring your local vehicle regestration office, they will send you the relevant forms, I did my import totally with no middle man and it was dead easy, went over on eurostar to pick up car and drove back on the ferry, the car was on transit plates supplied by the dealer (subaru Vilvoorde near Brussels) and cost about £200 including insurance/green card etc, I would do it again tomorrow if I fancied a new one. I made a saving of around £7000 at the time!!!

Regards

Glen

 

Valerie singleton and shep