Importing an old car from Europe: anyone adviser e taxes?

[npaskin]

Has anyone had any experience with importing a classic car from Europe into the UK? Specifically tax and duty liability. It's a UK origin car so I assume no problems with DVLA approval for re-registration but wondering about taxes: HMRC seems very vague on import duty - as far as I can tell no import duty or VAT payable if it is old, but it says if it has done less than 6,000 Km it is treated as new - the one I am looking at is an old car but had a rebuild less than 6000Km ago...hmmm?? Trying to ask a specific question to DVLA is Kafka-esque.

(Before anyone asks: no, not a Maserati and it's only a vague possibility )

 

[dickygrace]

I'm aware of what you need to do, give me a bell and I'll talk you through it.

 

[conaero]

I am not in the know but I was under the impression that if the country in question is apart of the EU, they cant charge import tax?

Even more so if the car in question is of British origin.

Can you update me when you find out?

 

[Rwc13]

Certainly no Customs duty if coming from EU. Unlikely to be VAT too if you can prove UK origin. I don't think HMRC would see a renovation as creating a new car. I deal with HMRC on a day to day basis on similar issues.

 

[npaskin]

Thanks all. Dicky I will give you a call later if I need to, but I think I just solved the main puzzle I had re the "if it is less than 6000Km it's classed as new" mention, since the rule is: less than 6000 KM *AND* less than six months old:
https://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_cons...n/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_199220.pdf

I also thought no duty etc. but when I started here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/sectors/consumers/personal-vehicles.htm the first thing it says is “When you import a new or used motor vehicle permanently into the UK you must normally pay VAT and duty. If the vehicle arrives from outside of the EU, some reliefs from duty and VAT may be available….â€

 

[Rwc13]

That's misleading, there can be no duty if the car is in free circulation, ie is EU origin or duty paid

 

[npaskin]

Thanks Rwc13. "Misleading" is one way of putting it! Very odd that it says that then.

 

[hodroyd]

There is no VAT payable on a used car either, once it's been registered it's classed as used..!! If bought from the EU any taxes would have already been paid on the car when first registered, you don't have to pay again..!!

 

[Parisien]

Norman, did Dicky give you all the answers you needed, is there a helpful web site maybe?

P

 

[zagatoes30]

Don't make the mistake that one of the Alfa 155 boys did in assuming that every country in Europe is in the EU. He brought a 155 Q4 in from Switzerland which wasn't a good deal once he had to pay import duty on it.

It's much easier from an EU country though.