2016 UK import - step by step

Moe1013 · 02-09-2016 1:44pm

darragh o meara wrote: »

Doesn't really make much of a difference. If your worried about it just get it in both your names ie. Mary and Joe Bloggs. The reciept as I take it is a proof of when you bought it. When I was clearing my own car a few months ago, the lad in front of me didn't have one and was writing up a receipt in front of the woman who was processing the paperwork!!

Once everything else matches up, you'll be fine.

I'm such a duh, thanks for that. Such a simple solution too. Saved us a fair bit of hassle. Glad to hear the current process is more user friendly than the revenue years ago.. They were some B*******s!

Bigbok · 02-09-2016 2:05pm

Just bought a 131 Sportage from NI and have VRT booked in for two weeks time,
The V5C form is filled out with my details and the vrt booked in my name,can I change it to my wife's details as all bills and stuff are in her name as I work abroad so have nothing in my name with my address?

Any help would be appreciated.also OP did u find the calculation for vrt online to very from when they actually looked at the car as I see u have a top spec?just wondering if my calculation price will go up as I have a sunroof and panoramic roof and leather?

Esel · 02-09-2016 7:51pm

Afaik extras are only considered if the car is under 4 years old.

Bigbok · 02-09-2016 8:47pm

Esel wrote: »

Afaik extras are only considered if the car is under 4 years old.

So I'll be stung for sunroof and semi leather seats as mines a 131

bazz26 · 02-09-2016 9:11pm

They depreciate the cost of the extras over the first 4 years. So you will be charged VRT based on 25% of the original value of those factory extras.

b.gud · 03-09-2016 12:03pm

Is there any way to figure out if your car had extras? I'm getting Vrt done on Friday and afaik the car doesn't have any extras but would like to know to avoid any nasty surprises

bazz26 · 03-09-2016 12:16pm

Look up the spec of similar cars on the likes of parkers.co.uk. What car is it?

b.gud · 03-09-2016 1:22pm

bazz26 wrote: »

Look up the spec of similar cars on the likes of parkers.co.uk. What car is it?

Lexus ct200h advance

Edit* Looks like I have the following additional specs

CD
Folding rear seats
Leather seat trim
Metallic Paint

I wonder how much that'll end up costing me

bazz26 · 03-09-2016 2:17pm

The leather is probably all they will be interested in assuming the car is younger than 4 years. The rest are not extras.

clogher71 · 03-09-2016 7:54pm

Great post OP...I have been over a couple of time. Just everyone be aware it's not all Rosey when you get there....my last time, I was told there was a V5C for the car by the salesman in small car dealer I was buying from, when I got there on a Saturday afternoon there was no paperwork for the car, the boss then gave me an explanation, basically it was in the DVLA. So there i was standing in a dealers in Halifax on a Saturday afternoon, the car I wanted was in front of me at a good price, I had two choices, take a chance, or try to make my way home on a Saturday afternoon also trying to get my £200 holding deposit back could be fun, so........I took a chance and paid for the car and headed for the boat. It took a few emails and phone calls to get it sorted, it all worked out in the end, it did put over the 30 days I had to vrt the car, but luckily no fine or back payments when I did finally get to 'clear' the car!!!
That's my little story, I know a guy that arrived home with a car from a dealer In London, to his horror when it was not running right he brought it to the main dealer, it had black tape over a warning light and let's just say the cars mileage did not match the digital service record of the car, he rang the dealer in London, he got a load of profanity shouted at him down the phone and they hung up... He still has the car, but it's only worth a shadow of what he paid for it.
There are pitfalls so beware....
Anyone else had 'an experience'?

Moe1013 · 04-09-2016 12:35am

Moo Moo Land wrote: »

Why is a supermarket unfortunate? Do you mean massive car dealers?

I've only started looking online but how do I know the 'good' dealers from the 'dodgy' ones?

Do you guys tend to look for dealers closer to Hollyhead?

Some supermarkets have poor reputations, they know little about the history of the cars they have and can't give you detailed info over the phone. The one I'm going to (available cars) have a better write up and fingers crossed it will work. They are not "dodgy" in any way however but they will not discount at all.

Don't be bothered too much about being near to Holyhead, plenty of places around Manchester and even Birmingham easily doable in a day. Top tip is to book Stena "Premium" class, you can cancel or change up to 2 hrs before for free. Oh, and book the return Ryanair flight.. Just in case you are not happy, so you can walk away easily..

Oh and make 100% sure they have the vehicle cert to hand and are happy to hand it to you for export..

Moe1013 · 04-09-2016 12:44am

b.gud wrote: »

Is there any way to figure out if your car had extras? I'm getting Vrt done on Friday and afaik the car doesn't have any extras but would like to know to avoid any nasty surprises

Think you can check the exact spec on any uk car online. Motorspecs is one site I found..

Edited... Actually don't, looks like it does not have individual extras added, bit of a scam..

Moo Moo Land · 05-09-2016 11:47am

Moe1013 wrote: »

The one I'm going to (available cars) have a better write up and fingers crossed it will work.

Curious, which AvailableCars location did you use and how did you get from airport to dealer?

Moe1013 · 05-09-2016 12:03pm

Moo Moo Land wrote: »

Curious, which AvailableCars location did you use and how did you get from airport to dealer?

I'm going to Leeds.. According to Google should take me just over an hour from airport on public buses. Drive to Holyhead about 3 hrs. That's the plan anyway!

Moo Moo Land · 05-09-2016 12:07pm

Moe1013 wrote: »

I'm going to Leeds.. According to Google should take me just over an hour from airport on public buses. Drive to Holyhead about 3 hrs. That's the plan anyway!

Best of luck.

mark316 · 05-09-2016 8:36pm

Moe1013 wrote: »

I'm going to Leeds.. According to Google should take me just over an hour from airport on public buses. Drive to Holyhead about 3 hrs. That's the plan anyway!

Got a car a few years back in Leeds, very handy drive think I drove it in 2 hrs or so

Moo Moo Land · 05-09-2016 10:10pm

mark316 wrote: »

Got a car a few years back in Leeds, very handy drive think I drove it in 2 hrs or so

Did you buy it from Available Cars?

Bumski · 06-09-2016 10:53am

gaillimh wrote: »

OP - thanks for that very detailed list of steps. Just curious as to what the warranty situation was on the car you purchased.
Did you purchase without any warranty? If so - did you get much if any discount for this?

I'm looking at purchasing a 2012 car with a UK dealer (not a main dealer) but just a bit worried about the whole warranty situation as obviously would not be able to bring it back over if something were to go wrong.

Cheers

On the phone I got a couple of hundred quid off the asking price on that basis. Not much but it was already the lowest priced of the model I was looking for.

I bought a 5 year old and there is always a risk that something might go wrong with no warranty but I was prepared to take it because, in my view, the savings on buying here were sufficient to justify the risk.

Bumski · 06-09-2016 10:56am

Bigbok wrote: »

OP did u find the calculation for vrt online to very from when they actually looked at the car as I see u have a top spec?just wondering if my calculation price will go up as I have a sunroof and panoramic roof and leather?

The VRT calculator had my make model and spec including satnav and so the price I paid was exactly as calculated. There was an additional chrome kit above the spec but nothing was added for that.

mark316 · 06-09-2016 6:58pm

Moo Moo Land wrote: »

Did you buy it from Available Cars?

No sorry just out of a garage in Leeds

mark316 · 06-09-2016 7:01pm

What are the main things you need when vrt the car, drivers licence/ proof of address/ ferry receipt/invoice for car and dvla form??

The Black Oil · 06-09-2016 8:35pm

mark316 wrote: »

What are the main things you need when vrt the car, drivers licence/ proof of address/ ferry receipt/invoice for car and dvla form??

PPS number, also.

When you book the VRT appointment you'll get an email outlining all the requirements.

walus · 26-09-2016 6:12pm

Bumski do You have that website address for paying the road tax in UK online? I'm actually interested in buying a vehicle that is tax free and yet the dealer tells me that I still need to buy a road tax. What they also say is that this can only be done for a UK citizen as there is an postal address required.
Thanks,

Moe1013 · 26-09-2016 7:29pm

walus wrote: »

Bumski do You have that website address for paying the road tax in UK online? I'm actually interested in buying a vehicle that is tax free and yet the dealer tells me that I still need to buy a road tax. What they also say is that this can only be done for a UK citizen as there is an postal address required.
Thanks,

Don't know if anyone has successfully done this. I know if you go to a post office they will do it but they will take the V5 cert and post it to you. VV bad idea as you'll need it for the vrt and I'm not sure if they even post abroad. My dealer took a common sense approach as I had a ferry ticket that evening and just handed me the v5. Technically you may be illegal driving to the ferry but with no plausible way of fixing this I seriously doubt pc plod would be interested if evidence of ferry (which includes the reg) was produced.

dubrov · 26-09-2016 8:12pm

walus wrote: »

Bumski do You have that website address for paying the road tax in UK online? I'm actually interested in buying a vehicle that is tax free and yet the dealer tells me that I still need to buy a road tax. What they also say is that this can only be done for a UK citizen as there is an postal address required.
Thanks,

When I picked up a car in the UK, the dealer paid the vehicle tax right in front of me at his computer and gave me a receipt. It only cost £30 but I hadn't even requested it. I am not sure how they did it or if it was even in my name

darragh o meara · 26-09-2016 9:55pm

walus wrote: »

Bumski do You have that website address for paying the road tax in UK online? I'm actually interested in buying a vehicle that is tax free and yet the dealer tells me that I still need to buy a road tax. What they also say is that this can only be done for a UK citizen as there is an postal address required.
Thanks,

Anytime I've ever bought a car in the UK with the exception of once, Ive taken the chance and drove it to the ferry untaxed. Most of the main roads will have ANPR cameras located somewhere along them, however if the previous owner had it taxed, even though it doesnt transfer, the DVLA doesnt issue a refund of unused tax until the change of ownership is processed therefore effectively if your driving straight to the ferry the car wont flag as being untaxed and wont draw attention. I wouldnt be hanging around parking it up in town etc as they clamp untaxed cars over there. If you were unlucky enough to be stopped by the plod, make sure and explain to them that the car has just been bought and is heading straight for the ferry, once you have proof of ferry etc. it shouldnt be a problem. Also explain to them that you cannot tax a car in the UK unless you have an address there.

The one time I did have to tax a car was due to a sticky dealer insisting I didnt leave without it, I got him to tax it to his garage name for a month which he done online and charged me 3 quid.

walus · 27-09-2016 8:51am

I agree that the best solution to this is a common sense approach. I checked online and for cars with CO2 less than 100g/km there is no tax to be paid so I assume that is enough of explanation. Unless I'm mixing things up and this is some other type of tax?

walus · 27-09-2016 8:47pm

I Think I have located the vehicle I want to buy. As much as I hate dealing with insurance companies I'll have to transfer my insurance temporarily onto that car. Any advise how to deal with that? Are they supposed to just do it without rising any issues? Is that a standard procedure to be transferring insurance onto a car registered abroad?
Thanks.

darragh o meara · 28-09-2016 2:04pm

walus wrote: »

I Think I have located the vehicle I want to buy. As much as I hate dealing with insurance companies I'll have to transfer my insurance temporarily onto that car. Any advise how to deal with that? Are they supposed to just do it without rising any issues? Is that a standard procedure to be transferring insurance onto a car registered abroad?
Thanks.

You won't have an issue insuring a car registered outside the state. By law they have to report to revenue if you have a foreign car insured more than 30 days. Anytime I've done it recently they just said they'd insure it for 30 days and I'd then have to ring them and give them the new Irish reg.

Bumski · 29-09-2016 3:18pm

walus wrote: »

Bumski do You have that website address for paying the road tax in UK online? I'm actually interested in buying a vehicle that is tax free and yet the dealer tells me that I still need to buy a road tax. What they also say is that this can only be done for a UK citizen as there is an postal address required.
Thanks,

Sorry for the late reply, I've been away. As happened with Dubrov, the garage taxed it while I was there so I didn't use the website. My car was SORD so it could have been picked up by cameras or the cops and would have showed up as untaxed.

walus · 29-09-2016 4:53pm

Bumski wrote: »

Sorry for the late reply, I've been away. As happened with Dubrov, the garage taxed it while I was there so I didn't use the website. My car was SORD so it could have been picked up by cameras or the cops and would have showed up as untaxed.

Thanks. Just to be clear here it is the road tax we are talking about here right?

Bumski · 30-09-2016 11:01am

walus wrote: »

Thanks. Just to be clear here it is the road tax we are talking about here right?

Yes

Garages seem to declare the car off the road (Statutory Off Road Declaration)which I think suspends the tax and then the new owner is legally required to pay the road tax. It doesn't transfer as it does in Ireland.

walus · 30-09-2016 11:43am

Ok, I get it now. I'm bringing in a hybrid which in UK is road tax exempt and so I guess nothing to be worry about.

bazz26 · 30-09-2016 1:52pm

walus wrote: »

Ok, I get it now. I'm bringing in a hybrid which in UK is road tax exempt and so I guess nothing to be worry about.

Just make sure that paying a zero rate of tax and not requiring tax are the same thing. Maybe double check with the DVLA.

jofeck · 01-10-2016 5:52pm

I'm heading to UK to buy one of two cars... garage want a bank transfer but its either of two garages... so I can't do bank transfer. STG£14k - crazy volume of cash to carry as cash. Any suggestions on how to pay a garage if not using bank transfer?

Sam Russell · 02-10-2016 5:39pm

Bumski wrote: »

Yes

Garages seem to declare the car off the road (Statutory Off Road Declaration)which I think suspends the tax and then the new owner is legally required to pay the road tax. It doesn't transfer as it does in Ireland.

walus wrote: »

Ok, I get it now. I'm bringing in a hybrid which in UK is road tax exempt and so I guess nothing to be worry about.

bazz26 wrote: »

Just make sure that paying a zero rate of tax and not requiring tax are the same thing. Maybe double check with the DVLA.

The car tax is cancelled on transfer, so it happens when dealer buys it.

Even zero tax must be paid, if you get what I mean, so it must be done. It is normally done on line so dealer should do it for you as part of deal, even on a Saturday.

Gbear · 03-10-2016 6:25pm

I just wanted to double check something.

As per this page on Revenue's website it seems that I can bring my car back with me from the UK (where I have lived for a few years) without having to pay VRT, assuming I'd had it for at least 6 months prior.

I can't really afford to get this wrong so can anyone confirm this is the case - do they know anyone who's done this?

darragh o meara · 03-10-2016 9:10pm

Gbear wrote: »

I just wanted to double check something.

As per this page on Revenue's website it seems that I can bring my car back with me from the UK (where I have lived for a few years) without having to pay VRT, assuming I'd had it for at least 6 months prior.

I can't really afford to get this wrong so can anyone confirm this is the case - do they know anyone who's done this?

Seems about eight but be warned you'll need reams of paperwork to support the application, plus as far as I remember you won't be allowed to sell the car for a year. If in doubt contact revenue and ask them.

slave1 · 04-10-2016 2:30pm

Gbear wrote: »

I just wanted to double check something.

As per this page on Revenue's website it seems that I can bring my car back with me from the UK (where I have lived for a few years) without having to pay VRT, assuming I'd had it for at least 6 months prior.

I can't really afford to get this wrong so can anyone confirm this is the case - do they know anyone who's done this?

I did it a few years back, just bring all proof the revenue require with you, car insurance/car tax, bank statement, payslips, rent receipts etc. Was in and out in less than 5 minutes.

chases0102 · 09-10-2016 8:08pm

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone here could advise.

I'm just back from UK having bought a car. Unfortunately, the garage had sent the V5 form to the DVLA even before we had arrived.

The garage held onto 2 slips, the V5C/2, and the V5C/4.

I'm thinking, from the various info I've read, that this won't be enough for VRT, that I need the entire V5.

Is this true? And if so, does anyone know what I could possibly do in meantime to help avoid any issues/penalties?

darragh o meara · 09-10-2016 8:13pm

chases0102 wrote: »

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone here could advise.

I'm just back from UK having bought a car. Unfortunately, the garage had sent the V5 form to the DVLA even before we had arrived.

The garage held onto 2 slips, the V5C/2, and the V5C/4.

I'm thinking, from the various info I've read, that this won't be enough for VRT, that I need the entire V5.

Is this true? And if so, does anyone know what I could possibly do in meantime to help avoid any issues/penalties?

You will need the full document. Get in touch with the garage and the DVLA to get it issued to you asap.

fryup · 09-10-2016 8:42pm

i wonder will our overlords increase the VRT to counter-act any surge in UK motors being brought into the country????

Muahahaha · 09-10-2016 8:49pm

fryup wrote: »

i wonder will our overlords increase the VRT to counter-act any surge in UK motors being brought into the country????

They dont have to, the Revenue already have their open market selling price so the VRT isnt set against what you actually paid for it, its against what Revenue think it is worth and that figure has only been going up recently.

chases0102 · 09-10-2016 8:53pm

Cheers for quick response.

Garage sent it the morning we were coming to collect it, to DVLA on Swansea. I suppose my best bet is to contact them as soon as possible, and try to get it sent over ASAP?

Esel · 10-10-2016 11:19am

chases0102 wrote: »

Cheers for quick response.

Garage sent it the morning we were coming to collect it, to DVLA on Swansea. I suppose my best bet is to contact them as soon as possible, and try to get it sent over ASAP?

They won't send the V5C. You need to request a cert of permanent export from them.

Bigsliothar · 10-10-2016 11:37am

chases0102 wrote: »

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone here could advise.

I'm just back from UK having bought a car. Unfortunately, the garage had sent the V5 form to the DVLA even before we had arrived.

The garage held onto 2 slips, the V5C/2, and the V5C/4.

I'm thinking, from the various info I've read, that this won't be enough for VRT, that I need the entire V5.

Is this true? And if so, does anyone know what I could possibly do in meantime to help avoid any issues/penalties?

Had this happen to me a couple of weeks back .had to download a cert of permanent export application an send it off to DVLA ,girl in DVLA said will take 4 weeks

chases0102 · 10-10-2016 8:57pm

4 weeks? Presumably, that will put you over the 30 VRT timescale.

Did you contact the VRT office and explain it was the fault of the garage? Or would they simply not entertain that?

Bigsliothar · 11-10-2016 12:11am

chases0102 wrote: »

4 weeks? Presumably, that will put you over the 30 VRT timescale.

Did you contact the VRT office and explain it was the fault of the garage? Or would they simply not entertain that?

Wouldn't entertain it

Denisoftus · 11-10-2016 4:30pm

You mentioned

· Declaration Form for the Registration of a newVehicle/ Motorcycle

but this is not included in the list of required documents emailed by NCTS VRT - booking. I assume this form is no longer required?

Correction, it is actually is, but for

FOR TAN HOLDERS ONLY:
5.You bring your completed Declaration for Registration of a new/used vehicle form.

Muahahaha · 11-10-2016 7:25pm

can anyone suggest a ballpark of what kind of discounts UK dealers tend to allow off the headline price? Looking at a 2yr old A200 Merc circa £19,000

2016 UK import - step by step

Comments