Is it worth importing a car from Britain?

Large fun bags · 26-12-2015 9:07am #1

A question for anyone who imports or has imported a car from Britain. Is it worth the hassle? Is it possible to actually save money when transport and vrt have been paid? I know cars have a much higher spec over there and considering importing this year. Anyone with helpful info feel free to comment.

OldMrBrennan83 · 26-12-2015 9:09am

This post has been deleted.

whomitconcerns · 26-12-2015 9:09am

Depends on the car and price range your thinking? It's possible of course

Large fun bags · 26-12-2015 9:26am

whomitconcerns wrote:

Depends on the car and price range your thinking? It's possible of course

08-09 golf. 1.9 diesel

whomitconcerns · 26-12-2015 9:30am

Unless you found some amazing spec a 16 year old golf would be tough to 'make' money on an import.

If it's a rare model golf it may be worth it to you for that reason though. Some golf specialists on here might give specific advice

kawasaki1100 · 26-12-2015 9:31am

Its nearly not worth it any more VRT rates are so expensive here. £ rates are also strong att the moment and set to remain so. You have to factor In resale value of a UK car in Ireland, most people will look for the history of the car and UK cars tend to put people off.

Large fun bags · 26-12-2015 9:32am

whomitconcerns wrote:

Unless you found some amazing spec a 16 year old golf would be tough to 'make' money on an import.

7- 8 years. Not 16

650Ginge · 26-12-2015 9:34am

You just need to work it out and see it has been for me in the past.

After I have been to see a handful or the cars for sale here I usual give up. Cars here aren't looked after in the main.

It is a cheap flight or a rail sail ticket and a return on the ferry. I have alway worked on the basis if I'm saving 300 is is worth the days effort.

But you need to do the leg work yourself on finding the car and doing the cals.

650Ginge · 26-12-2015 9:36am

kawasaki1100 wrote: »

Its nearly not worth it any more VRT rates are so expensive here. £ rates are also strong att the moment and set to remain so. You have to factor In resale value of a UK car in Ireland, most people will look for the history of the car and UK cars tend to put people off.

This such a sweeping statement containing nothing factual to back it up.

Do the figures and see what it works out at OP.

Come back and post them here would be great.

bmwguy · 26-12-2015 9:43am

Google VRT calculator and find the rates for your particular car. Then find out exchange rates you can get your money for. Add in travel expenses, depending on the part of the UK you buy in and the part of Ireland you live in it could easily cost a full tank of fuel so factor that in too. If you are looking at the bottom end of done deal prices and cost is the only consideration, the trip to UK is not for you. If you are looking for a better range of cars and maybe a specific level of spec then maybe it is. Do the maths on it.

kawasaki1100 · 26-12-2015 9:55am

650Ginge wrote: »

This such a sweeping statement containing nothing factual to back it up.

Do the figures and see what it works out at OP.

Come back and post them here would be great.

As you say, do your figures first every car is different.

ba_barabus · 26-12-2015 10:23am

Do the figures OP, Ive done it a few times and it's worked fine for me. I haven't always saved money but I have gotten betters cars from doing it.

The exchange rate really is against you at the minute.

You'll need to know exactly model details of the car too in order to get an accurate VRT figure.

porsche boy · 26-12-2015 11:06am

Don't it a few times when the exchange rate was better, cheaper to drive up north then getting boats. Usedcarsni.com is a good site.

LiamoSail · 26-12-2015 5:03pm

Personally I wouldn't be bothered doing it, simply because of the hassle involved. However, when looking at second hand cars here, I'm always attracted to UK imports on the basis of them generally having a better spec

CJhaughey · 26-12-2015 5:21pm

IMO it comes down to choice. You have a far greater range of cars to choose from, not just higher spec but bodystyles as well, for instance Estates here are not common, over there they are plentiful.
I have been looking for a specific spec and year of car for a while now, in the last 6 mths here I have seen one come up on DD and that was a colour I didn't like and the spec was a little poorer than I am looking for.
In the UK there is multiple versions of that year for sale. Hence I will be travelling in the new year.

Special Circumstances · 27-12-2015 1:46am

CJhaughey wrote: »

IMO it comes down to choice. You have a far greater range of cars to choose from, not just higher spec but bodystyles as well, for instance Estates here are not common, over there they are plentiful.
I have been looking for a specific spec and year of car for a while now, in the last 6 mths here I have seen one come up on DD and that was a colour I didn't like and the spec was a little poorer than I am looking for.
In the UK there is multiple versions of that year for sale. Hence I will be travelling in the new year.

Yeah some stuff just isn't available here. Or it is, but only in the "sounds like a dumper truck" version.

Mc Love · 28-12-2015 9:49am

Yes.

It isn't as much hassle as you think and you are getting a better car for your money

kefir32 · 28-12-2015 12:04pm

I did it and have no regrets, fantastic spec, small savings but worth it cos i got the car i wanted....... prob less likely to do now though with the sterling being so strong but i would never buy a paddy spec 1.6 here so pay for the premium i guess

Terrontress · 28-12-2015 12:31pm

LiamoSail wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't be bothered doing it, simply because of the hassle involved. However, when looking at second hand cars here, I'm always attracted to UK imports on the basis of them generally having a better spec

If by hassle, you mean heading over there, collecting and driving back home, some people would enjoy that sort of hassle.

oldsmokey · 28-12-2015 7:40pm

I've done it and enjoyed it, so many yokes here with galactic mileage on them..150000 miles, ah shur shes just run in..ffs...uk stuff generally ok, but if youre going much over 2-3 years old I'd be very wary of rust starting, get it on a lift and have a good nose around. Oop north of uk worse for salt of course..
UK Spec better, and better choice of colour, gearbox and fuel as a rule, the research can be kind of fun too..

FrontDoor · 28-12-2015 8:43pm

Lots of second hand dealers still base their business model on importing used cars from UK auctions and selling them here. On that basis, there must be some value in it still.

Used cars in Ireland track UK prices. Used cars are also pretty expensive here at the moment.

Buying a used car in Ireland can be a deflating experience. You just know that many of the cars you are looking at came from an auction in the UK and weren't exactly from the premium end either.

You can generally buy an equivalent car, less miles, service history etc from a main dealer in the UK a bit cheaper than from a 2nd hand, gravel and portacabin type setup here.

There is often no comparison between main dealer prices here and in the UK.

Is it worth importing a car from Britain?

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