Is there a business in second hand UK car imports?

businessdit

Is there a business in importing second hand UK cars? I am thinking of bring in a few small cars.

Can anyone tell me how this works, what are the rules/legislation I have to follow if I run this through a company?

Has anyone here done this before?

Thanks
Rob

_Brian

Sooo many at it now.
We bought of a dealer last time who specialises in this and he said to compete with part timers the margins are getting small and he has to offer a warranty. Buyers market id recon.

Also, insurance companies are starting to insurance load imports, friend had €150 added to her smax insurance because it was an import "to cover any different parts the car may have" was the reason.

pedroeibar1

businessdit wrote: »

Is there a business in importing second hand UK cars? I am thinking of bring in a few small cars.

Has anyone here done this before?

Thanks
Rob

Lots of people are doing it. (I looked at your posting history...)

ironclaw

You'd be better off working as a sourcer of cars e.g. A client approaches you looking for a certain car and you would find one, get it and land it in Ireland (Ready to go) for a fee. This would work far better however if you have a presence in the UK as you can easily go and inspect a car, send the information back and ultimately deliver it to the Republic.

There are plenty of people doing this however and you'd be a in very competitive market. Your margin is literally what it would cost a person to do it themselves e.g. Flights and accommodation to the UK. And someone who is really into their cars will probably do this themselves, even more so if its a higher end model. You'll also be competing with Charles Hurst you now transfer cars between their southern and NI locations, registering them in the process.

Unless you are based in the UK, I wouldn't consider this business viable unless you have previous connections to the trade. The car game is very 'who you know'

Joeseph Balls

Crowd based in Dublin who do the whole lot for you. Can't recall their name

mrawkward

Lots of complications with VAT and TAN numbers that mitigate against the guy doing just a few cars. If you do not have a TAN number the car has to be imported and duty paid within 30 days and taxed from that date. If you do it yourself first then you add another owner to the history. As a business you automatically give buyers a legal warranty under sales goods/consumer legislation. You are also well tracked by Revenue as they will have your tax/rsi number for every import. Not at all as simple as it appears on the surface.