Importing from America

TigerTim

While trawling the Internet recently looking for my favourite classic, the OPEL GT (1969 - 1973), I noticed one for sale in Florida - about 30 miles from my brother-in-law.This started me thinking. If I wanted to import a car from the States how would I go about it. I've never bought a car without seeing it so I probably wouldn't go down that route but am interested to know how its done. Assuming the car is OK in someone else's eyes & paid for, how does one start getting it to Ireland or would it have to go to a UK port. Over 30 years so OK for VRT. Any extra taxes as it's coming from outside the EU even though it was manufactured in Germany. Are there shipping agents who would handle this. Are cars that are being shipped treated with care. Not much point buying a concours example & it turning up here a wreck. A dealer friend of mine, who used to bring modern cars from the UK, often had cars damaged or bits stolen between the time the cars were dropped at Hollyhead & arriving in Dublin. Has someone done this importing before. Any advice?. What pitfalls?

Thanks

TigerTim

PaulK_CCI

TigerTim wrote:

While trawling the Internet recently looking for my favourite classic, the OPEL GT (1969 - 1973), I noticed one for sale in Florida - about 30 miles from my brother-in-law.This started me thinking. If I wanted to import a car from the States how would I go about it. I've never bought a car without seeing it so I probably wouldn't go down that route but am interested to know how its done. Assuming the car is OK in someone else's eyes & paid for, how does one start getting it to Ireland or would it have to go to a UK port. Over 30 years so OK for VRT. Any extra taxes as it's coming from outside the EU even though it was manufactured in Germany. Are there shipping agents who would handle this. Are cars that are being shipped treated with care. Not much point buying a concours example & it turning up here a wreck. A dealer friend of mine, who used to bring modern cars from the UK, often had cars damaged or bits stolen between the time the cars were dropped at Hollyhead & arriving in Dublin. Has someone done this importing before. Any advice?. What pitfalls?

Thanks

TigerTim

Why go through all the hassle, expense and risk of picking up a car in the US, when you can get nice, clean and very reasonably priced examples all over the continent!! Much easier to check out, and cheaper to bring into Ireland.

I'll send you a PM with some nice examples I know of knocking about.

ds20prefecture

Hi TigerTim - nice car choice.

It's not that big of a deal - I think you'll have to pay VAT on the agreed price in Ireland. Agreed price is some reasonable value on an invoice. I believe shipping costs between 1000 and 1500, or about twice that from the continent (if you're not picking it up).

If you're brother in law knows what to look for, you're on a winner as you have someone you trust to inspect the car before you see it.

I'd be careful buying a car in Florida - it's extremely humid there, and not kind to ungalvanised cars like the Opel.

Dades

Welcome TT,

If you have someone on the ground who can verify that the car's in good nick then why not make use of that opportunity. I'd say your shipping cost will be more the €1,500 end of DS's estimate. "Incidental" port and customs charges add up. Florida shouldn't be too much hassle to ship from. Contact some car-shippers (just google them) for a quote, or better still get your brother-in-law to talk to a local shipping office.

Check out these threads for loads of extra stuff, including my own experience from Canada, and post anything else on your mind.

G'luck!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=250402

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=298535

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=258267

TigerTim

Thanks for the replies & the links. Plenty of Material there.

Paul - I know its easier to get a car from the UK of the Continent but I was just curious as to how one would get a vehicle from the US.

As for trusting my brother-in-law - I'm not sure. Everyone's idea of a clean car is different & I'm not sure if he would be able to spot rot under a shiny coat of paint.

Again, Many thanks.:)

PaulK_CCI

TigerTim wrote:

Thanks for the replies & the links. Plenty of Material there.

Paul - I know its easier to get a car from the UK of the Continent but I was just curious as to how one would get a vehicle from the US.

As for trusting my brother-in-law - I'm not sure. Everyone's idea of a clean car is different & I'm not sure if he would be able to spot rot under a shiny coat of paint.

Again, Many thanks.:)

As stated the key is that someone is able to check the car out. It would be adviseable to have that person look after the purchase, checking that the correct paperwork is handed over, and then to meticulously oversee the pickup for transport/handling. It then helps to check with people that have imported before about who are and who aren't reliable shipping crowds. There's plenty of stories about of people that got messed about with on transport and handling, but it's good to know that in most cases everything will go as planned. The key is again, to find someone who knows the car of your choice inside and out and who is willing to oversee the transaction, and a trustworthy shipping agent.

On the cost side of thing, don't forget that the Custom&Excise duties are payable on both the purchase price AND any transport and handling costs!!!!! On top of that you will have the port fees for releasing the car, and then finally there's the VRT, but that's only 50 euro's.