Importing 30yrs+ Campervan from UK or EU

bharr · 06-10-2019 08:47AM #1

Hi

I'm thinking of getting a Westfalia T25 van next year. I'm interested in this model, both as an actual campervan and as a project. The ones I like are generally late 1980s built.

I was comparing availability and price and it seem sensible to consider importing from UK or Germany.

If, say, I imported a 1988 van and paid, say, 15,000€, what would be implications regarding

1. Import tax, if any
2. Registering here in Ireland. I believe VRT is high but uncertain if this van would be classified as a classic. If so, what would this mean.
3. Insurance. How would I insure van if I purchased in Germany and drove back to Ireland via France ferry
4. Is there classic road tax and would 30yrs+ count as classic
5. Ditto classic insurance

Thanks for reading this.

Brian

autumnalcore · 07-10-2019 01:11AM

From experience I can tell you that the biggest implications for importing an old T25 are going to be:

1. Rust
2. Hidden Rust (underseal, stonechip, isopon, fibreglass etc)
3. Bodged rust
4. Did I mention rust
5. Gearbox
6. All Rubber Parts
7. Sourcing Parts
etc. etc.

Old vehicles are a vocation for people with either plenty of time or plenty of money. I have fallen foul of believing I had plenty of time myself but ended up with not a lot of holidays as a result.

kadman · 07-10-2019 09:51AM

I will be selling my own T25 sometime in the near future, and it wont come with the 1_7 issues above,

It might suit you, fully do'ed, and without the 15k asking price, might suit you.

spaceHopper · 07-10-2019 11:12AM

kadman wrote: »

I will be selling my own T25 sometime in the near future, and it wont come with the 1_7 issues above,

It might suit you, fully do'ed, and without the 15k asking price, might suit you.

Don't do it you will be sorry

kadman · 07-10-2019 12:26PM

spaceHopper wrote: »

Don't do it you will be sorry

I wont, its not used enough to keep it, and i have a beetle and a fastback
to keep me occupied:p

autumnalcore · 07-10-2019 04:36PM

kadman wrote: »

I will be selling my own T25 sometime in the near future, and it wont come with the 1_7 issues above,

It might suit you, fully do'ed, and without the 15k asking price, might suit you.

This would be a much better idea than some unknown from rust land.

bharr · 06-11-2019 10:44PM

spaceHopper wrote: »

Don't do it you will be sorry

I did in the past and I wasn't sorry. Hopefully the same this time...

bharr · 06-11-2019 10:46PM

autumnalcore wrote: »

From experience I can tell you that the biggest implications for importing an old T25 are going to be:

1. Rust
2. Hidden Rust (underseal, stonechip, isopon, fibreglass etc)
3. Bodged rust
4. Did I mention rust
5. Gearbox
6. All Rubber Parts
7. Sourcing Parts
etc. etc.

Old vehicles are a vocation for people with either plenty of time or plenty of money. I have fallen foul of believing I had plenty of time myself but ended up with not a lot of holidays as a result.

Thanks for this

I owned a T25, not westy, in the past and a Hymer C46 so aware of these issues.

I'm more interested in practicalities of importing

bharr · 06-11-2019 10:47PM

autumnalcore wrote: »

This would be a much better idea than some unknown from rust land.

Thanks for this. I'm thinking of mid 2020, probably a bit late

bharr · 06-11-2019 10:47PM

kadman wrote: »

I will be selling my own T25 sometime in the near future, and it wont come with the 1_7 issues above,

It might suit you, fully do'ed, and without the 15k asking price, might suit you.

Thanks for this. I'm thinking of mid 2020, probably a bit late

spaceHopper · 07-11-2019 11:48AM

bharr wrote: »

Thanks for this. I'm thinking of mid 2020, probably a bit late

If the UK has left the EU by then you could have to pay vat at 23%

Importing 30yrs+ Campervan from UK or EU

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