Hi Everyone!
My man and I are planning well ahead and are thinking of when we will be going back to the UK. As car prices here are still a bit cheaper we are trying to find out the best way to aquire a RHD car and how do you go about importing it into the UK?
Any advice or horror stories gratefully received!
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Buying a right hand drive car in Germany
Where to buy an RHD, and other general advice
You should be able to order a RHD car from any dealer ...at least that's exactly what a mate of mine did about 2 years ago with a VW, however you might get a better deal in Holland or Belgium depending on which make you're looking for so it probably pays to shop around and compare prices. Unfortunately I don't know about the import bit though sorry !
As Neil already said, it shouldn't be a problem ordering a RHD car from any dealer.
Your best bet, though, would be to order it in a high VAT country, like Denmark, and then import it into Germany before taking it to the UK. Especially as getting the car from the border is easier here than in the UK, as you just need to get a "5 Tage Kennzeichen" to get it here.
The manufacturers adjust the net price, before VAT, to equalise the final sales price, so that there is less difference in the gross prices between the countries. If you then import it into Germany, you only have to pay 16% VAT on the lower net price instead of the 17,5% which you have to pay C&E for a "NMT" (New Means of Transport).
If you have payed the VAT in one EU country, you don't have to pay it in another. Getting a car that you own, and is registered in Germany, re-registered for private use in the UK is a formality.
If you are going to export it, you can also get an "Ausführkennzeichen", which is valid for 6 months. Both of this and the "5 Tage Kz" allow you to drive across borders, so getting to the UK is also not an issue -- (DVLC recommend transport for unregistered new cars - see link below) -- and you can drive around during the 14 days to a month it takes for the formalities in the UK.
No matter what, if you have owned the car for more than 6 months, it counts as a used car, and you don't have to pay any tax when you import it privately to the UK. You just have to drive it there, get it cleared by customs, insured and register it with the DVLC.
If you are planning in advance, order your car with a delivery date at least 6 months before you go back to the UK. If you're feeling shy about doing the import to DE yourself, there are enough importers here. Even some franchised dealers do EU imports.
Your best bet, though, would be to order it in a high VAT country, like Denmark, and then import it into Germany before taking it to the UK. Especially as getting the car from the border is easier here than in the UK, as you just need to get a "5 Tage Kennzeichen" to get it here.
The manufacturers adjust the net price, before VAT, to equalise the final sales price, so that there is less difference in the gross prices between the countries. If you then import it into Germany, you only have to pay 16% VAT on the lower net price instead of the 17,5% which you have to pay C&E for a "NMT" (New Means of Transport).
If you have payed the VAT in one EU country, you don't have to pay it in another. Getting a car that you own, and is registered in Germany, re-registered for private use in the UK is a formality.
If you are going to export it, you can also get an "Ausführkennzeichen", which is valid for 6 months. Both of this and the "5 Tage Kz" allow you to drive across borders, so getting to the UK is also not an issue -- (DVLC recommend transport for unregistered new cars - see link below) -- and you can drive around during the 14 days to a month it takes for the formalities in the UK.
No matter what, if you have owned the car for more than 6 months, it counts as a used car, and you don't have to pay any tax when you import it privately to the UK. You just have to drive it there, get it cleared by customs, insured and register it with the DVLC.
If you are planning in advance, order your car with a delivery date at least 6 months before you go back to the UK. If you're feeling shy about doing the import to DE yourself, there are enough importers here. Even some franchised dealers do EU imports.
Sandra, have a look at this link, it gives a listing of places that sell RHD in Europe.
http://www.day-tripper.net/shoppingcarbuying.html
Sue
http://www.day-tripper.net/shoppingcarbuying.html
Sue
Duncan:
RHD IS UK spec to all intents and purposes. Because: new cars sold in Europe have to comply with EU regulations, usually only UK and Eire get RHD to EU regs
Sandra:
What you have to watch for, though, is the equipment level. You will find that, because of the price structure in the UK various extras are included, for which you have to pay extra here. Normally, the RHD will have these fitted automatically at the Factory, but the dealer will want to charge extra for them because they are listed as extras in his price list.
If you know what you want, try to get the brochures and order lists from the UK, and point out to the dealer what is already fitted in the UK base version and therefore included in the base price. On the other side, there will be some things standard in some EU markets, which are extras in UK, so it is a good idea to compare the Specs. You could try to get the price discounted against what is not included
As an example: Many cars imported from Spain don't have ABS, which is standard in DE and often in UK. In that case, the importer might want to ad the cost of ABS to the price, because he is used to getting the LHD without ABS, or adding it as an oncost to those who want it, and do exactly the same for the RHD.
RHD IS UK spec to all intents and purposes. Because: new cars sold in Europe have to comply with EU regulations, usually only UK and Eire get RHD to EU regs
Sandra:
What you have to watch for, though, is the equipment level. You will find that, because of the price structure in the UK various extras are included, for which you have to pay extra here. Normally, the RHD will have these fitted automatically at the Factory, but the dealer will want to charge extra for them because they are listed as extras in his price list.
If you know what you want, try to get the brochures and order lists from the UK, and point out to the dealer what is already fitted in the UK base version and therefore included in the base price. On the other side, there will be some things standard in some EU markets, which are extras in UK, so it is a good idea to compare the Specs. You could try to get the price discounted against what is not included
As an example: Many cars imported from Spain don't have ABS, which is standard in DE and often in UK. In that case, the importer might want to ad the cost of ABS to the price, because he is used to getting the LHD without ABS, or adding it as an oncost to those who want it, and do exactly the same for the RHD.
Thanks guys..you've given us lots to think about. Will probably go for a rugrat carrier like I have now..got a Chrysler Voyager here and it's great.
I am going back to the UK in about 3 months and looking to buy a car there. If there is a good deal on a cheap to run RHD vehicle here I would definitely be interested in buying here and driving back to the UK. I'm looking for as cheap as poss though ... Let me know if any one has anything to offer or advice on where to look for one.
Cheers!
Topics merged by admin
Cheers!
Topics merged by admin
you could do www.mobile.de and put in R.H. right hand vehicles should come up then
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