Import a Car - Buyer's Guide

Where to start

The fundamentals of car buying apply whether you're looking to buy a car from within the European Union, further afield, new or used.

All of the same caveats as shopping in the UK remain - just because the dealer speaks with a suave French or German accent does not mean you shouldn't haggle all the way.

Have a look at our guides to buying new and buying used and for info on how to get the best deal.

If you know which car you want, it's a straightforward process of finding the right car at the lowest price. The internet is your biggest and best bet here.

If you're looking for some inspiration, there are specialist importing magazines and websites, and we're not talking top-shelf stuff.

Have a browse and see what takes your fancy. Also check out our top ten list of grey imports.

There are loads of cars out there that never make it to the UK, so don't be put off by the phrase 'grey import'. It doesn't mean the car has a shady past, just that it's never been Type Approved for Europe.

Be aware, though, you may have to carry out some small jobs to make the car UK roadworthy - see our upcoming section on importing from outside the EU.

Cars that do have Type Approval are referred to as parallel imports. We'll also cover Type Approval further on.