Import a Car

Introduction

Importing a car from abroad was all the rage a few short years ago. Amid all the cries of Rip Off Britain and unfair pricing, an increasing number of canny buyers were shunning their local dealer to take a trip to Europe and bag a bargain.

Now the dust has settled and UK car pricing has fallen more into line with mainland Europe, is importing a car still good news? Are there still huge savings to be made?

We're here to help, so read on and find out if buying abroad will bring home a bargain.

Remember, though, that saving cash is not the only reason you might shop abroad for your next car.

Along with going to Europe to shop for a UK-spec motor, you can also shop further afield for a grey import - a car you can't buy in the UK.

See our top ten list of grey imports for some more inspiration.

If you are already inspired, move straight on to the navigation below.

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.

Importing from within the EU

When you've settled on the car you want, if it's from within the European Union (EU), you've made life as easy as it gets with importing a car.

Follow these pointers for an easy life:

• You will have to register the car as quickly as possible once it arrives in the UK it must only have reasonable delivery mileage if it's new
• If you're buying new from a franchised dealer, they should be able to arrange transit number plates, which allow you to drive the car into the UK to get it registered
• Don't think you can then flout every speed camera in town; the police take a dim view of driving on transit plates even when you're waiting for the proper UK plate
• Importing a used car is also straightforward, though you should be aware that cars up to six months old can be classified as new
• As soon as your new car touches tyres in the UK, Customs and Excise will want their slice. You will need to complete form VAT 415 if the car is less than six months old or has travelled less than 3,750 miles (6,000km). If the car is over the mileage or age limits you'll need to put pen to form VAT 414. Simple, huh?
• For new cars, you will need to present a Type Approval certificate from the vehicle supplier or manufacturer. This is also known as a Certificate of Conformity, and shows the car is built to European standards of safety and use. All new cars sold within the EU should have this, so it is very unlikely to be a problem.

But you're not quite out of the woods yet - there's still a whole forest-worth of paperwork to get through. Follow these steps:

• Fill out a registration document (V55/4 for new cars, V55/5 for used ones)
• Stump up the cash for the registration fee and licence
• Provide a valid insurance certificate, foreign registration documents and all other papers relating to the car
• Sort out the relevant forms from Customs and Excise to prove you've paid any VAT due
• Get an MoT certificate for cars more than three years old or a Declaration of Newness from your local DVLA office
• And finally, documents confirming your name and address
• Make sure you keep every bit of correspondence and receipts relating to the car's purchase as it helps prove ownership
• You will also have to prove when you took ownership of the vehicle, which is usually the invoice from the seller.

Importing from outside the EU

Bringing a car to the UK from outside of the EU is quite common. Look at all of the stupidly fast Subaru Imprezas out there and most will have been previously owned in Japan.

It's also not unusual to bring cars in from America, such as the Ford Mustang, or the fast Holdens from Australia. Check out our top ten list of grey imports for some more examples.

The only real difference here is the Customs and Excise forms you need to fill in. So ask for form C&E 386 and smile sweetly before putting pen to paper.

Older cars may be tax-exempt, but this is not automatically granted as Customs and Excise has a different view as to what old and classic means. Expect to pay VAT and you might get a pleasant surprise if you don't have to pay all or any part of it.

Cars from outside of the EU are unlikely to have Type Approval, which means they're more than likely to have to undergo Single Vehicle Approval (SVA).

You'll have to budget around £250 for this super-MoT. It's a rigorous test of the car's roadworthiness and safety, and it covers far more ground than an MoT, so don't be surprised if the car fails first time.

However, this may mean you need to budget for changes to the car's wing mirrors, aerial mounting and even bonnet badges, as well as emissions and anti-theft equipment.

Using an import broker

Import brokers can take all of the hassles and stress out of importing a car from anywhere in the world, but remember they will add to the final cost of putting your dream car on the drive.

Here is some important stuff to note:

• Ask to see references from satisfied customers and speak to these people to gauge the quality of service you can expect
• Agree a full schedule of events. Start with when the car will be built, then delivered to its transportation, its arrival in the UK, when it's registered and when it is finally delivered. Insist on regular updates of the car's progress at every stage of the importing process

• Do not pay the full balance of the cost until you have seen the car in the UK with all the relevant documentation. Respectable dealers will be happy with this arrangement
• Choose a broker who specialises in cars from the region yours comes from. A Japanese specialist importer may not get the best deal on a car from the USA
• Make sure the price you agree for the car includes all paperwork, taxes and shipping costs. If these are extra, it could make the car more expensive than buying one already in the UK

Is it worth it?

So, is importing a car really worth the hassle? Are you better off sticking with a normal UK dealer? Here are a few key points to help make up your mind:

• Importing a car from abroad, especially one from outside of Europe, can be a great way to drive an individual machine that no one else will have
• There are substantial savings to made on certain makes and models, but you must do your homework beforehand and get busy with conversion tables and a calculator to make sure the imported car works out cheaper
• Some imported cars have such kudos that they will hang on to their value tenaciously. Have you seen how much American pick-up trucks command on the used market?
• There's a good chance that many imported cars will be to a higher specification than European or UK cars, so not only do you save money, you're more pampered into the bargain

• Getting parts for some imported cars can be difficult, especially the rarer and more exotic the car is
• Servicing can be a problem and you may have to seek out a specialist even for routine jobs. Insurance can also present problems for unusual models
• Cars from outside of the EU are unlikely to have a warranty, so be prepared to pay extra for warranty cover
• Many buyers will shy away from an imported car, so the resale value of your imported dream could become a nightmare when it's time to sell
• Not all imported cars will have the same level of safety or anti-theft equipment as European-spec cars, so check this out and budget for adding some security kit
• UK prices have dropped considerably in recent years, so compare prices here very carefully with those abroad, and also compare car specifications closely to make sure they match your expectations. Haggling a good deal on a UK car could make importing a car pointless

Pitfalls to avoid

Should you decide to go ahead, there are some common 'elephant traps' you should try to steer clear of:

• Trying to con Customs and Excise will not work. Be scrupulously honest and tell them exactly how much the car has cost to bring into the UK
• If you use a broker, choose one with a track record of importing from the region that your chosen model comes from
• Agree the price of the car delivered to you in the UK so you're not lumbered with VAT and transportation costs
• If you're doing the whole thing yourself, haggle at every stage, including shipping and container costs if the car has to come by boat
• Take out insurance from the second you become the car's owner. If it's damaged in transit on a transporter lorry or on a container ship, be sure to report this at the earliest possible stage and take pictures to back up your case

• Keep every scrap of correspondence relating to the car. That means every email, invoice, receipt and copies of all documents
• Check out how much it will cost to make the car UK legal before buying. This can add considerably to the cost and some work will need to be carried out by a specialist, such as altering the emissions or changing a KPH speedo to MPH
• Franchised dealers in the EU are not obliged to sell to you as they have the right to sell to a local buyer prepared to pay more or who will return to the dealer to have the car serviced and eventually trade it in for something else. If this happens, be polite and ask if the dealer can point you in the direction on another who may help you.

Top ten grey imports

If you import a car that is available on sale in the UK, it's known as a 'parallel import'. The main advantage to doing this is the potential for a decent saving over the UK showroom list price.

There are, however, also a number of cars sold abroad that are not available over here - especially in right-hand-drive Japan. These are known as 'grey imports'.

Here are some of the best non-UK buys if you fancy something a bit different:

Mazda Eunos (MX5) From: Japan
Mazda's brilliant small roadster is every bit as good to drive when imported from Japan but comes loaded with luxury kit as standard.

Mitsubishi Pajero From: Japan
A Mitsubishi Shogun in everything but name, but Japanese spec cars tend to come with all the goodies, including extra wing-mounted mirrors for easier parking.

Nissan Skyline From: Japan
You love it, they love it, we all love it. Big, lairy and fast, look out for special editions that have more power.

Honda Integra From: Japan
Why Honda didn't officially import this we will never know, but it's a superb coupe-cum-sportscar with screaming engine and fine handling.

Subaru Impreza From: Japan
One of the most popular cars to import from Japan and it's easy to see why thanks to superb four-wheel drive performance and handling.

Holden Commodore SV8 From: Australia
Big, brash and likes a drink. A typical Aussie then, but this one doesn't work behind your local's bar but delivers Monaro-esque performance with four-door practicality.

Ford Mustang From: USA
It's a legend and the latest version is the best looking since Steve McQueen took one for a spin around San Francisco. Hard to resist.

Chevrolet Corvette From: USA
If you've never dreamed of owning a Corvette, even for a split second, you need help. More compact latest version is great to drive and it handles.

Cadillac EXT From: USA
Buy a Caddy EXT and pretend you're a Premiership footballer. Why you'd want to do that is beyond us, but the EXT is oddly desirable for marrying pick-up with luxury car.

Hummer H2 From: USA
The baby Hummer may be based on the Chevy Blazer, but it's got more attitude than a car full of teenagers and still gets looks on every high street.

Before you shop, though, consider the following points:

• Grey imports can cost more to insure
• You may have to carry out work on the car to conform to UK legislation (for example, fit orange indicators, change speedo from KPH to MPH)
• Parts availability may be a problem for some vehicles
• Some garages may be reluctant to carry out work on a grey import car

If you haven't already seen it, check out our advice on importing a car from outside the EU.