Car expert / export
 

Hello Folks,

If you were going to export a rust-free car from Australia to the UK, what would be the most profitable ?

One of the old classics, such as an MG sportscar ?

How long do you have to own a car here before you can export it ?

Cheers.

Re: Car expert / export
 

This is a link for the UK/HM customs - exporting a car and belongings into the UK from outside a European country. Notice 3 relates to it.
May answer some of your questions

http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/notices/728.htm

I've been interested in the Triumph Stags myself :) - some beauties here in Aus - rust free, which are hard to find in the UK. The salt on the roads in the UK wrecks the cars.

Other way to make a bit of money - import mini parts from the UK to Australia :) - mini parts go for stupid prices in Australia, and they are cheap as hell in the UK. Mini dealers here get all they stuff sent in from the UK, and slap stupid prices on them, not that I like mini's, but there's a business.

cheers

Re: Car expert / export
 

I've been looking into importing cars to Perth for a while, and from what I found it can be a nightmare depending on the cars you want to bring over. I was looking at modern TVRs, and had to give up! The authorities are very protective of their market, and don't seem to like foreign cars....

Particularly if the cars are:

1. Less than 15 years old
2. Worth more that about 20K quid
3. Owned for less than a year by you

I think if you've owned the car for a year the procedure may be much easier - check out the website www.dotars.gov.au for full information.

Even modern cars with identical models are difficult (e.g. BMW's), as they have to get australian compliance plates which is a whole process in itself....

If the car is over 15 years old, the procedure is relatively straightforward to get the car through customs, but getting it on the road involves taking it over the 'pits' - supposedly this is like an MOT, but a bit more rigorous, and I've heard can raise everything from ash in the ashtray & faded paintwork, (yes I've heard this from one story!) to more obvious things like conversion of the speedo to Km's, addition of high-level brake lights etc...I've never done it, so I'm not sure...

It's a bit ironic really, 'cos the wrecks some people drive here are a joke - there's no regular MOT process, so you can imagine!

By the time you add the shipping costs (allow 1500 quid), duty (10%), sales tax (10%), luxury car tax (25% over 20K), modification, etc.. be careful as you may not make that much profit. Also, the cars here are often beauts anyway...

Further, I'm told (albeit by biased dealers!) that the secondhand market for pommy cars is lower....

That said, I'm still looking at bringing an old Jag XJS over, and maybe an old 308 ferrari, so get back to me if you want to sort something. I'm in Perth now...

hope that helps a bit...

J.

Re: Car expert / export
 

Ceri <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
    > Originally posted by onlyme:
    > > Hello Folks,
    > >
    > > If you were going to export a rust-free car from Australia to the UK, what would
    > > be the most profitable ?
    > >
    > > One of the old classics, such as an MG sportscar ?
    > >
    > > How long do you have to own a car here before you can export it ?
    > >
    > > Cheers.
    > This is a link for the UK/HM customs - exporting a car and belongings into the UK
    > from outside a European country. Notice 3 relates to it. May answer some of your
    > questions
    > http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/n-
    > otices/728.htm
    > I've been interested in the Triumph Stags myself :) - some beauties here in Aus -
    > rust free,

Rust free is not unusual. I once bought a Kawasaki motorcycle that had loads of rust
on it. I didn't have to pay a penny extra for the rust, I think I did quite well
there. Incidentally, how much would you mormally expect to pay for rust?

Thunder Ace

Re: Car expert / export
 

at least 10 quid a kilo.