taking a car home from Florida
Dec 22nd 2014, 2:58 pm
#1
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taking a car home from Florida
Hey
I am moving back to Scotland from Florida and quite fancy taking home a nearly new or possibly new Mustang or Camaro and wonder what the implications are?
I heard something about owning it for 6 months first but this would not be the case as I would be buying it just to ship it back.
No doubt there will be lots of red tape, taxes, conversions etc but just wondered if anyone had any experience?
I am moving back to Scotland from Florida and quite fancy taking home a nearly new or possibly new Mustang or Camaro and wonder what the implications are?
I heard something about owning it for 6 months first but this would not be the case as I would be buying it just to ship it back.
No doubt there will be lots of red tape, taxes, conversions etc but just wondered if anyone had any experience?
Dec 22nd 2014, 3:02 pm
#2
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: taking a car home from Florida
This is about bringing LHD cars from Europe to the UK, but it seems that the considerations would apply to bringing in a car from the US:
Can I drive a left-hand drive car in the UK?
Can I drive a left-hand drive car in the UK?
Dec 22nd 2014, 3:08 pm
#3
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Location: Anchorage, AK, USA
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Re: taking a car home from Florida
Why not just wait and buy a new right-hand drive Mustang in the UK? Looks like they will start selling them from September 2015.
Dec 22nd 2014, 3:19 pm
#4
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Re: taking a car home from Florida
That would make sense! thanks for the info.
Probably not worth taking a Mustang if they are going to be common - might need to go for the camaro! just wanted something a little different.
Probably not worth taking a Mustang if they are going to be common - might need to go for the camaro! just wanted something a little different.
Dec 22nd 2014, 3:24 pm
#5
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: taking a car home from Florida
I'd heard that you had to have owned it for 12 months to escape the duty and VAT, just like if you buy an iGadget or a TV. So you can do it, but expect a tidy bill from HM Revenue and Customs. 
.... You could take a V8, Mustang as I heard Ford isn't importing those into Europe.
.... You could take a V8, Mustang as I heard Ford isn't importing those into Europe.
Dec 22nd 2014, 3:38 pm
#6
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Re: taking a car home from Florida
Probably not much call for the V8 right enough with the fuel prices over there - it will probably be a 1.4 diesel mustang lol
Is there anything that avoids the duty and worth taking back? maybe a classic Mercedes or jag that have all rusted over there and in their prime here?
Is there anything that avoids the duty and worth taking back? maybe a classic Mercedes or jag that have all rusted over there and in their prime here?
Dec 22nd 2014, 3:42 pm
#7
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: taking a car home from Florida
Probably not much call for the V8 right enough with the fuel prices over there - it will probably be a 1.4 diesel mustang lol
Is there anything that avoids the duty and worth taking back? maybe a classic Mercedes or jag that have all rusted over there and in their prime here?
Is there anything that avoids the duty and worth taking back? maybe a classic Mercedes or jag that have all rusted over there and in their prime here?
Dec 22nd 2014, 4:50 pm
#8
Deep in the woods of CT
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Re: taking a car home from Florida
If you are buying a car from Europe and bringing it to the UK you may have to pay import tax, so remember to factor this expense into your calculation. Tax must be paid on any car that is under six months old and has clocked fewer than 6,000 kilometres (3,750 miles).
Dec 22nd 2014, 4:56 pm
#9
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Re: taking a car home from Florida
The link was very helpful - thanks!
Probably not worth all the bother....
Probably not worth all the bother....
Dec 22nd 2014, 5:17 pm
#10
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: taking a car home from Florida
The link in post 2 says this, and I would presume that it applies to the US, too, surely?
If you are buying a car from Europe and bringing it to the UK you may have to pay import tax, so remember to factor this expense into your calculation. Tax must be paid on any car that is under six months old and has clocked fewer than 6,000 kilometres (3,750 miles).
If you are buying a car from Europe and bringing it to the UK you may have to pay import tax, so remember to factor this expense into your calculation. Tax must be paid on any car that is under six months old and has clocked fewer than 6,000 kilometres (3,750 miles).
If you’re moving to the UK
You don’t pay VAT or duty on a vehicle imported from outside the EU if you qualify for transfer of residence relief. To qualify you must meet all of these conditions:
● you’re moving your normal home to the UK
● your normal home was outside the EU for a continuous period of at least 12 months
● you’ve owned and used the vehicle for at least 6 months outside the EU
● you didn’t get the vehicle under a duty-free or tax-free scheme
● you’re going to keep the vehicle for your personal use for at least 12 months
To get the tax relief, fill in form form C104A and give it to customs when you enter the country. ....
You don’t pay VAT or duty on a vehicle imported from outside the EU if you qualify for transfer of residence relief. To qualify you must meet all of these conditions:
● you’re moving your normal home to the UK
● your normal home was outside the EU for a continuous period of at least 12 months
● you’ve owned and used the vehicle for at least 6 months outside the EU
● you didn’t get the vehicle under a duty-free or tax-free scheme
● you’re going to keep the vehicle for your personal use for at least 12 months
To get the tax relief, fill in form form C104A and give it to customs when you enter the country. ....
Last edited by Pulaski; Dec 22nd 2014 at 5:21 pm.
Dec 22nd 2014, 5:34 pm
#11
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Re: taking a car home from Florida
Been in Florida for 5 years solid and meet all the conditions other than owning the vehicle for 6 months! I have had a vehicle for more than 6 months but it is a jag and readily available over there so no point taking it.
Thanks for all the help.
Thanks for all the help.
Dec 22nd 2014, 5:48 pm
#12
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: taking a car home from Florida
.... The '93'-04 Mustang was cousin to the XK8, and also the DB7. All were designed when under common ownership of the Ford Motor Company. 
Dec 23rd 2014, 4:50 pm
#13
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Location: Belle Isle, Florida
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Re: taking a car home from Florida
Performance pack equipped 5.0 Mustang will DEFINITELY be available in Europe. What is still uncertain is whether FoMoCo will supply automatic trans, in addition to manual.
US car dealers are theoretically not permitted (by the mfr) to sell new cars for export, so it will have to be pre-owned.
The IVA/SVA test to make a US car road legal in the UK is particularly involved in the case of late model Mustang, due to the sequential turn signals, which are not legal in the UK.
You will have to pay UK car tax and the deemed UK (not US) value and VAT on top of that too.
In most cases, by the time you have buggered about with all of the cost and paperwork involved in doing it yourself, you might as well just buy a car from a US specialist -Bauer Millet in Manchester for GM- and Newport Imports in Stockbury, Kent, for pretty much everything else
US car dealers are theoretically not permitted (by the mfr) to sell new cars for export, so it will have to be pre-owned.
The IVA/SVA test to make a US car road legal in the UK is particularly involved in the case of late model Mustang, due to the sequential turn signals, which are not legal in the UK.
You will have to pay UK car tax and the deemed UK (not US) value and VAT on top of that too.
In most cases, by the time you have buggered about with all of the cost and paperwork involved in doing it yourself, you might as well just buy a car from a US specialist -Bauer Millet in Manchester for GM- and Newport Imports in Stockbury, Kent, for pretty much everything else
Dec 23rd 2014, 4:57 pm
#14
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Re: taking a car home from Florida
Really appreciate your advice and sounds like this is what I will do as I really can't be bothered jumping through any more hoops - had 5 years of that!
Might just buy British and help the economy when I get back.
Thanks
Might just buy British and help the economy when I get back.
Thanks
