Imports

Not so long ago everyone was talking about importing cars as a way of beating “rip-off Britain’s” sky-high prices. But then, after sustained public pressure, dealer prices began to fall more in line with mainland Europe.Which means that although savings can still be made they are not likely to be as much as before. Of course, saving cash is not the only reason to shop abroad. For example, you might just fancy a foreign model that you can’t get in this county (a so-called grey import).

The easiest route is to import from an EU country, but there are still many things to consider, and a whole mountain of paperwork awaits you.

You will have to register the car as quickly as possible once it arrives in the UK. 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.

Importing a used car is also straightforward, but if a car is less than six months old it can be classified as new

As soon as a car arrives in the UK, Customs and Excise will demand 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. Any older or more travelled and you’ll have to fill in form VAT 414 instead.

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.

But don’t think that’s the end of the paperwork. You’ll also need to fill out a registration document (V55/4 for new cars, V55/5 for used ones) and pay for the registration fee and licence, provide an insurance certificate, foreign registration documents and all other papers relating to the car and sort out the relevant forms from Customs and Excise to prove you’ve paid any VAT due.

You will also need an MoT certificate for cars more than three years old or a Declaration of Newness from your local DVLA office.

If you are buying a car from further afield, say Japan or America, then you’ll need to fill in different forms for Customs and Excise. Form C&E 386 is what you need.

Older cars may be VAT-exempt, but that is not automatic and depends on whether Customs and Excise decide your car is “classic” or just plain old.

Cars from outside of the EU are more than likely to have to undergo Single Vehicle Approval (SVA), a sort of “super MoT” which will cost about £250, but the costs could rise further if you find you have to replace some equipment to bring it into line with European standards, for example bonnet badges, wing mirrors, aerial mountings and emissions equipment.

One way of keeping all this hassle at arm’s length is to use an import broker, but that means an extra strain on your wallet. Try to find a reputable dealer and ask for (and follow up) references from customers.

Finally, a few of handy hints:

• Keep every single scrap of correspondence relating to the car - every email, invoice, receipt and copies of all documents.
• Haggle at every stage, including shipping costs.
• Agree the total price of the car delivered to you in the UK so you’re caught out by additional VAT and transportation costs
• Take out insurance from the second you become the car’s owner, so it is covered on the journey back to Blighty.
• Check out how much any additional work will cost to make the car UK legal before buying.