| |  | | | | | | |  | | MOTORING >> Buying Fom Europe >> Guides | |  | Advice & Tips For Buying Abroad | | If you're taking a trip over the Channel to avoid the middleman, make sure you know exactly what to do. Read our advice and tips below, making sure you wont get caught out. | | | |  | Do foreign Dealers speak English?
Yes, realising the potential of this market, the majority do speak English. | | | |  | Find a reputable Main Dealer abroad
Visit the web site for the car manufacturer in the country concerned. You can usually get the details of a manufacturers European web site from the UK site. | | | |  | Check to see if you can buy right-hand drive for UK export
After locating a Dealership, e-mail them to check if the car can be supplied to UK right-hand drive. Some Dealers try it on and charge @£1000 for a right hand conversion. Usual price £100-200 so go elsewhere. UK spec includes MPH not KPH. | | | |  | Check/compare prices
After finding a European Dealer and obtaining a quote, go to the UK manufacturers web site and order a brochure with a complete price list. | | | |  | Get a written quote for your model
Ask your chosen Dealer to confirm the exact specification by letter or fax. | | | |  | Confirm how long delivery will be
Agree to pick your car up on a certain date and drive it back by car ferry. | | | |  | Type Approval Certificate
Ask the European Dealer to provide a (Type Approval Certificate) and make it a condition of the sale, that this is supplied. This document proves that the car conforms to all UK and EEC standard for safety and emissions. You will also need this document to register your new car. | | | |  | Price
Make the Dealer provide a firm offer or quote from the car manufacturer. | | | |  | Deposit
It is common for Dealers to ask for a 20% - 30% deposit when you order your car. | | | |  | Paying the rest
Choose a direct transfer of foreign currency from your bank to that of your Dealer. Your bank may charge a fee between £10 - £35. If buying direct and requiring financing, sort out your loan, making sure the funds are cleared before the transfer takes place. | | | |  | Other costs involved
Unless you are buying your car from Germany, where VAT may be charged at point of purchase, then you will be liable for VAT back in the UK. Standard rate of 17.5% of the purchase value is to be made payable to HM Customs & Excise, within 30 days of the cars arrival.
When home you will also have to pay £25 to your local Vehicle Registration Office for registering your car and allocating a registration number, then buy car tax and number plates. | | | |  | Transit plates and green card
To be able to drive your new car off the Dealers forecourt, go across the channel, then home, you will need 'transit' plates and documentation.Transit plates include a basic 'green card' insurance, covering 3rd party liability abroad. Your Dealer should have included this in the price. | | | | | | | | | | | | IMPORTING A CAR FROM EUROPE YOURSELF -
The VRO CHECKLIST | | Follow this checklist of the documents to take with you when registering your car back home at the 'Vehicle Registration Office'. | | | 1 | Original purchase Invoice from the Dealer
(Not a photocopy) | | 2 | Your ferry tickets
(To prove how & when the car was imported) | | 3 | Any 'transit' registration details or documents | | 4 | Details of the exchange rates you received, when paying the deposit & balance | | 5 | The Type Approval Certificate (which you request from the Dealer)
(To prove the vehicle conforms to all UK requirements) | | 6 | Original insurance cover note or certificate of insurance
(This proves you are insured to drive the vehicle away from the VRO) | | | | | | PAYING FOR YOUR CAR | UK high street banks issue foreign currency bankers drafts or will make a direct transfer payment on your behalf.
(Dealers usually accept both, and sometimes accept £ sterling -cash- but check with the Dealer) | | | | WHAT ABOUT IMPORT DUTY? | There is NO custom duty to pay if you import from an EC country to the UK.
(Most European Dealers will sell to you without charging VAT at your request, allowing you to pay the 17.5% VAT in the UK. You can deal with the VAT later back home) | | | | | | IF THINGS GO WRONG... | "The spec is not what I wanted..."
When buying any new car from Europe, you will be issued with a one-year warranty, valid in all European Dealerships.
Additional warranty is available in the first year of purchase, your local Dealer will be able to carry this out.
If sold a wreck, you are still covered in the normal way. Any problems can be dealt with in a UK Court of Law, as the legal system of the country in which you did your deal, prevails.
You can sue a foreign Dealer in a UK Court. Being part of the EC means that companies cannot hide behind international borders. | | | | | |
