Import question

[Vintner]

Can anyone give me steer on how long it takes for the Vehicle Certification Agency to process the vehicle approval and give the "type approval number"?

And also from that point how quickly do DVLA turn round the V267 (declaration of newness)and V55/4 (registration)?

I've literally just sent off the forms to VCA and would like to know how long it will take before we are able to go on our first trip.

All info much appreciated but I guess most interested in people who have imported recently during covid times.

 

[royandsharont]

Our friends recently had to wait 7 weeks for their new vehicle to be registered , disgraceful really. My dealer can register them themselves, like car dealers do, so all done in the day just can’t get the van here from Slovenia

 

[Vintner]

Our friends recently had to wait 7 weeks for their new vehicle to be registered , disgraceful really. My dealer can register them themselves, like car dealers do, so all done in the day just can’t get the van here from Slovenia

wow, is that 7 weeks for the DVLA part or both together? Hoping to get away NYE for a short trip so looking tight. Good luck getting yours over from Slovenia

 

[gus-lopez]

^there are people on here who have waited far longer than 7 weeks just for the dvla part.

 

[Rob Turner]

We find 4-6 weeks is about the norm for everything after arriving in Blighty.

Will be doing it all over again soon so will see if anything has changed much.

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

From the time I started last October until I received the V5 was about 6-7 weeks so not to bad.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

From the time I started last October until I received the V5 was about 6-7 weeks so not to bad.

Forgot to mention been away 3 weeks now on a trip with the money saved by importing myself and probably another 4-5 trips for free to come

 

[Lenny HB]

VCA 1 to 2 weeks, DVLA 3 to 6 weeks but in there Current work mode probably a lot longer

 

[Vintner]

Forgot to mention been away 3 weeks now on a trip with the money saved by importing myself and probably another 4-5 trips for free to come

Yep, definitely seen a huge saving by importing. Obviously the resale value may well be lower with LHD but we shall see. Other big advantage for me has been to get the motorhome far quicker - even factoring in the registering delay.

 

[Vintner]

VCA 1 to 2 weeks, DVLA 3 to 6 weeks but in there Current work mode probably a lot longer

thanks, for some reason I thought the VCA would be longer than the DVLA element. Have you ever managed to speak to someone there to check on status/ chivvy them along? Or is that impossible and I just have to wait patiently in line?

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[Speve]

When we did ours in 2018 it took two weeks for the whole thing so it proves they can do it quickly when the will is there

 

[Vintner]

When we did ours in 2018 it took two weeks for the whole thing so it proves they can do it quickly when the will is there

That's more like it! Fingers crossed.

 

[Rob Turner]

Yep, definitely seen a huge saving by importing. Obviously the resale value may well be lower with LHD but we shall see. Other big advantage for me has been to get the motorhome far quicker - even factoring in the registering delay.

The resale value wouldn’t be affected, you’ll have a much bigger sales audience being LHD

 

[Vintner]

VCA part came back today and all ok. Have sent the DVLA form off. Fingers crossed it gets processed quickly. Can't wait to go out for the first trip!

 

[gerry mcg]

The resale value wouldn’t be affected, you’ll have a much bigger sales audience being LHD

That depends on whether you sell it to a UK buyer or too a European buyer.
I think the jury is out on whether a European buyer would have to pay VAT and Import duty on the van as a second hand van if it were reimported into the EU.
Prior to Brexit, it was simple and no duty or tax was due on second hand vehicles moving between UK and Europe, however now second hand vehicles are liable for VAT and import duty on import to the UK, and I suspect it will be the same the other way If exported to Europe, so any European buyer of a UK registered van could face significant additional costs to reimport it into the EU.

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[Vintner]

I hadn't realised that VAT would be charged on a second hand vehicle now on import to the UK and agree that the reverse will most likely apply. Will definitely have an affect on the second hand import/export market. I've imported mine as a VAT registered limited company so the VAT element can be kept separate which would still give me the option of a European sale. Appreciate my situation is not the norm though.

 

[jovad]

I recently researched importing a LHD Hymer to the UK, a work colleague having done similar pre Brexit. Even though there was a saving once VAT and import duty had been taken into account, the hassle was not worth it when one factored in changing headlamps, speedo conversion to mph, etc. Things may improve if the £ to Euro rate continues to rise.

 

[Lenny HB]

That depends on whether you sell it to a UK buyer or too a European buyer.
I think the jury is out on whether a European buyer would have to pay VAT and Import duty on the van as a second hand van if it were reimported into the EU.
Prior to Brexit, it was simple and no duty or tax was due on second hand vehicles moving between UK and Europe, however now second hand vehicles are liable for VAT and import duty on import to the UK, and I suspect it will be the same the other way If exported to Europe, so any European buyer of a UK registered van could face significant additional costs to reimport it into the EU.

I was at my Belgium dealers a few weeks ago and a chat with him. If you are trading it's no problem with the VAT for them, same as always. Probably different if selling to a private buyer.

I recently researched importing a LHD Hymer to the UK, a work colleague having done similar pre Brexit. Even though there was a saving once VAT and import duty had been taken into account, the hassle was not worth it when one factored in changing headlamps, speedo conversion to mph, etc. Things may improve if the £ to Euro rate continues to rise.

If buying from a dealer you should be able to buy it VAT free and German dealers put VAT on the full price (adds on Mobile.de often quote net price), so that would be OK. Buying privately you would cost you 20% more.
By an A Class and most headlamps are adjustable for flat dipping so only 50 quid for a speedo dial.

 

[Vintner]

I recently researched importing a LHD Hymer to the UK, a work colleague having done similar pre Brexit. Even though there was a saving once VAT and import duty had been taken into account, the hassle was not worth it when one factored in changing headlamps, speedo conversion to mph, etc. Things may improve if the £ to Euro rate continues to rise.

I reckon I saved about £9K once I have factored in all the costs on a £55K van. It was a bit of a hassle but I do like a challenge and enjoyed the research. Lights were the biggest cost at £450 plus another £50 for the garage to fit and do the letter. Speedo has an MPH digital readout and swapping the fog lights was no bother.

There were other benefits. I couldn't source the van I wanted in the UK, or at least not without a huge wait so I reckon I saved myself a good 6 months, possibly even more.

On the against side though is that I did have to drive it from Dusseldorf to channel tunnel with only 3rd party insurance. Drove very slowly and carefully. I believe you can get insurance to cover you but I couldn't find any easily so took the risk.

Pros and cons, as with everything so up to the individual.

 

[TheDogMan]

If you have a company and claim the VAT back on what you purchased the revenue will ask for the VAT money back when you sell it, just happened to someone I know

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[Vintner]

If you have a company and claim the VAT back on what you purchased the revenue will ask for the VAT money back when you sell it, just happened to someone I know

Yes, that is exactly how it works as a VAT registered company. When I sell it at the end and the price will include VAT. The sell price of the van will be the same, market value but the VAT element goes to HMRC. Just to be clear, this import exercise/post was nothing to do with saving/avoiding VAT (it doesn't) and the savings mentioned are on the core ex vat price.

 

[Platelet]

How do you go on with defects, warranty claims on either the base vehicle or the hab etc?

 

[Lenny HB]

How do you go on with defects, warranty claims on either the base vehicle or the hab etc?

Base vehicle you take to any main dealer, with Fiat you need to take V5 to a dealer to get it registered on the Fiat system.
With the hab side, it depends on the manufacturer. Hymer have a pan European warranty so you can take it to any dealer. we have bought 3 Hymers in Belgium besides our own dealer we have had warranties done by a UK & German dealers. Generally we take it back to our Belgium dealer we find it just as easy.

 

[Vintner]

How do you go on with defects, warranty claims on either the base vehicle or the hab etc?

Yes as Lenny said, the Fiat Ducato will be covered by any Fiat commercial dealer. Rimor have given me a list of service agents for the UK and I can take it to any of them. If I had bought it from the main UK dealer they would have been a long way away from me so unlikely I would have used them for a warranty claim anyway.

 

[bellabee]

Generally we take it back to our Belgium dealer we find it just as easy.

Even though we live in the Midlands, having read accounts of people trying to book appointments to have Hymer warranty work done by British dealers, we find it easier to use the Belgian dealer.
There's never a problem booking an appointment, no need to leave the van overnight - if the work takes longer than a day you can sleep overnight in it at the dealer's aire - and all the work we've had carried out has been of a high standard.
I've also read many accounts of British Hymer dealers insisting on the need for full hab checks in order to maintain the damp warranty. The Belgian dealer imposes no such requirement. The cost of the damp check is €70. The saving made compared to eg TW more than pays for the Channel crossing and we always time it to coincide with our twice-yearly trips to the Continent, anyway.

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[Platelet]

Many thanks for your replies, very informative.

 

[gerry mcg]

as said, Fiat warranty was pan European.
re. has warranty, I decided the saving was such that I could to some extent afford to self insure and fix minor issues myself / locally and pay out of saving and if it was major, go back to Germany

 

[Swiss]

Yes, that is exactly how it works as a VAT registered company. When I sell it at the end and the price will include VAT. The sell price of the van will be the same, market value but the VAT element goes to HMRC. Just to be clear, this import exercise/post was nothing to do with saving/avoiding VAT (it doesn't) and the savings mentioned are on the core ex vat price

Question, are you using the vehicle in connection with your work?

 

[Vintner]

Question, are you using the vehicle in connection with your work?

Yes that's the plan. We see a lot of suppliers round Europe and thought it would be nicer in a motorhome.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes that's the plan. We see a lot of suppliers round Europe and thought it would be nicer in a motorhome.

Are you aware if you carry goods in it you have to have plated at the end of the first year rather than an MOT after 3 years.