My Car Import - Great Service

[AdamB]

I just thought I would let Funsters know of the great service I received from 'My Car Import' when re-importing my N&B Arto back to the UK.

I thought it would have been a relatively easy exercise to re-import the motorhome, but how wrong was I. HMRC needed proof that I owned the vehicle in the UK previously (I had originally imported the motorhome in the UK from 2006 until I went back to Germany in 2011), such as the V5 or the insurance documents. When I explained to HMRC that I no longer have these documents (who would keep them after 15 years!) they stated I would have to import it again that would also incur 20% Tax and 10% Import duty on the value of the motorhome - wow! As proof I thought they would be able to look up my old VRN and for HMRC to speak to DVLA, but no, agency-to-agency don't talk to each other!

I contacted 'My Car Import' and they were brilliant from the first phone call. As they have a dedicated point of contact at both the HMRC and DVLA the process ran a lot smoothly. I had to prove the vehicle was transported back to the UK at some time before BREXIT such as a ferry crossing receipt - which I had as all of my crossing were purchased through Direct Ferries and they had all of my old bookings.

As such My Car Import saved me a lot of money. Their service charges are very reasonable and the process was pretty smooth. I can't thank them enough. It just goes to show that it's always better to go with the professionals rather than trying to do it yourself.

 

[Lenny HB]

I would have to import it again that would also incur 20% Tax and 10% Import duty

Government agencies really are hopeless, even if importing a van for the first time there is no import duty on vehicles from EU countries.

 

[PaulW2]

I just thought I would let Funsters know of the great service I received from 'My Car Import' when re-importing my N&B Arto back to the UK.

I thought it would have been a relatively easy exercise to re-import the motorhome, but how wrong was I. HMRC needed proof that I owned the vehicle in the UK previously (I had originally imported the motorhome in the UK from 2006 until I went back to Germany in 2011), such as the V5 or the insurance documents. When I explained to HMRC that I no longer have these documents (who would keep them after 15 years!) they stated I would have to import it again that would also incur 20% Tax and 10% Import duty on the value of the motorhome - wow! As proof I thought they would be able to look up my old VRN and for HMRC to speak to DVLA, but no, agency-to-agency don't talk to each other!

I contacted 'My Car Import' and they were brilliant from the first phone call. As they have a dedicated point of contact at both the HMRC and DVLA the process ran a lot smoothly. I had to prove the vehicle was transported back to the UK at some time before BREXIT such as a ferry crossing receipt - which I had as all of my crossing were purchased through Direct Ferries and they had all of my old bookings.

As such My Car Import saved me a lot of money. Their service charges are very reasonable and the process was pretty smooth. I can't thank them enough. It just goes to show that it's always better to go with the professionals rather than trying to do it yourself.

It has long been a mark of decadent (frequently 3rd world) government bureaucracies that they are so difficult for the citizenry to navigate that there is a burgeoning industry of professional intermediaries who facilitate things for them.

Or sometimes, of course, that foreigners who come in don't have an adequate command of the language or customs.

While I'm sure these guys are good, and it's good for their information to be made available, it may potentially be less encouraging to know that there is a need for their services!

 

[The Wino]

It would have course been a lot easier the first time.........

 

[PaulW2]

It would have course been a lot easier the first time.........

 

[Brains]

HMRC needed proof that I owned the vehicle in the UK previously (I had originally imported the motorhome in the UK from 2006 until I went back to Germany in 2011), such as the V5 or the insurance documents. When I explained to HMRC that I no longer have these documents (who would keep them after 15 years!) they stated I would have to import it again that would also incur 20% Tax and 10% Import duty on the value of the motorhome - wow! As proof I thought they would be able to look up my old VRN and for HMRC to speak to DVLA, but no, agency-to-agency don't talk to each other!

I keep ALL paperwork (and always have done).

I work on the assumption that one day I'll be selling the vehicle, and the new owner will be able to trace every fix and feature back to a bit of paper.

I'd certainly never even think of chucking out "old" registration papers, as you never know if you may need them again
(As has been proved!)

As an aside, during the PFI scam, I was able to prove that Halifax had scammed me, as I had paperwork from 20 years earlier, where I had specifically declined PFI.
I got a £10k 'no questions asked' bonus on top of the standard damages that everyone else got.

 

[AdamB]

I keep ALL paperwork (and always have done).

I work on the assumption that one day I'll be selling the vehicle, and the new owner will be able to trace every fix and feature back to a bit of paper.

I'd certainly never even think of chucking out "old" registration papers, as you never know if you may need them again
(As has been proved!)

As an aside, during the PFI scam, I was able to prove that Halifax had scammed me, as I had paperwork from 20 years earlier, where I had specifically declined PFI.
I got a £10k 'no questions asked' bonus on top of the standard damages that everyone else got.

Lessons learned!