Where did you buy your LHD Motorhome from? (1 Viewer)

[watsonjones]

We are currently resident in the US, but are planning to purchase a LHD Motorhome for use on multi-month trips to explore Europe. The camper will be registered in the UK and stored at my sisters house when not in use, but since we expect most of our time will be spent in Europe we wanted to get a LHD model. If you have purchased a LHD motorhome, would you mind letting us know who you purchased it through (private sale in UK, private sale in Europe, dealer in UK, dealer in Europe or direct from manufacturer). Also if you have any advice on the process that would be welcomed.

Thanks,
David & Jean Ann

 

[MrsC]

Have only ever had LHD and all purchased from main Cathago dealer here in UK. We spent more time in Europe though never had a problem using Uk sites remembering door on other side.

 

[orridge]

We brought our first LHD from a UK dealer and the second privately. Autotrader and/or Ebay will let you filter by left hand drive vehicles although some UK dealers think driving position means left side of road so you get a few right hand drives on Autotrader in the wrong place.

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[Lenny HB]

We have bought 3 vans from Campirama in Belgium, if you bought in Europe you would have the hassle of getting it registered in the UK which can take a while.

Simon-Alan Kerr often has LHD vans in stock or he can get them for you. He is a helpful dealer who is a member on here.

 

[Littlewheels]

EBay, specify LHD and the start at £300k and go down with lots of choice. Left Hand Drive Motorhomes are very desirable to the many people that love to pass over the Channel.

 

[jongood]

www.mobile.de if you know your subject.

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[stevewagner]

North Devon Motorhomes sometimes have them

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Going to be expensive if you import a secondhand one from Europe now as the 20% will have to be added on the purchase price.
Obviously you then have to get it to the UK then register it, UK sourced one would be your best bet.

 

[Rob Turner]

We have always bought from German dealers as it has always been a lot cheaper.

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[jongood]

Going to be expensive if you import a secondhand one from Europe now as the 20% will have to be added on the purchase price.
Obviously you then have to get it to the UK then register it, UK sourced one would be your best bet.

you dont get the choices in Uk, and isnt there an age limitation with vat.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Pretty sure it use to be you could import a second hand van without import duty if it was so many months old with more than a few thousand miles.
Now I think any second hand van attracts the 20% tax, new ones you can buy tax free and then just pay the tax due in the UK.

Obviously I could be talking rubbish

 

[CazPaul]

Ours was bought from Hamburg.

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[Tim McGann]

I spent a great deal of time on this very thing. Germany, period. I pick up my new MH there on the 20th.

 

[Gaston aires]

Ours was bought off another Funster through the classifieds section on MHFun.
Phil

 

[EuroTrotters]

One from Alan Kerr brand new. Had a lot of trouble with the dealer (pre Simon days). Other second hand from a friend of a friend off here. UK registered but stranded in Spain.

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[Simon Select]

We have a few LHD's at the moment.
They are getting quite rare!

 

[Jev88]

Private. RV and so 99% are LHD.

 

[Soycd]

https://www.wohnmobilcenter-drechsler.de/ (Challenger)
https://www.caravan-horn.de/ (Chausson)
https://rc-mannheim.de/ (Buerstner)
http://www.mpg-mobilpartner.de/ (Adria)
We have used the ones above and have found them to be honest/reliable. Having said that we are talking about going back over 20+ years. The brackets shows what we bought from them, they all do other brands I think. As others have suggested, importing these days is very difficult and with the current exchange rate and the 20% payable on used vehicles and the hoops you have to jump through, I'm not sure it is really worth it unless it something really specific that you can't get in UK. Our current van was sort of in this category, we imported it in 2018. Prices in Europe have risen dramatically as they have done in the UK. We have gone RHD for our next one but LHD are available in UK if you look around. Sorry to be a gloomy but if it was worth it and less hassle I would have happily imported again. As someone else mentioned https://www.mobile.de/ is a good starting point.
There will be a very nice LHD Challenger Vany coming onto the market at the end of August!!!

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[Lenny HB]

Pretty sure it use to be you could import a second hand van without import duty if it was so many months old with more than a few thousand miles.
Now I think any second hand van attracts the 20% tax, new ones you can buy tax free and then just pay the tax due in the UK.

Obviously I could be talking rubbish

Not rubbish spot on.

 

[Lenny HB]

It is now apart from old ones I think it's 20 years then only 5%.

 

[OldCodger]

We have a few LHD's at the moment.
They are getting quite rare!

How do I search your site for left hand drive models? Looking for a new/up to 3 year old MH 7-7.5 m

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[KUSKUS]

I have just put my lovely Left Hand Drive Hymer B 680 Starline S on our classifieds section.
Due to a recent heart attack I will non longer be able to drive for six months and then will lose my C1 part of my licence.
Have a look it's Hymers flagship model.

 

[OldCodger]

I have just put my lovely Left Hand Drive Hymer B 680 Starline S on our classifieds section.
Due to a recent heart attack I will non longer be able to drive for six months and then will lose my C1 part of my licence.
Have a look it's Hymers flagship model.

Sorry you are in bad health KUSKUS and thanks for the pointer - unfortunately for us we need a shorter van - our current Frankia is a similar/size spec.

I hope you recover soon.

 

[jongood]

How do I search your site for left hand drive models? Looking for a new/up to 3 year old MH 7-7.5 m

Theres a 6.9m LHD Arto on classifieds, old but 3 litre so much stronger engine than the current ones.

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[OldCodger]

Theres a 6.9m LHD Arto on classifieds, old but 3 litre so much stronger engine than the current ones.

Thanks, I’d seen that but it is older than we want.

 

[CazPaul]

Theres a 6.9m LHD Arto on classifieds, old but 3 litre so much stronger engine than the current ones.

Old, how very dare you

 

[jongood]

Thanks, I’d seen that but it is older than we want.

Each to their own but its almost certainly better put together than much of todays in that class ( I include the newer N&Bs)

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[jongood]

I have just put my lovely Left Hand Drive Hymer B 680 Starline S on our classifieds section.
Due to a recent heart attack I will non longer be able to drive for six months and then will lose my C1 part of my licence.
Have a look it's Hymers flagship model.

Thats a real shame, hope you make a rapid recovery.

This also illustrates how crazy it is that the motorhome legislation is so closely linked to commercials. I get thats its the same platform but the usage and the pressures are completely different. plus, having considered you so dangerous in what you've currently got- buts it perfectly ok to drive another one under 3500kgs that would appear to Joe Public to be indistinguishable. its crazy M1is a separate category it should have its own set of rules that more reflect reality.