Does anyone have the latest info regarding buying / importing from mainland Europe.
I am looking to buy a Le Mans mk1 but cannot get difinitive info re vat and import duty for a Classic motorcycle
Ho ho ! That’s a good question. I thought the government website ( https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk ) would be a good place to start BUT, the first thing it says is :
“ The Brexit transition period has ended and new rules on importing vehicles now apply. This page is currently out of date. “
So . . . Good Luck.
I’ve researched it and it took ages to get to the bottom of it, but alas I succeeded.
Importing anything requires a commodity code.
This defines what the item is and the amount of 1) duty that needs paying
and 2) the amount of tariff that the item attracts.
If you are importing a vehicle it attracts the usual 20% VAT, it’s the same for anywhere in the world EU, Japan or USA etc.
The tariff varies.
If however the vehicle complies with certain rules then the VAT is reduced to 5% and the tariff is zero.
All of this can be pre- agreed so that there is the minimum of fuss importing.
You must declare it upon landing in the UK.
There is a little more detail to it than that but it is really pretty straight forward, especially as the HMRC are getting used to the new rules.
In short, the EU is treated the same as the rest of the world.
Yes, I’d be happy to import a bike, provided I knew what I was looking at…it’s harder to return it!
HTHs
Regarding importing a Vehicle from the EU, I have a load of info regarding getting it registered using the NOVA, (notification of Vehicle Arrival)
You will need to understand this in order to get uk approval, give me a call on 07989 612877 and I can talk you through it, using the Nova on line form will send you insane.
Regards Bob
Thanks to all the replies, very helpful.
Looks like if I buy a Le Mans or 750 sport it should only attract 5% vat, plus delivery fee etc
Joe
Good advice. It’s like many of these things that once you understand what they actually
want it’s straight forward. But they don’t make it easy!