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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:	Cars in the UK
Notice:	Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:	COMICS::SHELLEYELD

Created:	Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2584
Total number of notes:	63384

381.0. "Personal Imports" by SUBURB::ORCHARDT (Go and find out what you are doing) Fri Nov 04 1988 15:14

    Is it still worthwile getting a 'personal import' from the continent
    for the more expensive cars ?
    
    I remember a few years ago there was a big difference between the
    cost of a BMW 323i here compared to ordering a right-hand-drive,
    british-spec version from a dealer in, say, Belgium.
    
    Where can I find out the phone numbers of some of the agencies that
    sprung up around that time to do this ?
    
    Any clues ?
    
Tony (O.A.C.)

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
381.9	Any uptodate info ???	EXIT::BOOTHE	Karen Boothe	`Tue Jul 16 1991 14:38`	8
	Ok, the last reply is 2 years old - has anyone recently imported a car from Europe ??? I'm considering buying a new BMW 518 or 520 . I have already applied for the AA pack, but it hasn't arrived yet. Thanks in advance, Karen
381.10	From the "Integrale" topic...	ESBS01::RUTTER	Rut The Nut	`Wed Oct 14 1992 18:14`	14
	� <<< Note 571.49 by YUPPY::ELLAWAY "Martin Ellaway@hhl" >>> � -< Loadsa Lancia's >- � Theres a few in A&M this week: Thanks for entering these, but I was wondering more about the price of cars from Europe (well, Germany, as that was mentioned). It seems that the price of more recent models is cheaper there, so I would like to know more. Also, what of the change to border controls (at end of the year ?) - will there be a difference in the duty to be paid on import of either new or second-hand cars ? J.R.
381.11	Assume present mess continues in some form	JANUS::BARKER	Jeremy Barker - NAC Euro Eng - Reading UK	`Wed Oct 14 1992 19:03`	7
	Re: .10 In theory, after 1st January 1993, buying from another EC country should be no more messing about than buying in the UK. However, I don't beleive that the Single Market will acheive that as soon as it should. jb
381.12	1-Jan-93	ULYSSE::CHEVAUX	Patrick Chevaux @VBE, DTN 828-5584	`Thu Oct 15 1992 10:52`	18
	.11�In theory, after 1st January 1993, buying from another EC country should be .11�no more messing about than buying in the UK. However, I don't beleive that It's already true today. It's called common market. I have bought things in Italy (Alfas) or in Schiphol (BMWs) duty free. Currently you're supposed to buy duty free and pay VAT in your country. No customs. Of course that is true inside the 12 countries of the EEC. Doing business with non-EEC countries (USA, Japan, Switzerland, ...) means you'll have to pay import duty, local taxes etc ... After all one of the reasons the EEC is being put in place is protectionism against USA and Japan (even if EEC leaders tend to keep this aspect very low key) Starting 1-Jan-93 you'll be able to buy in any EEC country at the local VAT rate. The other change is that - by law - your local dealer will not be able to refuse to service the car you bought somewhere else. That is a big problem today.
381.13		NSDC::SIMPSON	File under 'Common Knowledge'	`Thu Oct 15 1992 15:34`	16
	RE: -.1 Patrick, of course you are correct. However there are a couple of caveats: - It is often impossible to get the car in right hand drive format - the manufacturere refuses to supply it to any country except the UK and Ireland. This is supposed have stopped; however historically it has been used by manufacturers to keep their nice UK profit margins high. - Last year a big Renault customer in France went to Belgium to buy their fleet. Renault did everything they could to stop this until the matter was escalated to Bruxelles. Cheers Steve
381.14		PLAYER::BROWNL	It wasn't me	`Thu Oct 15 1992 15:46`	6
	I can assure you that there are no problems getting an RHD car here in Bruxelles. I am currently engaged on an exercise of price and availability comparison. FWIW, given the low pound, it seems to be cheaper in the UK, at least, that is, for the Peugeot 405 GRDT Estate. Laurie.