Conference turris::scandia

    From: [email protected] (Bj|rn Lisper)
    Newsgroups: soc.culture.nordic
    Subject: Re: BYOC (Bring your own car?)
    Date: 4 Nov 91 14:30:32 GMT
    Sender: [email protected]
    Organization: Swedish Institute of Computer Science, Kista
 
    In article <[email protected]> [email protected] writes:

 >I was wondering if anyone had moved from the U.S. to Sweden and brought a car
 >with them (or attempted to).  I'm thinking of bringing an '88 Mazda to Sweden
 >if possible.  However, I have heard a few horror stories about very expensive
 >modifications being necessary in order to drive cars designed for use in the
 >U.S., in Sweden.  What types of things should I be aware of before I bring the
 >car over?  Any information would be welcome.  Tack.
 
    Since I assume this may be of general interest I post it.
 
    If you are moving into Sweden and have used the car outside Sweden for
    more than a year, then your car will be considered a "flyttsak" (i.e
    personal belonging) and you will not have to do any costly
    modifications. What you will have to do to get a car that is a
    "flyttsak" registered in Sweden is this (as I remember it):
 
    * When you recieve the car from the shipping, you must bring proof of
    ownership and date of purchase. After some paperwork the customs will
    clear you and give you temporary plates that you can use for a month,
    for the absolutely necessary driving that you will have to make. This
    part will not cost much, maybe SEK 100-200 (USD 15-30).
 
    * You must also get a temporary insurance for the car, until it is
    properly registered. This is also inexpensive.
 
    * So equipped you can drive the car home.
 
    * Naturv�rdsverket (Swedish equivalent to the E.P.A.) will require
    proof that your car complies with Swedish emission standards. The only
    two proofs they accept are (1) a certificate from the car
    manufacturer's agent in Sweden (who will charge as much as they can for
    it) or (2) positive result from some of Svensk Bilprovning's emission
    labs (costly, long waiting time). If you don't get any proof according
    to this you'll have to pay an "admittance fee" to - Naturv�rdsverket! I
    think it is SEK 7000 right now (approx. USD 1100). (Much can be said
    about the shittyness of Naturv�rdsverket when it comes to this issue,
    they set the rules and benefit from them. It would be very easy for
    them to accept US cars right off, since all US states have at least as
    tough emission rules as Sweden, but noooo...) Conclusion: pay the agent
    or Naturv�rdsverket, whichever is least expensive. The emissions lab is
    usually an inferior alternative.
 
    * Now you can call Svensk Bilprovning and ask for a
    "registreringsbesiktning" (inspection for registration). They will give
    you a date with one of the regular control stations (not the emissions
    lab). You go there with your car, probably they find some stupid detail
    that you will have to change, and after some iterations you will be
    done. Cost probably around SEK 5-600 (USD 100) per iteration.
 
    * The last step is to pay the annual vehicle tax. Then you'll recieve
    your regular plates and the tax sticker. Change the plates, send the
    temporary ones back to the customs and you're done. (Oh, yes, don't
    forget the regular insurance. Swedish law requires all cars to have a
    minimum insurance coverage.)
 
    I went through the above process in 1988 when I returned after a year
    in the US. I may remember some details wrong or they may have changesd
    since then. I had to modify some minor details on my car (Pontiac Fiero
    SE), like changing the fog/turning lights in the front, changing the
    outside mirrors to such that yield if you hit something, engraving the
    car's ID into the chassis and remove the spoiler on the back
    compartment lid.
 
    You should try to get two publications: first one from
    Generaltullstyrelsen (the customs) that describes the exact rules for
    when you're eligible for bringing the car as "flyttsak" and the
    procedure at the border, and then one from Svensk Bilprovning that
    describes the typical mods you'll have to do for a car brought in as
    "flyttsak" to get it registered. They ought to be available in English
    but I can't tell for sure. Try the Swedish embassy, they may be able to
    help you get these.
 
    All the above relies on that you can bring the car as "flyttsak", which
    I assume is the case for you. If this is NOT true, then the car is
    considered "direct import" and everything becomes MUCH more costly and
    complicated.
 
    Hope this helps,
 
    Bj�rn Lisper

    I rented a car from Avis in Norway in September.  No problem at all.
    
    I drove from Bergen to Trondheim (a drive even more beautiful than the Alps
    or Canadian Rockies, I think).  With no drop off charge.
    
       [For non-U.S. readers - in the U.S., most car rental companies 
        charge a significant additional "drop-off" charge if you return
        the car any significant distance away from where it was rented.]
    
    Of course, at $100 a day, I guess they can afford to absorb the 
    charge :').
    
    Rich
    
    [Next time you're in New Zealand, drive from Christchurch (south
    island) to Auckland (north island) with no Avis drop off charge.
    Avis will even let you leave the car at the ferry and pick a new one
    up after to avoid the car ferry charge.]

I have imported cars from US to Denmark twice (A Buick Regal in 1986 & a 
VW Jetta 16V in 1989). Both times I got a 'unique' car (in Denmark) for a 
good price.

If you satisfy the requirements for importing the car as a 'personal
belonging', this will make things much easier. If not, the car will be 
treated as another 'direct import' item, which for Denmark results in 
paying around 90% of the registration fee for a similar NEW car (year & 
model). As the registration fee in Denmark equals around 180% of the 
value of the car, this could be expensive. (Very few exceptions exists, 
very old cars etc., but that's another story).

What to pay:
You must have had your residence in US for a period of 12 months, AND the 
car was yours for personal transport in US for a period of 6 months. Then 
YOU can import the car without any customs or VAT. However you still have 
to pay a registration fee (sorry, still about 180% of the accessed 
net-value). This accessment is done by inspection by customs. When you 
call your local (danish) customs office prior to the import, they will 
ask you for various information about the car. Do not mention all the 
extra-features (compared to a regular danish 'stripped' version), as the 
information will be used for claiming a deposit comparable to the 
expected registration fee. This deposit is to be made in cash. For the 
inspection you clearly do NOT bring a clean car, and equipment not 
present on the car at this time (radio, expensive wheels, compressor for 
air-condition etc) can not accelerate the value (and thereby the fee) of 
the car for this inspection. After the inspection the money issue is 
solved.

Approval in Denmark:
Now you just need to get the car approved for use in Denmark. This is 
done on 'inspection stations'. What they typically will look for (on a US 
car) are, headlights (must be E-marked), yellow turn signals on both 
sides of the car, the exaust should not come out to the right side of the 
car (because of bicycles i guess), no red marker lights (often in the 
tail lights) visible from the side of the car, turn signals on the rear 
must be yellow etc.

Legals:
When you import a car, you will pay a minimal insurance for one month 
(unless you do not intend to drive in it). You are allowed to drive the 
car in Denmark on US plates for 14? days (to get it registered). If your 
stay in Denmark is of a temporary nature, you may get a permit to keep it 
on US plates for up to one year (NO danish registration !! however 
insurance may be a problem (give me a call)). If this temporary nature 
developes to a more permanent thing, you then start the registration 
process, and now the car is suddenly one year older (less value -> less 
fee !). 

Have fun,

S�ren

I have imported car to US from Denmark in 1987 (SAAB 9000 Turbo).

I did this through the SAAB 'Export program'. This program is a very easy 
way to enjoy your car in Europe for up to 1? month, and then shipped to 
the US. Similar programs exist for Volvo (and maybe more ?). The program 
includes shipping, handling of all necessary documents etc.

The car you buy is a US-spec car (approved for the US). The only 'extra' 
cost I had was for the sales-tax (few percent) in the US. As such the car 
needs no modifications, and can later be sold without problems.

Non US-spec cars (grey market cars) typically need a number of costly 
modifications (a friend brought a BMW 325 I, modifications ran into 
5-6.000 $ plus a lot of problems in the process).

Enjoy,

S�ren

Is it possible to rent a car in Denmark and cross to Poland ? Or maybe a 
better question - is it worth it ?

I am looking for an economical way of traveling from Canada to Poland 
and having a car while in Poland. 

Kristopher Kshonze
DEC Canada  

    According to rental agreements of the major companies like i.e. AVIS,
    the agreement is not valid for driving in Poland.   This is due to the
    high risk of the car being stolen.
    
    Sven

Re: Car rentals in DK

Don't rent a car here. Rental prices in Denmark are very high. 
Either fly to Poland and rent there or go to Germany (take train 
and ferry to either Lubeck or Rostock) and rent there. Beware -
Poland is getting to be known as THE place in Europe to fence
stolen cars. Good luck.

Cheers,

Geoff (only 4 days left) Rummel

Thanks for the replays,

I am taking your advice and flying directly to Poland and renting a car 
there. The choices are:
        
Flight                 Company                 Price 
======                 =======                 =========
Ottawa - Warsaw        KLM                     ~1200$CND
Montreal - Warsaw      LOT                     ~839$CND
Montreal - Warsaw      Lufthansa               ~1200$CND


Car rental (48hrs in advance, prices in Canadian $ per day, unlimited Kms)
==========
In Warsaw              Hertz                   75$ + 11$ Insurance
                                                         (You need this!!) 
Warsaw                 Avis                    65$ ALL Inclusive
Warsaw                 Budget                  65$ + 10$ Insurance

So, being a poor engineer, I am flying with LOT and probably renting the car
from Avis for a week. I am saying probably because somebody told me that 
you can get a better deal from local companies (whatever they might be)

Thanks again,
Kristopher
Dec Canada

Btw, I am flying tomorrow May 1.  

Final note,

I just came back from Poland and wanted to let you know that I have used a 
local car rental agency. 
I rented a Russian car (Lada) which was great because it minimizes the 
chances of it being stolen.
The name of the agency is SUCHARDA and they are located in the Warsaw 
Central Station Tel. 25 47 78.

The price of rental for a week was: 
                                 
                                         2,000,000 zloty =  $150 U.S.
                                            950 zloty/km =  $.07 U.S.
I also bought optional insurance       50,000 zloty/day  =  $3.5 U.S

I had good experience with them and would recommend them, based on my 
experience.

To moderator: This is not an ad, just a friendly recommendation of services 
to fellow employees should they require them. Please delete if inappropriate.

Kristopher Kshonze
Dec Canada