Shipping from UK to HK. Any info, contacts or tips?

I used to have a nice 1984 MB 500SL which I bought in UK in 87, shipped to HK in 93, back to UK in about 97 and sold in 2002. In both directions I used the HK AA at this end and they did a great job. I think bringing it to HK cost (in those days) about HK$8,000 and sending it back about HK$12,000. Not sure how much these days. Also not sure if HK AA still provide such service, but it was good and included all the local MOT testing at each end before licencing.

 

Just brought a E55 from UK using AA. The service was great and painless as they did all the procedures, including Gov't tests, import duties payment and licencing. Not sure about the $$ as it was a friend's. The tax was a killer so please check out the amount before you proceed. Upon landing, it took almost 4 weeks to take possession of the E.

 

Yes the first registration tax is an issue. It can only be avoided if the car is being brought in by you as you move to HK as a personal import. Other than that there is a rather complex calculation to ascertain the tax on cars which are not new. The only way to really find out for sure is to ask the Govt!

 

Try Chief Logistics

Contact Nick Wright
Direct Tel 01473 276 426
Direct Fax 01473 276 434
e mail [email protected]

 

good luck.

 

try Karman Shipping Limited.... their telephone no is 01525 851545
All the best!

 

Make sure you get adequate marine and in-land transit insurance coverage. I had to file a claim after they cracked the rear bumper during shipping.

 

two things were pretty clear on the HK govt website.

1) there is a "first license" tax on any car, that for pretty much any Ferrari or other valuable car will be 100% of value. The value is the new price depreciated 20%/year for diesels, 25%/year for petrol.

2) LHD imports basically won't be approved but may possibly be an exception

It did NOT detail personal imports, so I'd call the HK embassy/consulate about that...

 

U pay tax if its a personal import. LHD will not be licenced for the road here unless u are in the diplomatic corp. So bringing a RHD F will be expensive unless U run it on trade-plate ONLY.

 

That is super interesting. I better start to contact sandbars in the Pacific to see if they need a consul general in HK

 

T plate really not an option anymore. Police are heavily on to it. The glory days of T plates are long over

 

Sorry to rain on someone's parade, the T plate been abused to death as to save the import duties and to drive LHD exotics. I am glad the police are finally taking some serious actions. It will be interesting to see how those LHD exotics will be disposed off. I noticed there are Fs, a Ford GT, XJ220s and a MB 300SL sitting somewhere waiting for buyers for years!!

 

I look at the T plate issue a bit differently for LHD cars. HK does not allow LHD cars to be registered - this is dumb as anyone who drives alot in China might well prefer a LHD car. Macau allows both RHD and LHD to be registered for this reason. T plate has allowed some really fantastic cars to get on the streets that otherwise would not come to HK at all. I for one am pretty happy to see the F1 out once in a while.

Nobody is going to pay FRT on a F1. The great thing about HK-unregistered cars is that they can be shipped anywhere at a very small cost to be sold in the most attractive market. Many of the owners of LHD exotics have homes elsewhere and it is no big deal to ship a car to somewhere that it can be used. A car like a F1 is a global currency.

The classic car movement permit is a better way to use a LHD exotic (that is 20 years old) as you can park on the street and not worry one bit about police.

HK is a very small market at the top end. Anyone who pays alot of FRT better like their car alot as the number of potential buyers is very small.

LHD car is a real PITA to use in HK as nothing is set-up for them. Entering and exiting a carpark without a passenger is a nightmare

 

The F1 comes out more than once in a while me thinks. I for one had seen it 2-3 times in a matter of 2-3 months. I have the utmost respect for the owner for using the car so often!

 

Hello fellas, interesting on how some of you feel about using T-plate on non registered F cars. I just bought a CS from the UK and I will be using a T-plate, and I'm planning on not registering the car at all for many reasons. I'm planning on keeping the car for a long time. Why pay the FRT if I don't have to. Can sell worldwide. I'm planning on taking the car to the track and the insurance will not cover any damages you have done when on the track so I see no point in getting insurance coverage. Is that a good enough reason for not getting the car registered?
Are the cops really that strict on using the T-plate nowadays? I know you have to keep a log book in the car and make it seem like you're out on a test drive but do they go to the extent where they will actually give you a lot of trouble? Thanks in advance. Oh and I will make an proper introduction once my car lands and after taking some pictures. I look forward to meeting all of you very soon.

 

HK Police are going to be very strict starting with the new drink driving regulations next week. Memory serves me correct in that T plate is not meant to be used after dark. The key is the Police enforcement as they can pull you over for a breath test etc, then start checking your T plate, insurance and proof you are a registered motor trader. Also if your insurance will pay up or not in an accident. Knowing well there is a limited 3rd party liability re T plate. The full value of your toy will not be covered.

 

Welcome. The police are very strict on a RHD car, expensive like a Ferrari, in particular. If your T plate is only used on one car, your status as a repair shop or trader will be challenged. Insurance - problem is that third party is rather limited on a T plate. It is a given that you have no comprehensive. T plate makes your car an A to A car - you come back to where you park. That gets very boring fast. For your CS you have no choice as it cannot pass emissions test and it is not yet 20 years old. If you leave the car at Zhuhai, you will find it slow and expensive to maintain as a track car. You will get wiped out by the DC5's at one-tenth the cost. You would be much better off buying a challenge car for that purpose

 

they don't need any excuse to pull you over. The mere fact that you are on a t plate will get you stopped at every road block and any other time you pass a police with nothing more urgent to do. Very old very quick