Buying in Italy

Rod,are you coming to the Knockhill trackday next week?
fls aerospace e-mail address no good now not working there anymore.
Dave

 

Rod,I did notice it had changed from a Multi type car to just ferrari,and no B-B-Q at ST.Andrews bay either must be the cost cutting of the new "regime"I will be there from about 10:00 am,I think you have my mobile number so call me.
Dave.
Not working at present,back home in waterlogged Balmullo.

 

Hi Rod,

I bought my 1975 208 GT4 in Italy about 2 years ago. I bought from a dealer. I imported it personally, which involved a bit of a paper chase, but Ferrari UK were very helpful...which is more than I can say for the DVLA.

I saved quite a bit, but exchange rates were a bit more favourable then. There was no import duty to pay.

Footman James were able to provide insurance based on the Chassis no, so I was able to drive it back from Italy legally. I also purchased extra breakdown cover since the AA's 'European' cover didn't include Italy???

Dan

 

Rod,

If it's a 2ndhand car - over 6 months old I think? - then there's no duty to pay on import. If there is a tax liability in Italy, then the dealer will meet it, but I seem to remember there wasn't?

I had to pay a registration fee to the DVLA, plus road tax when I first registered it, plus it had to have an MOT which they can do with a chassis no instead of reg no. I didn't get the original Italian registration document when I bought the car. It came with a certified copy, which was basically a pretty poor photocopy with some postage stamp type things on it from the issuing office. The registration document only had the year of first registration, but not the day or month. The DVLA insisted on this info, and Ferrari UK were able to supply a letter (on very nice headed paper!) that confirmed the month of manufacture, and the subsequent UK Reg No I received was based on that. Also, the DVLA wanted to inspect the car - a 5 minute check of chassis nos etc...but this has to be booked in advance...2 bloomin weeks for a 5 minute job!

Also, the Italian number plates are not like UK ones in that they have to be returned to the authorities when a car is scrapped or exported. That is the dealer's responsibility however, so be sure to send them back to him or he will face a fine.

I didn't have a professional inspection done, as I tend to trust my own judgement on that sort of thing.

Dan

 

are you certain dan ? .....I've driven throughout italy for twenty eight years (on and off) with AA five star cover.
cheers, d

 

of course he is....there's also a bbq in Heck on the fri night.
d

 

The bog standard AA package comes with up to 3 days 'European' cover - which really means France, Germany or the Low Countries. I ended up ugrading, so I think you are right in that 5 Star cover will cover more of Europe.

 

Rod,will for sure have the 355 with me as for Sept.not sure at present(sorry Dave)am starting up a new business at present and trying to find the time is difficult.
Dave Mc

 

My car was imported by a dealer from Italy into Belgium and I registered it in France, the only thing to pay was the French registration fee and inspection. The rule is that if you are in an EEC country and purchase a used vehicle from another EEC country, then it is considered to be already duty paid. But be careful because Switzerland for instance is NOT an EEC member and you will pay import duty on a Swiss car, same for other countries such as Norway etc.

 

without the map in front of me, i would suggest munich > frankfurt > dusseldorf > koln > bonn > brussels > lille > dunkerque > calais etc, etc....all motorway.
cheers, d

 

Rod,

Make sure you keep receipts of petrol that can prove it has been used in a foreign country, I think the rule is 6 months (as stated above) and 5000 miles (or km's - I'm not sure) then the car is classified as being second hand and no VAT or duty. I brought an Integrale in a few years ago and it was fairly easy job - the car was never inspected over here.

Good luck - let us know how it goes.

Rick

 

There is no taxation issue at all,even if you buy a brand new car as long as it is bought in the EEC then it is deemed to be tax paid,you do not need to keep any petrol receipts and do not have to drive it any miles/kms at all.There is a comprehensive guide to this issue on the dvla website,Rod direct Munich-Zeebrugge-Rosyth-Stirling Piece of the proverbial,that ferry is great make sure to get an outside cabin and buy your dinner&breakfast vouchers before boarding(a lot cheaper)Are you still coming to KH on Saturday?
Dave

 

Matkat - are you sure about that ? This certainly wasn't the case 6 years ago (when I imported mine). I've seen adverts quoting new LHD drive cars for a price + VAT as if there is duty to be paid.

Rick

 

Richard,absolutely sure,the tax regulations became standard across Europe at the same time as the abolition of the duty-frees not sure of the exact date.If you are seeing a car advertised as +VAT then there can be several reasons for this,if it has had no VAT paid whatsover(brand new) or it can also have been purchased by someone who is exempt(non EU citizen)or military or diplomatic,but for us normal People if the VAT has been paid in a EU member state then it has deemed to have been paid in all states,an easy example of this is the weekend booze cruise You can buy cheap drink in France(where duty is lower) and import into the UK with no further tax due.
Dave Mc

 

It"s a good idea,just getting of the boat and a 30 min drive,think the ferry leaves Zee at about 16:30,but check their web-site,http://www.superfast.com/
All the best
Dave

 

Rod,give about 9 hrs for this journey check the following link.
www.viamichelin.com

Dave

 

bought my 512tr in 2000 from the dealer in rome. i had local insurance cover for about 2 weeks. i drove it to the uk, then got cover from my insurance carrier there. there was no import duty. there is a fee to pay to the dvla and of course all their paperwork, but this is more hassle than cost. within a month it was all done, and i think the total cost was less than £250. you need to get the paperwork requirements from the dvla, they send you a whole packet, and you just follwo the directions. you also need to prove that you brought it in yourself so keep all the toll receipts, ferry/shuttle, petrol etc....