Bringing Cars Overseas

[ccurzio]

Hello everyone. Been a while since posting, indeed it's even been a while since I've driven 5311. Life has been idiotically crazy.

So the world is different now and as it happens, I find myself making plans to relocate - to Ireland. My dad died a few months back and I'm finding I have very little reason to keep hanging around here. I'm bringing my vehicles with me. Thing is, I've never done that before.

Anyone have any experience moving cars to Europe? I have every shred of documentation at hand and I know headlights need to be re-aimed and more modern US cars will need new lights in the back for amber blinkers, but what other details should I know?

[David T]

Hello everyone. Been a while since posting, indeed it's even been a while since I've driven 5311. Life has been idiotically crazy.

So the world is different now and as it happens, I find myself making plans to relocate - to Ireland. My dad died a few months back and I'm finding I have very little reason to keep hanging around here. I'm bringing my vehicles with me. Thing is, I've never done that before.

Anyone have any experience moving cars to Europe? I have every shred of documentation at hand and I know headlights need to be re-aimed and more modern US cars will need new lights in the back for amber blinkers, but what other details should I know?

The best advice is to find a company that can do all of the paperwork and logistics for you. Most of these types of companies specialize in certain countries so find one that knows Ireland. They can handle all of the import taxes, duty, etc and tell you what needs to be done to get the car roadworthy in Ireland. The paperwork alone is complicated enough that if you don't get it right it can cost a LOT of money and time.

[ccurzio]

The best advice is to find a company that can do all of the paperwork and logistics for you. Most of these types of companies specialize in certain countries so find one that knows Ireland. They can handle all of the import taxes, duty, etc and tell you what needs to be done to get the car roadworthy in Ireland. The paperwork alone is complicated enough that if you don't get it right it can cost a LOT of money and time.

Thanks, David. I do have a few companies lined up for exactly that, however I haven't contacted anyone yet. The actual move is still probably a year out while I wait for word on my German citizenship, but in the near term I'm packing up my house to get ready to sell it over the next couple of months. While I'm doing that I'm getting as much done as possible in advance to prepare for the full relocation effort.

It's also pretty cool that after 45 years 5311 will be returning to its birthplace. I'm very much looking forward to being able to take it on the old DMC test track at the next event where it's open. :)

[ccurzio]

I also went ahead and picked up an aluminum EU DMC license plate frame for 5311.

72009

[ccurzio]

Some other bits and bobs I'll share that you'll want to have for anyone else who stumbles across this thread.


Title (or Purchase Documentation)
Maintenance Records
Photographs of the Car
Photographs of the Odometer
Photographs of the Undercarriage
Photographs of VIN plates

[Rich]

David's right.

I've heard horror stories from folks who tried to make all arrangements themselves. You may need a tax pro at the other end. Don't cheap out.

Here's some info pointing you to three different outfits who can help you courtesy of Bring a Trailer https://bringatrailer.com/international-shipping-resources/

Of those 3 the only one I've heard of before is CARS.
"Our global network of experts handles every detail, from freight documentation to customs brokerage."

Someone I know used them to get their non-D collector car over to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and back. No issues.

[MML]

Hi Chris, which part of Ireland do you plan on coming to?
The good thing about it being such a small island is that you're never more than a couple of hours' drive from Dunmurry!

[ccurzio]

Well as it happens, I think I've decided that instead of bringing my daily with me, I'm going to sell the thing. It's going to end up being waaaaayyyy more of a headache than is worth doing because between having to get different taillights and getting the headlights reset to make it roadworthy, I'd still end up in a LHD car on RHD infrastructure. Beyond that, VWCredit doesn't allow permanent export anyway; I could pay it off outright but I'm trying to preserve liquidity. I'd have to refinance with an export-friendly lender, and going through all of that just isn't worth it. So I'll be saying goodbye to my EV.

5311 and KITT are still coming with me.


David's right.
Here's some info pointing you to three different outfits who can help you courtesy of Bring a Trailer https://bringatrailer.com/international-shipping-resources/


Awesome. Thanks for this. And yeah, I specifically don't want to cheap out when taking care of the D. It will be well-handled.


Hi Chris, which part of Ireland do you plan on coming to?
The good thing about it being such a small island is that you're never more than a couple of hours' drive from Dunmurry!

Hey Martin! Honestly? I have no idea. I know Ireland is experiencing a housing crunch, but it seems to be mostly affecting the big cities. I'm looking at moving somewhere rural to live a quiet Irish life writing code and tinkering with my cars. Beyond that, I couldn't tell you where on the island I'm going to end up. That said, it'll be nice to have some friends when I get there. I currently have exactly one Irish friend that I've known for like 20 years (he lives in Dundalk), so more would be awesome. I do have another local-ish friend, but she lives on the Isle of Man.

Like you said though, Ireland is not a humongous place. The whole island is about the size of South Carolina, and after living my entire life in the US and being used to 4+ hour drives to get places, it won't be a problem at all. :)

Right now I'm in a holding pattern while I wait for Germany to confirm my citizenship, but I am packing up my house to sell right now. Already have some stuff in storage.

[Emit]

I imported a car from the US to Ireland recently, as I live here :) Apologies if you know all this already, but just in case

So the deal is if it is a classic you kinda have to leave it as is, it doesn't need to pass a roadworthy test (NCT) only needs to be examined by a centre that it is as described (doors, engine, VIN) and "capable of mechanical propulsion" as per the legislation. With this inspection you can have it registered, it's about 250?, this is called VRT and is very low for classics. You may want to get the front low beams swapped, but you're not going to fail any official test, rear/side lights are ok as is.


Things in Ireland have VAT on them (23% on the cost), although I suspect if you are actually moving here and owned the car elsewhere you'd be covered under the Transfer of Residence (https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/individuals/transfer-residence/index.aspx) scheme (TOR), because you're not importing it, rather you own it.

You will need insurance (300->500ish) to drive it on the roads and annual motor tax, which is about 54? for classics.

Your cost is in the shipping, I got a company to do it door to door, takes about a month of shipping - budget a few grand, also pay an tax agent to do all the clearance for you, while you can do it yourself it's a headache.

Any questions let me know - I can start you in the right direction

[ccurzio]

I imported a car from the US to Ireland recently, as I live here :) Apologies if you know all this already, but just in case

So the deal is if it is a classic you kinda have to leave it as is, it doesn't need to pass a roadworthy test (NCT) only needs to be examined by a centre that it is as described (doors, engine, VIN) and "capable of mechanical propulsion" as per the legislation. With this inspection you can have it registered, it's about 250?, this is called VRT and is very low for classics. You may want to get the front low beams swapped, but you're not going to fail any official test, rear/side lights are ok as is.


Things in Ireland have VAT on them (23% on the cost), although I suspect if you are actually moving here and owned the car elsewhere you'd be covered under the Transfer of Residence (https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/individuals/transfer-residence/index.aspx) scheme (TOR), because you're not importing it, rather you own it.

You will need insurance (300->500ish) to drive it on the roads and annual motor tax, which is about 54? for classics.

Your cost is in the shipping, I got a company to do it door to door, takes about a month of shipping - budget a few grand, also pay an tax agent to do all the clearance for you, while you can do it yourself it's a headache.

Any questions let me know - I can start you in the right direction

Much appreciated! This is great information. Thank you. I've been budgeting around $5k per car to get where I'm going.

And yep I should be exempt from the bulk of taxes since I outright own everything I'm bringing and have owned all of it for more than enough time.

Do you have a recommended tax agent? Which shipping company did you use?

[Emit]

I used Shumacher for the shipping - they were professional - but there was a big mess that took about 70 emails, so many calls and having to ring revenue and act as a go between the tax agent, revenue and the receiving agent with the bonded warehouse.

TBH my story hasn't happened to anyone else, it was just a comedy of errors, but I needed to resolve it - the tax clearing agent set the clearing port ID on a form incorrectly based of the local shipping port, however the bonded warehouse was actually a different port ID - because of this they couldn't release the car to me and I had already paid the substantial tax on the wrong ID. I did get it resolved, but it took the fun out of the whole process.

When it lands in the port you will be hit for an unpacking/port handling fee, so add that in as well, plus depending on how drivable/legal the car is you may need to door-to-door that can add a bit depending on where you are going to live in the country, so if you can get it insured and drive it out of the port/bonded warehouse you'll be able to save the fee (if you've booked the VRT appointment I think you have a bit of grace regarding road tax and registration, but you need to do your own homework on that).

[spinaltap1]

i imported my delorean to dublin, ireland in 2018. the ship from america landed first in southampton and then on to dublin. there was something to do with felixtowe in england i remember that's where the 5% VAT and custom's duty was paid i think. i used an english company who took care of everything. i remember going to collect the car from dublin port. it was a beautiful warm sunny friday afternoon. i showed my paperwork was told to put on a high viz vest on account of the forklift drivers etc. milling around the place. was wandering around the dock and couldn't find the car. it didn't help that my eyesight is dreadful. i told a dock worker i was collecting a car and he said is it the silver mustang and he pointed to the far end of the dock. i couldn't find the car. then i saw her. the sleek sharp sexy lines lurking on the pier with the sunlight reflecting off her stealthy silver panels. i couldn't believe how low and wide the car was. i opened up the driver door, very very heavy without functioning door struts, and a beautiful sweet leather aroma hit me in the face. i knew the car was a non runner and was going to need restoration but she still drew attention and a lot of questions from about a half dozen dock workers and passing truck drivers. the car wouldn't start and two dock workers tried to jump it but it was a no go. i got a lift back to the exit and the guy driving the truck said he recognised me. i'm a taxi driver and he told me he'd been in my car before. small world. i arranged a guy with a flat bed lorry to transport her to a storage place but an argument broke out on the way out. apparently an argument had broken out on the way in as well. he thought he could just plow through the front gates of the place and collect the car. i was very giddy and busy with removing the car and our phone calls had gone unanswered. i think he thought he'd been sent on a goose chase. it was a fiasco trying to register the car. i couldn't get it through to revenue that i'd already paid the vat on the car in felixtowe in england. It got resolved after a few months. I sent the car to Chris Nicholson who did a fantastic job bringing her back to life.