CatBird Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 I would like advice bringing a classic car from UK to USA buying in an online auction? VAT? MOT? Customs? What hurdles should I expect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERA Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 You shouldn't have any. The VAT is only paid when importing cars into the E.U or U.K. usually the maximum charged is 5% of the value including freight and insurance costs. A M.O.T isn't required in the U.K. for cars made before 1972 I believe. It is a certificate to say the car has been tested and is roadworthy . There are no customs charges made by the U.K. so only any charges that are due are on the U.S side , easily found online . Any good shipping company your side will advise you. Make sure you are sent/given a V5 certificate from the seller which gives all the cars details you will need this to give to your shipper when importing the car The seller need only photocopy and send in a part to the DVLA to tell them the car has been exported. You will also need a bill of sale. I have bought several and sold several cars to the States over the least few decades and never had any issues either side. That's it ,enjoy the experience 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 If the car is shipped in a container is it ever inspected, or is it a sealed container that goes from port to port? Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERA Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Almost certainly not inspected on either side unless customs decide to take a look Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 How many ERA's were made and how many are there today? There were two maybe three at a Vintage event at Lime Rock about 10 years ago, the White Riley was there too. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp928 Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 Are there any rules about importing Asbestos into USA ? Down here in Oz now Customs (now Border Farce) go nuts when anything that MIGHT contain asbestos is imported, and reserve the right to dismantle (at importer's cost) in a search for traces - gaskets, clutches, brake linings etc. Not every car is checked, but enough to make it a real worry. See https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/australian-border-force-detects-asbestos-in-classic-cars-owners-risk-thousands-of-dollars-in-fines/news-story/558ae57b52f7e995237f6e3193ea62b1 jp 26 Rover 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgreen Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 1 hour ago, jp928 said: Are there any rules about importing Asbestos into USA ? Down here in Oz now Customs (now Border Farce) go nuts when anything that MIGHT contain asbestos is imported, and reserve the right to dismantle (at importer's cost) in a search for traces - gaskets, clutches, brake linings etc. Not every car is checked, but enough to make it a real worry. See https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/australian-border-force-detects-asbestos-in-classic-cars-owners-risk-thousands-of-dollars-in-fines/news-story/558ae57b52f7e995237f6e3193ea62b1 jp 26 Rover 9 Not at the moment, but if you keep asking questions like that you will tempt political banter. That banter is not allowed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERA Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 (edited) 11 hours ago, 1937hd45 said: How many ERA's were made and how many are there today? There were two maybe three at a Vintage event at Lime Rock about 10 years ago, the White Riley was there too. Bob Hi Bob Debatable and am open to correction. Thirty , possibly thirty two cars were built by the three owners of E.R.A over the years with only one being retired due to a fatal accident using the E.R.A chassis and engines varying from supercharged 1.1 litre up to 2.0 litres and then 2 litre Bristol engines during the period that Stirling Moss competed in F1 and giving Bristol a 1st 2nd and 3rd place in the 2 litre class at Le Mans . One two seater raced in the late fifties fitted with a Jaguar engine along with five V8 sports cars with E.R.A works modified Standard motors engines which were produced by Coventry Climax using the gearboxes supplied from the Jaguar SS sports car which were being produced also by Standard motor cars. Twenty eight cars compete regularly today and am aware of another two Rileys chassis cars with E.R.A engines with history nearing completion that will be out and about soon. In the States I forgot earlier to add the E.R.A Delage and the V8 DHC which makes a total of eight cars . The others are owned in Britain , Switzerland , Germany , Thailand and Australia. Most of the cars had alternative engines and bodies fitted over the years due to the then low value of racing cars and the wear and the tear of competing them. A supercharged engine running on methanol when being raced needs a lot of work to keep in tip top condition and the cars were used every couple of weeks by their Gentleman drivers. In the sixties and seventies a few knowledgeable enthusiastic owners started to reunite engines and had bodies made in line with the original body shown in 1934 on chassis R1A. The race cars competed in G.P's from Cape Town to Melbourne - Indianapolis - Monte Carlo - Brooklands - Le Mans and even ice racing with spiked tyres in Stockholm in Sweden over the years and at international circuits and hill climbs broke records and won many of them . Four of the V8 cars took part in various rallies in the U.K in the few months prior to WW2. The only V8 sports saloon made was sold to a client in N.Z but the ship was torpedoed . Below is my E.R.A Facebook page and E.R.A website - Hope you enjoy. https://www.facebook.com/englishracingautomobiles.co.uk/ www.englishracingautomobiles.co.uk Below is a fabulous drawing of the first E.R.A produced at R1A by David Jones. Edited June 8, 2018 by ERA (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 WOW! Thanks for all that info. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted June 8, 2018 Author Share Posted June 8, 2018 (edited) This was misinformation on my part. I am complete, happy, and the car should be here within two weeks. Edited June 14, 2018 by CatBird (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERA Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 (edited) Send me the auction link to the vehicle Edited June 8, 2018 by ERA (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted June 8, 2018 Author Share Posted June 8, 2018 10 minutes ago, ERA said: Send me the auction link to the vehicle Done, by PM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 Catbird, you can, at a minimum, have them itemize their "buyers' premium inclusive of VAT." Have them show what the break-down is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERA Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 47 minutes ago, CatBird said: Done, by PM. Replied Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
playswithbrass Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Catbird sent you a PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted June 11, 2018 Author Share Posted June 11, 2018 Having good advice to talk with the local British Consulate general about the VAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MochetVelo Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Items for export do not pay V.A.T. in Europe. However, you may have to pay it up front and then get a refund from the tax authority. Some countries (like France) charge an export tax, however. The auction house should have a form for you to complete. As for Customs, they can open up and inspect anything they want. I had one container inspected by U.S. Customs. They charged me to transport the container to their warehouse, then to unpack and "re-pack" it (not very carefully). Finally, they charged for "storing" the container. A Customs Broker can be a useful investment, particularly with a higher-priced item. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashby Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 On 6/7/2018 at 6:47 PM, 1937hd45 said: If the car is shipped in a container is it ever inspected, or is it a sealed container that goes from port to port? Bob Inspections could still happen if the container is sealed. I've had vehicles imported from the UK before and fortunately nothing happened to me. But I've heard plenty of stories of people's containers being inspected and fees being charged for these inspections. Unfortunately there's not much you can do about it other than ship with a company that's been doing it for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted June 14, 2018 Author Share Posted June 14, 2018 Everything is working out fine. I should have the car in less than two weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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