Registering embassy car in the U.K.

[Lankytim]

I'm looking at a nice family estate car thats currently for sale on evilbay. It looks in pretty good order and is a good price. Only problem is that its used to belong to the Egyptian embassy and hasnt been registered in the U.K, as such it doesnt have any numberplates at all.

Does anyone know whats involved in getting the car registered? Is it a simple VIC check? Ive no experience in this at all!

[akku]

I assume its the same as US service personel or similar.

Get a written reciept. Get any paperwork you can to substantiate this, diplomatic or foreign plate info will be nice but not necessary.

Contact HMRC and pay the import duty (yes, really) on the car you bought and VAT too. They will give you a certificate to prove this is all done. They will be more interested in the receipt than anything else. Then you go to the DVLA and register it like any import. They will prefer to see old registration docs etc. but you can do it without.

If in doubt speak to HMRC and they will advise. I have ot say when I have spoken to them about this kind of thing they have been very helpful.

[Lankytim]

Import duty?? What a swizz, with it having been in the country for all of its life anyway.

Whats the duty likely to be on a 600 quid car? Can I get the guy to write out a receipt for 50 squid and show them that instead?

[Hitch]

Is it egyptian registered then, so itll be like importing it? If so then have a look here: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_4022583, scroll down to "previously used vehicle". It seems cars outside of the EU will need a BIVA test, which it more than likely wont pass without modifications. I don't know how old that info is though as it still refers to SVA/IVA on there.

[Lankytim]

From what I can see its a completely bog standard U.K spec car, same as any other of the type youd see on British roads. Just this one was bought new by an Embassy and they use special diplomatic plates or something.

This worries me..

"Vehicle tax
Vehicle tax will be payable in line with the vehicle’s first registration date in the UK. Even if the vehicle has been previously registered abroad, the date it's first registered in the UK will determine the amount of vehicle tax that’s payable."

I take it this means that although the car is 11 years old it will be taxed as a "new" car and have to pay 400 quid a year road tax.

[Fiat Daft]

ring it

[Autofive]

Oct 29, 2009 22:20:28 GMT Fiat Daft said:

ring it

what the phone number?


600 quid car - would you be charged import tax & vat on the 600, or on the 'value' of the car (set by some mandarin in a government dept.)??

[ben711200]

I'm most probably wrong.. but who issues the embassies with their country code numberplates? Would it still not show up on doovla databases and so still have been registered here?

[jettadeluxe]

I'm guessing its an *** D *** number plate?

What car is it? This will determine you new tax bracket, but you are correct, if the CO2 emissions data put it into the highest bracket, that's what you'll pay in Vehicle Excise Duty.

The Duty and VAT is worked thusly.

Value of the vehicle +11% Duty, then 15% VAT on the total of the vehicle value AND duty, so fees of £165.90 on a £600 car.

[93fxdl]

could be talking complete rubbish here (probably) but i remember a case of some yamaha race bikes which came into the country tax free as they were to be shipped back out after finishing racing. but they were instead sold and about ten years later the tax man realised and went after the current owners for the duty but if i remember correctly he wanted duty on its value on import. but then again i could be wrong about it
also just because it hasnt been registered dosent mean it has to have outstanding duty on it
just keep a "D" plate on it and ignore all the rules of the road (would be nice but the man wont let you)
ttfn glenn

[chevazon]

Just leave the diplomatic plates on and you`ll never pay a fine again. (until "they" catch up with you !)

[akku]

You have to pay duty on all imports, I doubt the embassy will have paid duty as they have diplomatic imunity from such things. Someone already worked out the duty for you. 10% on the car, then 15% on the car + VAT same as any import.

HMRC will accept your reciept, so long as it is reasonable. If you have a 2 year old S Class Merc they won't accept a recipet for £250. They retain the right to put their own valuation on any vehicle if they think your reciept is hooky.

Also if the car is less than 10 years old it will need SVA - or whatever BVA type inspection has replaced SVA for standard imports - unless you can prove it is a UK Type Approved model. You used to do this by getting a Certificate Of Conformity from the manufacturer. If the manufacturer is based in the EU they are bound to supply this under the conditions of the Treaty of Rome. However if the car is Japanese, Korean, American whatever they can tell you to go whistle.

All imports are set the level of VED based on the year of first use. My 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury came into the UK in 2004 but the car is Historic Tax because its a '68. Your embassy car would be in the VED tax group for the same year of car registered new in the UK. If its old enough it will just be PLG, otherwise on emissons as per all moderns.

What year, what country of origin?