Import used camper to U.K. from Germany

[My-name-is-Miri]

Hi all,



My father wants to give me his old campervan as he is moving to Malta where he won’t be needing it. The camper is currently registered and parked in Germany, where he is living. However, he will lose his “main residence” status in Germany in March. This means that from March the vehicle can no longer be insured/registered in Germany under his name. He has a garage he can store it in in Germany until August. Could you please advise me on transfer of ownership to a family member and import/registration to the U.K.? Also would I need to pay gift tax on the vehicle?

Many thanks,
Miriam

 

[Soycd]

Hi all,



My father wants to give me his old campervan as he is moving to Malta where he won’t be needing it. The camper is currently registered and parked in Germany, where he is living. However, he will lose his “main residence” status in Germany in March. This means that from March the vehicle can no longer be insured/registered in Germany under his name. He has a garage he can store it in in Germany until August. Could you please advise me on transfer of ownership to a family member and import/registration to the U.K.? Also would I need to pay gift tax on the vehicle?

Many thanks,
Miriam

Tricky one. If it's registered in Germany, then a visit to the local Kreishaus vehicle registration office might be the best solution. I'm sure they would be better placed to advise you than here. If your dad is British then he my be able to import it to UK without to much hassle as its his vehicle and he's returning to UK, despite he going to Gibraltar.

 

[bigtree]

Tricky one. If it's registered in Germany, then a visit to the local Kreishaus vehicle registration office might be the best solution. I'm sure they would be better placed to advise you than here. If your dad is British then he my be able to import it to UK without to much hassle as its his vehicle and he's returning to UK, despite he going to Gibraltar.

Have you been drinking, he is going to Malta.

 

[MisterB]

So he will be a Malteser ...... not a Giblet ..

 

[Jez1966]

As per Soycd, simplest if your father imports it into UK and you "buy it".
I believe Oliver Reed went to Malta as well, talking of drinking.

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[My-name-is-Miri]

Thanks all! My dad is British, but hasn’t lived here in years and doesn’t have an address here, and no family apart from myself. I’m thinking this might be an issue for insurance and other paperwork? He’s living in Malta now

 

[Outdoors Dad]

If your father is still insured to drive the vehicle could he add you to the insurance and you drive it back to Britain via tunnel or ferry. Then when you get it back contact DVLA to obtain v5 via import process???

 

[My-name-is-Miri]

If your father is still insured to drive the vehicle could he add you to the insurance and you drive it back to Britain via tunnel or ferry. Then when you get it back contact DVLA to obtain v5 via import process???

Thank you, that is probably the simplest solution. Would that then be a simple transfer of ownership, and just classified as a gift to next of kin? Or would I have to pay VAT etc on it?

 

[Lenny HB]

If your dad uses your address and imports it as if he is moving back to the UK there will be no VAT to pay.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

Thank you, that is probably the simplest solution. Would that then be a simple transfer of ownership, and just classified as a gift to next of kin? Or would I have to pay VAT etc on it?

Hmmmm not sure about that bit but I'm sure I've read on here people who have imported vehicles from Germany. But paying Vat on a non existent purchase price wouldn't be such a hardship?

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[Outdoors Dad]

Hmmmm not sure about that bit but I'm sure I've read on here people who have imported vehicles from Germany. But paying Vat on a non existent purchase price wouldn't be such a hardship?

What Lenny B said...boy it makes the £20 subscription fee for this site we'll worth it!

 

[Lenny HB]

Hmmmm not sure about that bit but I'm sure I've read on here people who have imported vehicles from Germany. But paying Vat on a non existent purchase price wouldn't be such a hardship?

If there is no invoice HMRC will put a value on the vehicle that VAT is due on, that is why I suggested dad effectively moves back to the UK as far as HMRC are concerned.

 

[Nanniemate]

If there is no invoice HMRC will put a value on the vehicle that VAT is due on, that is why I suggested dad effectively moves back to the UK as far as HMRC are concerned.

Could that not be fraud? Seems easier to just drive it back and then register it .depends on hiw much its worth if it's a gift paying any taxes/import seems easier.
But then again I'm a good two shoes and scared of eating on the wrong side of hmrc

 

[My-name-is-Miri]

Could that not be fraud? Seems easier to just drive it back and then register it .depends on hiw much its worth if it's a gift paying any taxes/import seems easier.
But then again I'm a good two shoes and scared of eating on the wrong side of hmrc

Thanks, yes I’m a bit of a goody goody myself haha

It’s probably worth £20-25,0000, so I would probably have to “buy” it off him.

If VAT and Import duty are due, I’m looking at around £7000 in fees.

I would sell it if I was him, but he’s still hoping to do some more travelling around the U.K. and continent, and is adamant on keeping it.

 

[My-name-is-Miri]

If there is no invoice HMRC will put a value on the vehicle that VAT is due on, that is why I suggested dad effectively moves back to the UK as far as HMRC are concerned

I suppose the camper would then need to stay in his name? As soon as he transfers ownership or I “buy” it, then VAT at 20% would be due..?

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[My-name-is-Miri]

What Lenny B said...boy it makes the £20 subscription fee for this site we'll worth it!

Indeed! Haha

 

[Lenny HB]

I suppose the camper would then need to stay in his name? As soon as he transfers ownership or I “buy” it, then VAT at 20% would be due..?

You only need proof of vat payment to register it, once registered it will be the same as any other vehicle.
When I say proof of vat payment that includes £0.00 vat.

 

[Lenny HB]

Could that not be fraud?

Not if he moves back to the UK for a month or two.

 

[Northernraider]

If your dad uses your address and imports it as if he is moving back to the UK there will be no VAT to pay.

That was going to be my suggestion, if he drives it back registers it at the ops address as his then wait a month and sell it ( on paper ) to the op .

 

[Northernraider]

Could that not be fraud? Seems easier to just drive it back and then register it .depends on hiw much its worth if it's a gift paying any taxes/import seems easier.
But then again I'm a good two shoes and scared of eating on the wrong side of hmrc

The only fraud is the government wanting tax on a gift between family.

The uk government is the biggest committer of fraud in the UK lol.

I see it as an individuals duty to deny them as many opportunities of it as possible.

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[Northernraider]

Not if he moves back to the UK for a month or two.

He doesn't even have to move back ...dvla just needs to think he has. And the chances of them ever checking is zero .

He could effectively drive it back , send off paperwork to dvla the day he arrives registering it in UK ( although I think it might need a UK mot first ) and then leave before the v5 arrives.

The op then simply leaves it in his name till they decide to change it then change ownership online

 

[Nanniemate]

Not if he moves back to the UK for a month or two.

Goody 2 shoes would not have thought of that lol

He doesn't even have to move back ...dvla just needs to think he has. And the chances of them ever checking is zero .

He could effectively drive it back , send off paperwork to dvla the day he arrives registering it in UK ( although I think it might need a UK mot first ) and then leave before the v5 arrives.

The op then simply leaves it in his name till they decide to change it then change ownership online

Knowing my luck I'd get caught for a measly £7000
Where as the experts get away with millions

 

[Lenny HB]

He doesn't even have to move back ...dvla just needs to think he has. And the chances of them ever checking is zero .

He could effectively drive it back , send off paperwork to dvla the day he arrives registering it in UK ( although I think it might need a UK mot first ) and then leave before the v5 arrives.

The op then simply leaves it in his name till they decide to change it then change ownership online

Will still need a NOVA certificate to prove VAT has been paid even if the VAT is zero.
Not sure with older vans if you can still get away with an MOT or if you need a DVSA inspection.

 

[Northernraider]

Goody 2 shoes would not have thought of that lol
Knowing my luck I'd get caught for a measly £7000
Where as the experts get away with millions

I once knew a guy ....we will call him Andy for the sake of it.

He went through a speed camera ...he was already on 9 points . So he sold his car on paper to a made up polish name at an address of a friend's.

Put the car in a lock up garage for 5 weeks and then bought it back from the made up polish person.

Abracadabra no points, no fine


True story that

 

[Northernraider]

Will still need a NOVA certificate to prove VAT has been paid even if the VAT is zero.
Not sure with older vans if you can still get away with an MOT or if you need a DVSA inspection.

I'm not clued up with it lately .

I last imported and registered a vehicle back in 2004

I've bought 3 unseen abroad and picked them up at the port.

All of them older vehicles, a 1968 , a 1971 and a 1995 , never had to pay anything on import etc , I just took them for an mot in the UK, sent that with the registration papers I got from the owner overseas and the fee for road tax and that was that ... a few weeks later I got the v5 and a letter to have registration plates made up.

But I imagine things are a lot more complicated now after brexit which is what put me off buying an older camper from Germany.

Never uses to have to pay vat on older motors.

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[Roby2008]

De-registration in Germany is easy enough, it can be done online or 30 mins at the local KFZ Stelle (Registration office), I did my car last month online in half an hour, you just need all the reg docs and the plates.
Exporting/Importing to the UK looks to be a world of pain when looking at the .Gov website, it looks like whatever you do it will require involvement of HMRC and others to get it to UK spec and registered.
I don´t think he is doing you any favours, selling and then renting when he wants to travel makes more sense, having his cake and eating it will be pricey in this case.

 

[rod_vw]

What ever method of bringing it into the UK you decide on the DVLA will not register it here without a NOVA certificate being issued by HMRC.
Also be prepared to be asked for a Certificate of Conformity and the date of manufacture NOT date of first registration. See the V55/5 form and its guidance notes.

 

[Paul and Chris]

Hi all,



My father wants to give me his old campervan as he is moving to Malta where he won’t be needing it. The camper is currently registered and parked in Germany, where he is living. However, he will lose his “main residence” status in Germany in March. This means that from March the vehicle can no longer be insured/registered in Germany under his name. He has a garage he can store it in in Germany until August. Could you please advise me on transfer of ownership to a family member and import/registration to the U.K.? Also would I need to pay gift tax on the vehicle?

Many thanks,
Miriam

Hi Miriam

We've just done this from France.

We moved back to UK in July and bought our French registered MH with us under the TOR scheme (Transfer of Residence)

We are prohibited from selling it for 12 months or we have to pay (I think) VAT and customs.

So, even if your father moved back to UK the same would apply.

Now the good news !

You mention it's an "old" camper. If it's over ten years old from 1st reg, the following may apply to you.

After literally hours held in phone queues on DVSA, DVLA, Customs and excise and individual test centres, each telling me that it's not their department as the vehicle is over ten years old, I spoke to someone at DVSA and said that I have the original German and French logsheets and I will collate as much info as I can and submit the V55. Both have technical info but the German one especially. She said yes. So I did.

Result - I got a V5 in two weeks.

No CoC, No individual test, No speedo change. Just an MOT.

Something she said that may be interesting to others:

The V55 is a general form that covers all vehicles. Only a small percentage of the info is required for registration. If you fill it in to the best of your ability, you may get it through.

The EU reg docs have numbered categories which are easy to cross reference onto the V55. Especially line K which seems to still have some validity.

Good luck !

 

[Paul and Chris]

What ever method of bringing it into the UK you decide on the DVLA will not register it here without a NOVA certificate being issued by HMRC.
Also be prepared to be asked for a Certificate of Conformity and the date of manufacture NOT date of first registration. See the V55/5 form and its guidance notes.

Hi Rod

Please see my reply to Miriam.

Really sorry to be picky but if it's just the V55 you have to complete (ie vehicle over 10 years old)

Line 46 on V55 "Date of original registration"

Cheers

 

[Paul and Chris]

Will still need a NOVA certificate to prove VAT has been paid even if the VAT is zero.
Not sure with older vans if you can still get away with an MOT or if you need a DVSA inspection.

Still need MOT