Importing new from EU

[Saucer]

Has anyone on here imported a MH from the EU since Brexit? My understanding is that VAT and import tax are payable on used vans, but only VAT on new. Also I believe that purchases in e.g. Belgium or Germany could benefit from VAT refunds from the country it was purchased in. I know that there are various hoops around satisfying UK registration standards, MPH on dash etc, but that doesn’t seem insurmountable. I’d be very interested in anyone who is considering it or (even better) done it since we left.

 

[paddymcc]

I've just finished importing a new LHD campervan from Belgium and I'm happy to share my experiences of the whole process.

I bought a new Tourne 6.4m campervan from Caramel Campers in Bruges. It's the first Tourne in UK apparently.

To be honest. I had originally planned to collect it from Bruges myself, drive it over and sort the registration process but had trouble finding insurance without a UK number plate. Caramel Campers had offered to get me export plates but it's third party insurance only and as the camper cost approx €90k, I didn't want to take that risk.

I used MyCarImport in Castle Donnington for the whole process and I'm happy to recommend them to members.

Their pricing was fair & clear. It included them collecting the new camper from Bruges on a trailer, and all the export/import processes with French customs, HMRC and DVLA.
They use an online Portal system to track progress and where you upload all the information and documents they need. It was strangely comforting to know where I was in the process at any time. Lots of both direct and event-triggered emails from them keeping me up to date

MyCarImport's fee was reasonable and money well-spent in my opinion.
Their quote covered collection from Belgium on a trailer, UK road tax, modifications which might be needed to comply with UK road laws such as: headlamps; speedo dial to mph; fog light; number plates and their admin fees.

Collection went fine and the camper was in their Castle Donnington facility within a week. They sent me a short video of the camper showing it's condition (still sparkling!) and explaining what might be needed to get the pre-registration UK Certificate of GB Conversion IVA .

By then I had sent them:

• The original Certificates of Conformity from Tourne (I had two different ones)
• Original Invoice from Caramel Campers which had to be signed by both them and me
• The Certificate of Entitlement for a cherished number plate that I wanted DVLA to use.

The whole process from collection to me receiving the V5C in the post took for 4 weeks. MyCarImport emailed me the customs documents that I sent onto Caramel Campers and the Belgium tax I had paid was back in my account within a week.
I'm collecting the new van this Friday after having the security system updated.

Some notes for others:

1. You pay tax (VAT) twice to start with so cashflow is hit. Once in Belgium (in my case) and again on Import to UK. There was no Duty on this vehicle, just 21% in Belgium and 205 in UK. That's calculated on the net invoice value and includes all the extras. UK VAT is calculated using the CIF value (cost, insurance, freight) , so be aware that it's slightly higher than just the net value of the purchase invoice.
2. I reckon we saved £15-20k on cost of campervan but this is just my best-guess as Tourne do not yet sell directly in UK. I based this on equivalent campervans and the fact that happily, the Pound was/is strong against the Euro at the moment. UK VAT for example was charged using an Exchange Rate of 1.1724.
3. If I were to do it again, I'd happily use My Car Import for the whole process. Note that you pay a good-sized deposit against their own quote to start the process, so again, cashflow is hit.
4. Caramel Campers (and others that I approached) are used to dealing with exports but so much to UK any more. Their main client base seems to be Switzerland. They were very helpful to me and would recommend them if you're after a Tourne.

Happy to answer questions if I can and I hope this is useful info for members considering importing new from EU.



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I've just finished importing a new LHD campervan from Belgium and I'm happy to share my experiences of the whole process.

I bought a new Tourne 6.4m campervan from Caramel Campers in Bruges. It's the first Tourne in UK apparently.

To be honest. I had originally planned to collect it from Bruges myself, drive it over and sort the registration process but had trouble finding insurance without a UK number plate. Caramel Campers had offered to get me export plates but it's third party insurance only and as the camper cost approx €90k, I didn't want to take that risk.

I used MyCarImport in Castle Donnington for the whole process and I'm happy to recommend them to members.

Their pricing was fair & clear. It included them collecting the new camper from Bruges on a trailer, and all the export/import processes with French customs, HMRC and DVLA.
They use an online Portal system to track progress and where you upload all the information and documents they need. It was strangely comforting to know where I was in the process at any time. Lots of both direct and event-triggered emails from them keeping me up to date

MyCarImport's fee was reasonable and money well-spent in my opinion.
Their quote covered collection from Belgium on a trailer, UK road tax, modifications which might be needed to comply with UK road laws such as: headlamps; speedo dial to mph; fog light; number plates and their admin fees.

Collection went fine and the camper was in their Castle Donnington facility within a week. They sent me a short video of the camper showing it's condition (still sparkling!) and explaining what might be needed to get the pre-registration UK Certificate of GB Conversion IVA .

By then I had sent them:

• The original Certificates of Conformity from Tourne (I had two different ones)
• Original Invoice from Caramel Campers which had to be signed by both them and me
• The Certificate of Entitlement for a cherished number plate that I wanted DVLA to use.

The whole process from collection to me receiving the V5C in the post took for 4 weeks. MyCarImport emailed me the customs documents that I sent onto Caramel Campers and the Belgium tax I had paid was back in my account within a week.
I'm collecting the new van this Friday after having the security system updated.

Some notes for others:

1. You pay tax (VAT) twice to start with so cashflow is hit. Once in Belgium (in my case) and again on Import to UK. There was no Duty on this vehicle, just 21% in Belgium and 205 in UK. That's calculated on the net invoice value and includes all the extras. UK VAT is calculated using the CIF value (cost, insurance, freight) , so be aware that it's slightly higher than just the net value of the purchase invoice.
2. I reckon we saved £15-20k on cost of campervan but this is just my best-guess as Tourne do not yet sell directly in UK. I based this on equivalent campervans and the fact that happily, the Pound was/is strong against the Euro at the moment. UK VAT for example was charged using an Exchange Rate of 1.1724.
3. If I were to do it again, I'd happily use My Car Import for the whole process. Note that you pay a good-sized deposit against their own quote to start the process, so again, cashflow is hit.
4. Caramel Campers (and others that I approached) are used to dealing with exports but so much to UK any more. Their main client base seems to be Switzerland. They were very helpful to me and would recommend them if you're after a Tourne.

Happy to answer questions if I can and I hope this is useful info for members considering importing new from EU.



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I saw a Tourne at a UK campsite earlier in the year. It looked very nice. It was on Swiss plates.

 

[The Wino]

The van looks great and all the information on importing really helpful. I'm less sure about the bullbars. Aren't they known to be more lethal to pedestrians and bikes if you have an accident?

That's what I meant about the insurance it's a modification that could increase the cost of repairs and third party claims with pedestrians and cyclists.

 

[Lenny HB]

Wow. Just looked and it appears to me that on a like for like basis the price may be £ 15k+ lower in Germany (in my case looking at Globecar). Does that that seem roughly correct?

Depends a lot on the van, we have imported 3 Hymers and saved a fortune but with the current Carthago saving would have only been about 2k so we bought in UK.

 

[Gareth_Kelly]

Thanks.
Yes, the bull bar is metal and was an optional extra. It cost €755

That's just for the Bullbar if that's what you meant?

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[Gareth_Kelly]

The van looks great and all the information on importing really helpful. I'm less sure about the bullbars. Aren't they known to be more lethal to pedestrians and bikes if you have an accident?

I've just checked with my insurance and they are fine with the bullbar. Confirmed it to them in writing just in case.

 

[Rob Turner]

Always worth importing, the savings are still there and especially atm with the exchange rate in our favour.

 

[loggy]

If you do decide to import I have all the forms on a template so just need to input own details in and it should all go through fairly smoothly.

I would be very interested in this template if you can ping me a message. I'm new here so don't know how to DM you. Hopefully you see this.

 

[Neilh]

Always worth importing, the savings are still there and especially atm with the exchange rate in our favour.

Agreed, it seems some brands have significant savings, Hymers, others are more modest, we've got a significant saving on a Carthago C Tourer, the new 2025 model. The German dealers seem to be more open than the UK dealers to offer a discount.

 

[CustomBuild]

If you do decide to import I have all the forms on a template so just need to input own details in and it should all go through fairly smoothly.

I wonder if you still have the template and could possibly share it with me?

If all goes to plan, I should pick up my new MH in Germany around March/April 2025 and then plan to tour for three months before brining it to the UK and starting the registration process.

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[dom_k]

I can now report doing all the paperwork yourself is straight forward. I got my registration yesteray. It’s taken 5 weeks from landing in the UK to being fully complete and ready to go.

 

[Saucer]

I can now report doing all the paperwork yourself is straight forward. I got my registration yesteray. It’s taken 5 weeks from landing in the UK to being fully complete and ready to go.

Good on you, well done on taking this on.

 

[Bustup15]

I wonder if you still have the template and could possibly share it with me?

If all goes to plan, I should pick up my new MH in Germany around March/April 2025 and then plan to tour for three months before brining it to the UK and starting the registration process.

Do you know how you are insuring it while touring? Many have had issues getting anything other than 3rdcparty cover before vehicle is UK registered

 

[Neilh]

Nice one Dom

 

[CustomBuild]

Do you know how you are insuring it while touring? Many have had issues getting anything other than 3rdcparty cover before vehicle is UK registered

I’m planning to take a risk on the third party only, even though I would prefer fully comprehensive for sure.

With things like that I just try to put it out of my mind otherwise the worry could get me down. On the good side, I’ve been driving for fifty years and never had a claim, so hopefully things will stay that way. We’ll see.

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[Bustup15]

I’m planning to take a risk on the third party only, even though I would prefer fully comprehensive for sure.

With things like that I just try to put it out of my mind otherwise the worry could get me down. On the good side, I’ve been driving for fifty years and never had a claim, so hopefully things will stay that way. We’ll see.

Yip, it's a state of mind I think. With a new van I would be concerned about the unexpected and insurers going 50/50. It could potentially be a very big hit - unless you can absorb it and carry on?