Importing new motorhome from Germany?

[PlymBob]

I have found a new motorhome that meets my requirements but it is at a dealer in Germany.

Can anyone advise as to what I need to do to purchase it in Germany and import and register it in the UK?

Preferably avoiding German tax and paying UK tax instead.

Or can anyone recommend an agent that could do it?

 

[Lenny HB]

Has that put the mockers on it?

 

[MobyDick57]

Yep sadly
So in summing up:
No import tax, but full 20% vat on receipt value!

 

[Lenny HB]

Yep sadly
So in summing up:
No import tax, but full 20% vat on receipt value!

Yep.

 

[MobyDick57]

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[Lenny HB]

Yep sadly
So in summing up:
No import tax, but full 20% vat on receipt value!

Was it a Morelo?

 

[MobyDick57]

Yes

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes

Ouch, 20% was a lot then.

 

[MobyDick57]

Asking an importing company for a quote.
Unsure if it happened to be older than 6 months and over 6k miles, then it would be no import tax and no vat?!

 

[Lenny HB]

Asking an importing company for a quote.
Unsure if it happened to be older than 6 months and over 6k miles, then it would be no import tax and no vat?!

No, still have pay VAT now.

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[CazPaul]

Asking an importing company for a quote.
Unsure if it happened to be older than 6 months and over 6k miles, then it would be no import tax and no vat?!

It was previously like that but no more

If you’re buying new and dealer May let you buy vat free if you ask.

 

[Southdowners]

Yep sadly
So in summing up:
No import tax, but full 20% vat on receipt value!

I don’t know what your requirements are but we’ll be selling our LHD Concorde in the next few weeks if you’re interested.

 

[MobyDick57]

Thanks for the continued advice
Presently we have a Morelo Loft78F, 2017, <8m, 7.5T, 2.3T payload, 750w solar, 600ah lithium, Full Air Suspension with a Palace interior design. Morelo don’t make this size anymore on a 70 Miere chassis.
What we like about the replacement was it didn’t have a drop down bed in the cab, but instead the table dropped and created a double bed for the odd accassion our grandkids were with us
Unsure if your Concorde has this option?

 

[Southdowners]

Hi, yes it does have the configuration you want with no drop down bed and table to make occasional bed. It is an 8.6mt Concorde Charisma. If you feel you might be interested I can let you have the full spec.

 

[MobyDick57]

Thanks, I am not familiar with Concorde vans, but will have a look

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[Ian789]

Purchased my first and current van from a dealer in Germany, collected it and drove back from Bavaria (very carefully) on their third party insurance, once in the UK my insurance covered me to get it home.

Did all the Paperwork myself after we came back from collecting it on the 20th October 2020 and was all legal and on the road by the end of November.
Found the process very easy, might have been a bit lucky though as a lot of others have had a nightmare with importing!

Oh yes no modifications needed to my van once over here as Speedo is in mph and kmh, has 2 rear fogs and the chap at the garage said the headlights look ok, probably helped that he couldn’t get it in his workshop to check

Hi coastal.

Can. I as km what type of van yours was and what kind of lights.

I'm still trying to determine what my van needs. Making slow progress..

Speedo is OK at least.

Cheers

 

[Ian789]

We imported in 2019 so still under pre-Brexit conditions. The German dealer was experienced in export and arranged VAT free export but I had to send him confirmation that I had paid VAT in UK. The important thing is to pay UK Vat within the time limit (I can't remember what it was but it's not long) which starts from the moment you cross the channel. We had a slight delay, I can't remember now why but it wasn't our fault, the important thing if this happens is to communicate with HMRC and get an acknowledgement that they accept the reason for delay otherwise they will fine you.

Ours was a new Fiat Ducato van, we managed to get a second hand set of UK headlights from a fellow funster so we now have lights for use in UK and in Europe, it's a few minutes work to swap them over, no messing about with stick on diverters.
The speedo alteration is also very simple if you want to do it yourself, Lockwood International supply these, they even have easy to follow instructions on how to do it yourself. You then need to find a friendly MOT garage that will give you written confirmation that your headlights, speedo and rear fog lights comply with UK rules. I think he charged me £25 for the check and the letter. I had quotes significantly higher from less friendly garages.
The worst part of the whole thing was getting DVLA registration. They couldn't make up their mind what the road tax should be, I had to re-apply 4 times two of those were because they gave me the tax charge (in writing) then decided it was wrong and I had to re-apply. Each time you apply they repeat the full application process even if there is one minor correction so it took 4 months to get UK registration. I made a formal complaint to which I have never had a response. In the end they charged me the road tax which I was quoted over the telephone the very first time I called them.

Hmrc say mow that since Oct 32 you need to use a customs agent or receive training from one to pay the VAT. Yes I was confused by their Email.

 

[kimndon]

I am contemplating buying an ex-rental campervan 1 to 3 years old. The dealers show their vat. Can anyone, (Lenny HB), see a problem?? Will the German dealer take off or, subsequently, refund the vat?
3 years ago I imported 3 RHD Possl campervans when I had a vat registered company - no problems. Now I am not sure! I deregistered from vat but can easily register again. However, I would rather not, as this will not necessarily be a company campervan. We want a LHD campervan to travel around Europe and as I have an Irish passport the 90 day rule will not apply.

 

[Lenny HB]

I am contemplating buying an ex-rental campervan 1 to 3 years old. The dealers show their vat. Can anyone, (Lenny HB), see a problem?? Will the German dealer take off or, subsequently, refund the vat?
3 years ago I imported 3 RHD Possl campervans when I had a vat registered company - no problems. Now I am not sure! I deregistered from vat but can easily register again. However, I would rather not, as this will not necessarily be a company campervan. We want a LHD campervan to travel around Europe and as I have an Irish passport the 90 day rule will not apply.

Most German dealers will either sell vat free or charge you the vat and refund on proof of UK vat being paid.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Hi coastal.

Can. I as km what type of van yours was and what kind of lights.

I'm still trying to determine what my van needs. Making slow progress..

Speedo is OK at least.

Cheers

Sorry late reply but only just noticed your question.

I have a Morelo Palace, I have not touched the lights since driving it back from Bavaria in October 2020.
It has just had its first MOT and I got a bit worried when the chap wheeled the machine over that they test the headlights with but all was good and it passed, so basically I have done nothing to the van as it seems to comply with UK regs

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[Lenny HB]

Sorry late reply but only just noticed your question.

I have a Morelo Palace, I have not touched the lights since driving it back from Bavaria in October 2020.
It has just had its first MOT and I got a bit worried when the chap wheeled the machine over that they test the headlights with but all was good and it passed, so basically I have done nothing to the van as it seems to comply with UK regs

I expect your German dealer set them up for you it would have failed if left kicking up to the right. The MOT guy at AM is fussy about headlamps.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I expect your German dealer set them up for you

You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew the dealer, when I went to view it he seemed to have forgot to tell me that even thought they have charged for the drivers safety pack half of it was missing!!
Once I said to him that it was missing he assured me that it would be fitted when I collected it no surprise a week or 2 later when I flew over to drive it back it wasn’t done his answer was to get it fitted in the UK, so drive over 500 miles plus all the messing about
Anyways after I taught them and Morelo some new English words it was fitted when they took it back to Germany to fix the leak

 

[Machbuster]

I am contemplating buying an ex-rental campervan 1 to 3 years old. The dealers show their vat. Can anyone, (Lenny HB), see a problem?? Will the German dealer take off or, subsequently, refund the vat?
3 years ago I imported 3 RHD Possl campervans when I had a vat registered company - no problems. Now I am not sure! I deregistered from vat but can easily register again. However, I would rather not, as this will not necessarily be a company campervan. We want a LHD campervan to travel around Europe and as I have an Irish passport the 90 day rule will not apply.

Hi, I expect to sell my 2020 UK reg Hymer Exsis-i 504 automatic LHD with hyd levellers and a 40 l underslung gas tank, sometime later next year. Do not really wish to give my contact details here, if any interest please advise.

 

[Gerry77]

All imports are now subject to 20% VAT.

Under the old rules you could import vat free if more than 6 months old and more than 6000 km but that no longer applies.

Those were the days, I imported two back in the 90’s and used the Germany temprary plates/insurance cost was from memory £30!

 

[funflair]

You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew the dealer, when I went to view it he seemed to have forgot to tell me that even thought they have charged for the drivers safety pack half of it was missing!!
Once I said to him that it was missing he assured me that it would be fitted when I collected it no surprise a week or 2 later when I flew over to drive it back it wasn’t done his answer was to get it fitted in the UK, so drive over 500 miles plus all the messing about
Anyways after I taught them and Morelo some new English words it was fitted when they took it back to Germany to fix the leak

I think yours was a cancelled UK order so may well have been set up with UK specific lights Mark.

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[Otter Spotter]

Hi, I expect to sell my 2020 UK reg Hymer Exsis-i 504 automatic LHD with hyd levellers and a 40 l underslung gas tank, sometime later next year. Do not really wish to give my contact details here, if any interest please advise.

When you are ready to sell put your ad in the classifieds

 

[PlymBob]

I purchased a new Possl Summit Prime 540, LHD, in Germany in July this year. I had to pay German VAT and can claim back when UK VAT paid, and vehicle UK registered. The dealer arranged German export plates and 3rd party insurance to drive it back, but I also arranged UK comprehensive insurance against the VIN no.

That was the easy bit. I'll return with the rest of the story in a couple of hours or so. But it isn't a happy story.

 

[Lenny HB]

You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew the dealer, when I went to view it he seemed to have forgot to tell me that even thought they have charged for the drivers safety pack half of it was missing!!
Once I said to him that it was missing he assured me that it would be fitted when I collected it no surprise a week or 2 later when I flew over to drive it back it wasn’t done his answer was to get it fitted in the UK, so drive over 500 miles plus all the messing about
Anyways after I taught them and Morelo some new English words it was fitted when they took it back to Germany to fix the leak

Sounds like your German dealer trained in the UK.

 

[kimndon]

Looking forward to your experiences plymBob. When I imported it was relatively simple once I got my head around the UK paperwork. Our German dealer - Dumbo - were excellent.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I think yours was a cancelled UK order so may well have been set up with UK specific lights Mark.

Not sure Martin as Binder seem to order vans with the same spec as mine, not had anyone driving towards me swerving off the road so they must be ok

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

I purchased a new Possl Summit Prime 540, LHD, in Germany in July this year. I had to pay German VAT and can claim back when UK VAT paid, and vehicle UK registered. The dealer arranged German export plates and 3rd party insurance to drive it back, but I also arranged UK comprehensive insurance against the VIN no.

That was the easy bit. I'll return with the rest of the story in a couple of hours or so. But it isn't a happy story.

Exactly the same as what I did