When buying a new car, as a resident of the UK, importing may be the cheapest option. All European Union countries pay the VAT & taxes of the country a car is being imported to, rather than the country it is being imported from. Car manufacturers, aware of an individual country’s prevailing tax rates, often sell cars at cheaper prices to countries where tax rates are high, so making vehicle purchase more affordable. Cars imported to the UK from such countries, for example the Netherlands, invariably cost considerably less than their domestic counterparts.
The most cost-effective option is to ‘go it alone’, seeking out suitable cars for sale by searching online for dealerships in your country of choice and contacting them directly. However, such independent importing is often quite involved. Finding a dealer who is willing to supply a UK-specification vehicle is the most problematic issue. You will also be responsible for the costs involved in transporting the vehicle to your home and all the paperwork surrounding the purchase.
Contacting your chosen manufacturer’s UK headquarters to enquire if they will assist with your importation is another option, but most will insist on your buying direct from car dealers in the UK.
Anyone looking for a more straightforward experience, whilst still saving a substantial sum, could import via one of the UK’s many reputable car-importing dealers. Such companies take all the hassle out of car importing, but their charges will inevitably leave you with a reduced profit margin.
The total amount you save will also depend on your chosen car model, the country from which you import your vehicle and prevailing exchange rates.
Whichever method you choose to adopt, it is fair to say that importing a car to the UK from an EU country provides financial savings, which more than adequately reward the effort involved.
