Getting an import registered and onto British plates?

[K Simmonds]

I've just purchased a Corrado that's on Dutch plates. The previous (British) owners lived out there for several years before moving back to this country a couple of years ago.

Just recently they bought the car back to the UK and I have purchased it.

The Corrado is an official Dutch car, Two owners on 100.000KM's and is a little special being a completely original G60.

Anyway, I need to get the car onto UK plates and then in my name ASAP.

Any advice from anyone who has imported a car from Europe????????

I'm pretty sure the first thing I need to do is get the the car MOT'd then I can apply for a UK V5 with age related plates. Is this correct??

[Sleeper_Avant]

have a spy in DVLA website mate, although customs will be after their share of the purchase im sure

[Sleeper_Avant]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_4022583

[K Simmonds]

Don't think import tax is an issue.

[LunarWolf]

Hello, Mate.
All the info you need should be found HERE, or thereabouts.
Better still.... find your local DVLA office and pay them a visit. SO MUCH more helpful face to face than on the phone!

I hope that helps.
Mitch.

[K Simmonds]

Looks pretty straight forward all I need to do is insure it off the VIN and MOT it then I can apply for a UK reg doc and tax.

Hope I can pay the insurance monthly.

[LunarWolf]

I could be wrong, so check if you can....

A friend of a friend did the same thing. insured his car for over the odds, with original plates, and changed the plates to a uk set by the next time his renewal came... He informed the same insurance company, who quoted nearly 70% less, for exactly the same cover, because he had a "british spec" vehicle, So didn't have to declare it was an import! Go figure!
Perhaps insure it for the month or two whilst you organise the UK plates etc, then reinsure it as a new vehicle with UK spec!

As i said... please don't take my word for it. But it <i>IS</i> food for thought!
Mitch

[andy10v]

See if you can temp insure it on your current policy.

[K Simmonds]

Not a bad idea Andy, however my current insurance is a limited mileage classic policy on my MK II 16V, only costs 160 a year!!! I'll contact the provider and see what they can do.

Fortunately I have Two set of no claims bonus, I'm using a six year set on the Golf and I have a Four year set I was going to use on my T4 briefly before I sell it on. Think I'll use that on the Corrado and get it on to UK spec plates pronto.

[re2500]

The corrado sounds nice mate, good luck with this!

[K Simmonds]

Thanks mate

It's got the makings of a really outstanding example, I wouldn't be going through this hassle otherwise. I'm trying to start my own business at the moment so this is the last thing I need. However the car is far too good to break and for 500 quid I couldn't turn it down.

[K Simmonds]

Passed, first time.

Advise on rear tyres and rear brake pads.

Do they not salt the roads in Holland?

Due to the V6 Coupe currently being cut up and totally immoveable and over my pit today was the first chance I'd gotten to have a proper look underneath. It's like new, all the brake flexis look original and are fine, quite astonishing considering she's over 20 years old, the tester commented that it looked in better shape than most UK cars presented for their first MOT at Four years old.

Going to have to fit some side repeaters, he didn't notice till he'd passed it, think he was so surprised by the rest of the car that it passed his attention. I set the headlights up on my garage wall, he joking said "that's one bloody accurate garage wall you've got" both of the replacement RHD unit's I'd fitted were set up spot.

Result.

Suppose you lot are going to want to see some pic's soon then?

[andy10v]

Passed, first time.

Nice to get a little appreciation of your time fitting the headlights properly.

Suppose you lot are going to want to see some pic's soon then?

[K Simmonds]

Yeah, I was chuffed when the tester flipped up the headlight alignment tool up and just chuckled to himself. Obviously he knew the score with the car as I had told him what I done and he was MOT'ing it from it's VIN, no No plates.


Pic's to follow on Sunday.

This weekend I'm having too myself. No customers booked, just a few parts to package.

Though I may have to look at a Porsche Cayenne on Sunday for my very first S2 Forum referenced customer. Inspected his car yesterday and fixed a previous bodge or two, as well as as changing a brake light bulb, you may laugh but it took some guts to get the rear light unit to release from the car without it smashing. Lot's of screw drivers wrapped in insulation tape did the trick. Think I may have to do a PS pump or related seal on it at some point. though

He'd added some "fix all s51t" to the PAS system and the leak had gone, so I couldn't see it, managed to trace it back to the pump, it had been dripping out the N/S/F wheel arch, tracking along an air-con pipe.

Anyway, apart from maybe looking at that I'm going to spend the weekend cutting and polishing the Corrado. Did the front end today whist it was getting dark. Results are

Oh yeah, as this is the S2forum I shall try and muster an update to my project thread. Much has happened. Much has been purchased. Much has been fabricated, Much has been fitted. But still I have hours and hours of final assembly to go

Wish I wasn't a fussy ****!!

[K Simmonds]

Photo's!

Here we go some Photos,

Yesterday morning the car could be best described as pink, I really should have taken some photos of her before I did anything but couldn't find my camera.

I gave it a thorough hand wash with 50/50 TFR and VERY hot water. Then gave the front end a medium cut with G3 followed by a quick polish with Auto Glym. I gave the rest of the car a very mild cut and polish with the residue on my rags. Mainly as I was running out of light but also so I can now see which area's need the most attention.





The paint now looks like this on the front, please excuse the photo, I've got a bit of a hang over and my camera is having a bad day, that's not a scratch but a reflection. The oddness around the shut line is down to my camera. I'm going to give it another very mild cut with G3 as it still feels a little rough in places. Very pleased with the initial results.



Here's a shot of my S2. Partly to prove it still exists and also so you can see the front end now I've trial fitted all the of panels, lights, bumper etc. Got a few tweaks to make here and there and I'm going to have trim a bit of the back of the bumper to get it to clear the Inter-cooler properly, hence the poor fit in the photos. Not bad considering the parts are from five different cars.



And finally a shot of the other side of my S2 as well as my drive. I'd have been a flash git back in 1990