hi guys. i need some help in importing a car from usa to ireland.i have a 66 coupe and i want to buy alate 60s fastback and the only descent ones i see are inthe states.honestly i dont know where to start. there is not much problem in the actual transport of the car but its all the paperwork required. can anyone help me with this, even if i got the car to the uk it would be no problem from there.

 

I can only speak for California (the USofA has 50 sets of different state laws to contend with), I sell you the car, you are responsible for the rest. There is a document available from California Department of Motor Vehicles that is an Export document. I assume the rest of the states have similar types. That's the starting point.
Jim

 

You are going to have to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state the vehicle is located. Ask them what it takes to export the car. Good luck with it.

 

then find a company that will ship it then you buy a import tax and geting it legal over there might be fun. talk to the dmv where you are ask about importing a car and what has to be done to make it road legal

 

I would send a private message toKalli, he is a member of the forum, I know he has imported a 64 Mustang to Ireland. (He resides in Ireland). I know that he will help you with the process. He is a very nice and helpfull individual. Look in the members list for him and send him a PM.

 

Hi Gumballer,

JMD is bang on with that ;-) So if you have any other questions apart from below. Just drop me a PM and I'll help you out with anything you might need.

I imported a 641/2 mustang from the states (California) to Ireland.
It's actually straight forward:

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usually you're responsible for shipping/collecting.
the seller MIGHT help you out with bringing the car to harbour or at pickup point from shipping company. But that has to be agreed with the seller beforehand.
So for this it might be an advantage to but from someone who lives near shipping company or near harbour.

when you organise an international shipping company, they'll do a quickcheck if the car is shippable (handbrakes etc and some small inventory to make sure no shipping damage). they usually sort out all the forms and send them to your address in Ireland. ( I used DAS -- dependable auto shippers ... google for them)
They'll tell you exactly what paperwork you'll need of the seller, or what they'll need to bring with the car. (as living here we don't have a clue about US paperwork).
When the car arrives in Ireland you have to go to revenue comissioners. Pay duty and VAT and VRT. When paid they'll give you a release slip so you can collect the car at harbour.
make sure to phone them beforehand. I waas well prepared and it took me only 1 single day to sort everything out and collect the car).

cost of importing car to ireland
Car +
Shipping +
Duty (10%) +
VAT (21%) +
VRT (Vehicle Road Tax which is always 50euro on classic cars).
(be aware: you pay duty and tax on car+SHIPPING! .... and ..... VAT is on car+shipping+duty!)

example:
car 12.000$
shipping 1.500$

estimated value of car is 12.000+1.500 in Ireland=13.500$
duty for this is:
1.350$

VAT for this is (value+duty)*0.21=14.850*0.21=3.118,50$

So a car worth 12.000$ with shipping 1.500$ will sum up to:
13.500$+1.350$+3.118,50$=17968.5$
which is 33.1% more than car+shipping

So the quick and dirty way to calculate is to add 33.1%


Let's say you like a car for 18.500$ with 2.000$ shipping, you'll end up paying 20.500*1.331=27285.5$ !!!

in euros just add calculate the going rate: 20.450 Euros with the 50Euro from VRT added.

Rule of thumb: the cars price in dollars is what you'll end up paying in euros .... but to be exact see how it's calculated above ...

Kalli

 

Three additional things to consider:
-Have the seller install a battery disconnect switch (about $10) and have several notices posted on the car about the switch and its operation;
-Have the seller deliver the car to the shipping company with about 5 gallons (1/4 tank) of gas. One shipper out of Oakland, CA, required the tank to be drained for overseas shipping.
- If shipping from the West Coast of the US, shipping costs from the L. A. or San Francisco areas ($800 - $1200)across the US by truckto a port on the East Coast are the same as shipping direct to Europe ($850 - $1400). Once you get to the East Coast, you pay for additional shipping ($800 - $1200).
Jim

 

all 3 points very valid
- my battery was flat as a pancake when car arrived. was no bother though as at the harbour they had a mobile jumpstarter they borrowed (and believe me they do anything to help you to hear this thing starting up)
- DAS required the same max 1/4 full of tank (which made my seller happy as this was reason enough to go for another spin)
- I never considered bringing to erast coast and then ship as from westcoast they go through panama canal and it'll end up on the same ship anyway ...

in any case the shipper will tell you exactly what they need ....
.... ahhh and forget about spare parts in the trunk or similar.... they throw everything out at harbour what is not bolted onto the car or plainly refuse to ship it

another thing: delivery times are usually 6weeks+ from west coast to europe.
but once it's on the ship they give you tracking details for the ship.
for me they delivered straight to Cork (over Belgium), I'm positive that Dublin port is not a problem either

 

thanks alot lads i feel well informed now it seems easy enough. now i gonnafind a car worthy of this trouble, and kalli im planning on goin to an american car show in kilbeggan in westmeath in august would love to meet up for a chat, thanks all.

 

Hi gumballer. I'll definetly be in Kilbeggan. best american car show in Ireland during the year. Show's actually 2nd of September or so.
Definetly have a chat there. I'm driving up with our car club (American Car Club) -- http://www.southcoasters.ie
Should be about 5 Mustangs alone from our club, which in Irish terms is A LOT ;-)

Kalli