You could pay the seller in two halves, so half is for the price of the bus and half is just... some pocket money? Obviously that's not what I did though Mr Taxman. Honest.
Mine was USD 5,000, which at the time was £3,122. Local delivery to the docks = £190. Shipping = £1,375. Duty = £50. VAT = £156. Clearance (I assume paperwork, UK port handling etc.) = £365. Delivery to door £150. Slightly less than I remember, but a total of £2,290 added on to the basic purchase price. Given the shipping costs and the low rate of VAT, in hindsight it would have made more sense to spend more on a better van that needed less paint prep time than mine did, or even one that was usable straight away. Maybe one of the US residents can tell us what a really good original and basically rust free van would cost now.
As we're thinking of importing it's an interesting thread, for those that have done it before would you recommend it? I posted a thread here http://thelatebay.com/index.php?topic=18205.0 Is it worth paying the importing costs to get a sound base vehicle? and having the worry of buying unseen?
From what I've read it certainly seems worth it. Personally I wouldnt go this way as a) I'd want RHD if I had the choice and b) I'd be paranoid about sending someone I didint know the thick end of £10k.
I full agree, we thought long and hard about LHD and decided it had to be right handed. There's always Australia and South Africa for right hand drive vehicles and that's where we've been looking. Parting with a big chunk of cash is always going to be the hard bit , buying from half way round the world makes it all the harder. So hence the question, is it worth it ?
Hi there, Just to reinforce what others have said earlier in the thread, I just got quoted £1350 from Kingstown to import a Beetle from LA to Chatham, so I'd give them a call Josh
