I have brought in a few cars over the last 15 years, mostly without any problem. Has anyone done it post brexit? Are there dificulties or extra costs to be considered?
My car was transported over last week. Have yet to go to impots so will let you know when I do. Transporter had confusing advice regarding what to do but in the end I think it was quite easy. Presumably if you drive it over yourself it would be less of a problem.
I have just done it with registration documents issued on Friday.
I had previously done it pre-Brexit also.
I am going to write a new post about it as there are lessons to learn - it was expensive and took a long time.
See: The fun of importing UK 2nd Hand Car to France post Brexit
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check with @anon90504988 (tried and trusted) if you have any problems… (or before, just for some advice)
My import was kinda pre-and post Brexit in one go. I arrived in the car on Nov 2nd 2020 but didn’t hand the job of registration to @anon90504988 till after 01/01/2021. The MoT had been done in Oct 2020 and despite Brexit being supposedly the end of the UK MoT ‘allowance’ for a 6 month validity/no need for CT, I was not required to have a CT to get the C.G.
Mark’s services were one of the best £40 [sic] I have spent in France.
as I am just about to buy a used car I was mostly concerned about the duty and / or VAT payable.
I am having a hard time working out how to start a topic and have no idea if I am replying to an individual with this or adding to a pre existing topic. Perhaps someone will guide me through the process. Meanwhile, I have a 1982 Mercedes which I have owned for some years. It is currently in Poland where it is to be restored. I have been informed that it’s registration has been attributed to another vehicle by the Jersey authorities so it is no longer registered anywhere. This isn’t an issue until I collect it. I cannot register it in Poland: an EU country, because they have stopped registering foreign RHD vehicles. Presumably, registering it in the UK - while it is in Poland - and then later bringing it to and registering it in France will incur substantial cost or perhaps not in view of the time that I have owned it and because it’s a ‘Classic Car?’ It was registered in Jersey as I have said and I have the paperwork to substantiate this. Does anyone know what I would have to pay to register it in France given the above and with it coming directly from an EU country. Any advice would be gratefully received particularly as it cannot be driven from Poland until it is registered somewhere.
I suspect that it would be treated as coming from Jersey if that was the last place it was registered so would be liable for VAT and duty, though I think the duty rate is lower as it’s old enough to be a véhicule de collection which, helpfully, also makes it easier to register in France.
Thank you John. Having read the ANTS page on the subject it would appear that if I had a bill of sale from my friend in Poland and which indicates that he had title and hence authority to sell then that might be sufficient, Poland being an EU country. I will have to research this angle along with your proposition that evidence of last registration must be produced in any event.
Having title to sell the car relates to the present. You must go back to where the car was first registered, and then trace its history from there. Where was the car first registered? If it was first registered in Jersey and they have re-allocated the number, implies that the car has been exported from Jersey. So, where to? You must follow the trail to find where it was last registered.
If you bring a car into France that does not have a registration, then it is subject to a [full and expensive] DREAL examination. This on top of duty and TVA that may apply depending on how the Douane regard things.
the age might help though. Try asking the FFVE what they think? The FFVE are able to issue papers on cars that ANTS will accept.
Hopefully being restored in compliance with FFVE guidelines, if you want to register it as a Vehicule de Collection… 
Hi Stella. It’s with my Polish engineer of 16 years. Restoration implies being brought back to original as best one can so it will not be an issue. Nothing changed except the usual and the driver’s seat springs.
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Adam,
Again, Thank you. I will search. I seem to remember that it was bought new in Germany and shipped to Jersey then someone drove it the UK. I bought it from a spiv with it’s Jersey plates so he didn’t register it in the UK and probably didn’t ‘Import’ it but merely drove it in (off a ferry) . Mmm … this could be awkward.
If the car was bought in Germany as new, it would have a German registration - even if it was a TVA free export number.
However be careful. If as you say, it was bought new in Germany, check if it was bought TVA free or if the TVA was claimed back. In 1982, there was zero VAT in Jersey, and if someone drove it to the UK without importation, it could well be that VAT was never paid that might be picked up in ANTS who could demand the full TVA that the car would have attracted at the time…
Good point, Though it wouldn’t be ANTS, it’d be the Impots before they issued a quittance fiscale. I think I’d have a word with them before pitching up with the car.
I’ve always found them very helpful. On one occasion the they even told me to go away until the car was six months old so that I’d avoid having to pay TVA and then reclaim the VAT from the UK.