Importing Car from UK to USA

I have imported several vehicles into the US from both Canada and Europe. Go to this website to find answers for all of your questions, https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car.

There are a few exceptions for tax, unless you are in the military or are employed by the Govt, not sure that you will be able to get around paying tax.

I haven’t used CARS, I have always used Schumacher. However, they should be able to walk you through the process.

Be patient, as it’s a very slow process. The car will be on the water for a couple of weeks with all of the stops along the way and the inspection process.

good luck!

 

You might want to re-ask these in 'Vintage' or 'General' as the past experience of others is more likely to be available for higher value cars than 308 - pretty sure CARS do similar work for manufacturers and auction houses

 

Was Stradman the prior owner?

 

I would recommend having pictures made of the car's condition prior to being transported ( all body parts and interior). Damage is possible and probable. Prior to shipping, have the tool kit, jack and manuals FedExed by the seller to your home address! Have the seller install fully charged new battery, because the car will have to be started when loaded and unloaded by car handlers who have have no idea how to start an antique Ferrari.

 

Also I would recommend a operational note, with an orange flag, on the bonnet support rod. The GT4 support rod looks alot like hydraulic support rods found on newer cars. If someone assumes this, they will damage your hood and the support rod. Even when using a high end shipper, the handlers are going to be same port crew that load and unload from the container from the container . I shipped a car earlier this year and my bonnet was damaged in transit. The car was also delayed because handlers were unable to start the car at the port in Germany and at the port in the US. The battery was the issue.

 

I imported a car from UK last year. There is no means to avoid the import tax. One thing to be careful of on paperwork is that model year matches on all docs. EU registration is often by first year of registration (so a car made and registered in 1995 may be a 1996 Model Year). There is no issues with RHD btw, I imported a defender and customs didn't care in the least.

 

I imported my 308 Group 4 car from the UK last year. I paid all the taxes and all import duties and there isn’t a way around it. I don’t think you want to cut any corners with any of this or any of the paperwork.

 

Is that before or after importation. How long of a process did it take to receive the car?

 

For reference, I flew mine over and it was at my door in Colorado about 4 days after it left the dealer in the Cotswolds (William i’anson Ltd). It was also flown into Houston but I know Atlanta is also a very common airport for that stuff.

 

That’s totally fair. It wasn’t cheap. I just felt it was worth the price for the reduced risk (and the value/rarity of the car).

I’m not sure I would always go with that option but I just wanted to make a point of reference to the question of “how long does it take to get it here.”

 

Congrats! Tracking the journey is fun. Last year, I found a restored 308GT4 in Germany, and had it shipped between the ports of Bremerhaven and Charleston SC. There are long periods where information is spotty or nonexistent, and you just have to trust the process.

 

Assume yours is here by now…? I brought mine over pretty painlessly from the UK a few years ago. Only advice is get the annual customs bond for $500 instead of the single bond that is based off of your item value. Should save you a grand or so.

RHD no issues at all.
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Great. I guess of the 150 ish RHD plastic cars made there will now be two residing state side.