Man ok. That sounds like a bit of an undertaking. A few questions if you don’t mind:
-what tax implication are we talking?
-is there a risk the government will not let it in?
-how did you execute the actual import into the country?
-how did you find the vehicle? And once found, how did you evaluate it for quality?
-any chance i could enlist your support for the right offer?
-if i were just just change my approach for a RHD uk truck that meet US import standards (in the chance I move back, unknown). Any idea the best way to track one down?
-thoughts on where to Restore?
Sorry to be a pain, super keen to figure this out as it has been my dream forever now!
1) VAT might be payable on some vehicles, and import duty payable on all, not sure of costs as I plan never to do that again as it meant I was 6+ months without my vehicle as it was in limbo having sent the Dutch plates back and not yet registered in the UK.
2) Very lenient here, as long as there is an EU COC (Certificate Of Conformity) at first registration, you'll need a 100% standard vehicle for state side import so that invalidates engine and gearbox modded vehicles.
3) Spent a lot of time form filling with the DVLA (UK equivalent of the DMV) and then more form filling with HMRC (UK equivalent of the IRS), then more form filling as they always have a desire for even more information, then send off the big file of invoices and receipts, then wait, then chase, then fill in some more forms and finally get some papers to get the plates.
4 & 5) I bought my vehicle when I lived in Belgium and rebuilt it there, moved to Holland and had to import it there and then import it into the UK when I moved home, my truck was a rot box with a burnt out wiring loom, most people would have walked away from it but I wanted a project and so the adventure began, all 28 EU states have completely different vehicle rules and I had to build my vehicle with this in mind as I had no idea what state I was going to move to next. (there is a link in my signature at the bottom of my posts that will take you to my blog about my truck, from the day I bought it to today's bit's and bob's that I do with it)
6) Sorry but I'm too busy with work, my own truck and helping out folks rebuilding theirs.
7) I drive LHD here in the UK and when I first moved onto the continent I had a RHD vehicle, it makes no real difference, the best thing for you would be to spend a lot more on your base vehicle that has already been rebuilt, and yes that is my honest opinion, you won't save anything by buying a "reasonable" vehicle and then spending ££££ on labour and parts making it nice, time scales and cash tell me it is a waste of both, buy a nice one that has been rebuilt already from a reputable vendor and enjoy driving it.
Dreams can turn into nightmares, I used to have a series Land Rover and bought and sold it's replacement 110 within a week as it was no more comfortable and no more capable than that old 1979 Series on decent suspension, I certainly wouldn't entertain a Defender as my daily driver these days, I appreciate comfort these days and a Discovery is far more comfortable and just as capable as a Defender.
