Importing a LHD Series 2 XM. Expensive?

[Betweenthewheels]

I have started the process of importing my Series 2 LHD 2.0 Petrol XM.

By starting, what I really mean is I have asked here elsewhere about RHD headlights and was advised to change the internal mechanism (if the headlamps allow) rather than change the units. I'm ok with that. Another member PM'd me about a set and we will discuss when I hear back from him.

However, does anyone here have any experience of importing a LHD car into the UK?

I know I need to inform DVLA and see if they're VAT outstanding - doubtful - I've owned the vehicle for years in France and it is a 1998 car of (to others) a low value.

I see from the DVLA website that I also need to change the speedometer to M/PH from K/PH - is this a big job? A sticker won't do apparently.
Do I have to replace the whole unit? I don't know.

Because it's a LHD, I need to apply for "An Application for Commission Notice/ Mutual Recognition" - £100 to the DVLA
and a "Certificate of Conformity" from Citroen for €220 (!) (https://www.citroen.co.uk/maintain/requ ... rmity.html)

I'll have to then MOT it, then insure (higher premium because it's LHD) it here (and not be able to drive it until the UK plate arrives) and tax it here (no road tax in France).

All in all quite an expensive process. If I still had my place in France I could try to sell it there but really I love it too much to part with it.

Am I crazy?

Answers on a postcard please or alternatively hit Reply

Ultan (an Irishman living in the UK with a French car. No UN approval:-) )

[Betweenthewheels]

An Addition: I see on looking through the small print of the Guidance Notes of the Mutual Recognition document the following:

"Age of vehicle: If your vehicle is over 10 years of age, based on the date of first registration, it is exempt from this VCA procedure. Please contact DVLA to discuss vehicle registration and do not apply to VCA."

[citroenxm]

Mtxm aka Mathew Thomas imported a lhd car from Poland.. However he has now been absent from here after being a very regular poster for some time for reasons we don't know why..

[Dieselman]

The rules have changed in the last few years, but for a car over 10 years old no physical check is required, other than an Mot test.
The car will need a speedometer in Mph and Rhd headlamps.
Changing the speedometer is easy, unscrew the facia panel, then the instruments cluster, disconnect the wiring connectors.
All imperial electronic, S2, speedometers are the same, so just obtain one, set the odometer to the correct mileage, swap it over.

If your Lhd car I's in exceptional rust free condition, or has Diravi, it's worth doing, otherwise sell it.

[Betweenthewheels]

Thank s for that folks. Rang HM Revenue and Customs today to see about sending the "Application for release on payment of Customs Duty" document. The lady I spoke to says in addition to everything else, I also need to get an assessment done of the vehicle and that VAT is liable at 20% of the valuation!!!
I told her the car was 1998 and she said no matter.

Last night paid the 220€ Certificate of Conformity fee so am now committed somewhat into the process.....

[White Exec]

The vehicle is already owned by yourself, and has not been (recently) purchased, so no VAT is due or payable, as there was no purchase.

I can understand that an "engineer inspection" could be necessary, to vertify that the car is EU (EU!) type approved, and is not modified. I don't think inspecting engineers get much involved with valuation, as that has no material bearing on re-registration of an old car. Fees for importation/re-registration might be on a sliding scale, decreasing with age.

HMRC have a much-respected and plain-English website, which details every hair on the camel's back, and is also the bible for UK tax. You could go there for authoritative info. Would expect that DVLA have web pages too.

[Betweenthewheels]

Thanks Chris - that's exactly what I thought.
I said that the car was mine - she said did i buy it in the UK before living in France - I said no - I bought it there. So she said you must pay 20% of the UK valuation in VAT for it to enter this country. Daft...

The Govt website is clear but there is nothing about a valuation. they do say that you must inform Customs for them to assess if VAT is payable or not.

As for it being EU approved - I don't think it is necessary for an engineer to assess this - surely that's what the Certificate of Conformity is for, no?

[White Exec]

You're likely right about an engineer inspection, unless the insurance company wants to do one, which is unlikely on an old car of low value. CoC should satisfy DVLA so far as vehicle type/details are concerned.

The slam-panel aluminium plate on XM usually carries an EU conformity number, although the number of digits in this increased by one iirc between 1996 and 1998. How do I know?.....a Spanish testing station refused to accept our XM for initial re-registation/test because "it is one digit short". Another test station weren't at all fazed, and were delighted to see one of the cars there in 2004.

Citroen should be able to produce the document for you quickly.

[DerekB]

I imported a LHD XM before brexit.
I don't think you needed to have paid for a certificate of conformity for a car over 10 years old.
I didn't have to worry about VAT when importing a car from the EU pre-brexit, but looking at the UK government on line guidance, it seems clear that if your circumstance is you are transferring your residence from overseas to UK then you can bring your possessions with you including your car without paying VAT on import.