Importing your RV inti the UK and paying Duty & VAT

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JohnSandyWhite

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Joined
Oct 9, 2005
Posts
209
Location
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:) Here we go:-

Importing an RV from the USA into the UK.

First you must choose a shipping company or you could use an agent instead.

Shipping Companies:-

http://www.tgal.us/

http://www.ablecargo.com/Automobile_Shippi...Coast_Rates.htm

http://www.ablecargo.com/Automobile_Shippi...Coast_Rates.htm

Shipping Agents:-

http://www.brunswickinternational.co.uk/ (have used and recommend these)

http://www.rst-international.co.uk/main.html (have used these prior to the above)

Wainwright Bros & Co
Bowling Green House 1 Orchard Place
Southampton Hampshire SO14 3PX
Tel: (02380 223671)

Insurance to cover the RV during the shipping will cost around 1.5% of the Value. Shipping costs will be between $110 and $150 per foot. The calculation is actually the Volume of the RV ie: Height x Length x Width = per Cubic foot or metre.

An agent acting on your behalf to deal with Customs and gain clearance costs between ?40 (Brunswick) and as much as they can charge (others not named).
If you wish to do the clearance yourself?
You will need this form http://www.import-car.info/c104a.pdf

Customs Duty and VAT calculations are :-

10% Customs Duty on the RV?s Value (or purchase price) + Shipping charges.

17.5% VAT on the RV?s Value + Shipping charges + Duty.

Once you have had the RV cleared from Customs, a Collection/Delivery note will be sent to you to allow you to pick up your RV from the Docks. You will receive the C&E 386 form (Customs clearance) usually by post within 3 to 5 days.

Legally, you are allowed one trip in the RV to either your home address, or a company to carry out the conversions necessary for UK use on the road. Providing of course that the RV is insured in the UK. Insurance companies will quite happily insure an RV for up to 2 weeks for this purpose based on the VIN number.

Once the RV has been converted to UK road use, it must either have an SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) if less than 10 years old or a class IV (4) MOT if older than 10years old.
Having said that. A friend from Liverpool who imported a brand new RV went to the SVA and they said Motorhomes were exempt. Told him he better make sure.

To register the RV in the UK you will require the following:-
The Original Title Document
The Original Bill of Sale for the RV
The C&E 386
Form V55/4 (new) or V55/5 (used), from DVLA.
The MOT or SVA Certificate
Insurance Document
The correct fee for Licence for 6/12 months
The Registration fee of ?38 (currently)
Documents proving and confirming your name and address:-
Documentation confirming your Name ? Current DVLA paper driving licence, ? UK/EU or foreign passport,? Marriage certificate,? Decree nisi/absolute, ? Birth certificate. Documentation confirming your Address? Utility Bill valid within the last 3 months - gas, electricity, water, landline telephone, ? Bank/Building Society statement valid within the last 3 months, ? Medical Card, ? Council tax bill for current year.

All the information necessary to import and register a Vehicle in the UK can be found here :- http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/exptimpt.htm


Customs -
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/

HM Revenue & Customs
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_Home
 
Thanks for posting that information John. I'll get it added to our library so we can refer others to it in the future.
 
John's informative article is now in the forum library:

Click the Library button above, select Visitors to the USA, then click Importing RV from the USA into the UK.

Thanks again John.
 
John

You are my hero - you have probably just saved me many days of web searching (both online and the hundreds of weblinks I have stored 'somewhere') - THANKS

Although we have a good 12 months before we import, Im trying to decide exactly what to do about conversions, any suggestions/recommendations?

Some say to convert everything to 240 and others only convert for TV etc and leave US appliances/sockets in place.

Thanks
Paul
 
UK-RV said:
Im trying to decide exactly what to do about conversions, any suggestions/recommendations?

Some say to convert everything to 240 and others only convert for TV etc and leave US appliances/sockets in place.

:) Always happy to help in anyway I can. We do all our own conversions to MOT standard. When I first imported one from the USA I was quoted between ?250 and ?500 to convert the lighting to UK spec, and between ?1500 and ?3000 for the conversion from 110/125 to 220/250. I have found that by using an Invertor, our need for a conversion is not necessary. I suggested to others who asked the question to biuy all the appliances in the USA to work on 110/125. If necessary a Transformer can be fitted to allow shore power to step-down from the 220/250 to the 110/125. Cost of the Transformer? Between ?50 and ?800 depedning on what you buy and from where. You can also buy step-up/ step-down transformers[/url] while you are in the USA:-

Photo 1
Photo 2
 
Although such a transformer will convert the voltage, any devices that use synchronous motors or clocks (most digital clocks on appliances are synchronized to the power line) will run slow since the transformer can't convert the 50Hz to 60Hz.
 
Another possible solution would be a motor/generator set. They can provide both voltage AND frequency conversion, line isolation and surge protection at the same time. Drawbacks would include additional weight, cost, space, and short delay when initially starting it up, but you have delay when using a genset too, and you would probably be running this for hours; even days or weeks at a time when you're hooked up to shore power. Could also be run by the output of your genset when boondocking. Don't have any specifics on efficiencies, but you could contact the mfg's for details. One would be TEMco at: http://www.hzfrequencyconverter.com/
 
Some electronics are now made to work on either 50 or 60 Hz, so they can be sold anywhere on the worldwide market. Check the rating plate to see if it says 120/240V and 50/60 Hz. Sometimes there is a switch for 120 vs 240 operation.

Most of the interior lighting will be 12V anyway, so doesn't need conversion.  I think we have only one light in out rig that requires 120 VAC - everyting else is 12V.  Can just change the bulbs in a 120 VAC incandescent light , but if you have a 120 VAC flourescent it would need conversion. 

What may need converting is the inverter or converter that  supplies the 12V power and recharges batteries, but check the units rating plate first to see if it is already compatible with 120/240V and 50/60 Hz.

Using an external transformer is the easy way, since you don't have to check individual appliances and circuits.
 
:eek: Excuse me chaps, fellas, guys, boys. Please don't make it sound too complicated for our European brethren. It's not really that difficult. Most of our UK people know about the 50/60hz problem. We know our clocks run slower (means we can stay in bed longer), our Microwaves run slower (means we can have an extra glass of Vino Tinto).? ;D ;D ;D

??? In case anyone mentions about NTSC and PAL? That can be easily covered too. I'm beginning to wish I hadn't made the original post. Soap box away. Happy RV'ing.? :D :D :D

Just to put things into persepective. I do not think anyone is going to trash 1000's of Dollars worth of appliances and replace them with UK appliances just to make sure the appliance clocks work correctly. Just a thought.? :)

No one is going to spend another $20,000 to make everything perfect. In My Very Honest And Humble Opinion (IMVH&HO). ;D
 
John,

The fact that you and numerous others have done it is testament to the fact that it's not that difficult and I thank you for posting the information for folks like Paul and others who will follow.

I do get a chuckle out of some of the complex/expensive solutions that get proposed, many of which hadn't been invented when we used to run U.S.-built 110V stuff in the UK 30+ years ago. Some folks used to be transferred in both directions with their jobs and would take some of their prized possessions with them. The "toughest" part for some was finding a different sized drive wheel for their audio turntable so the songs played at the right speed. But, once a source was found, that became another "no big deal".

Edit: Oops, fixed a couple of typos.
Edit: Fixed broken tag.
 
These posts/threads are also relevant:
http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftopicp-107123.html#107123

http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftopicp-108619.html#108619

Formally, an SVA test is not required, though sometimes expedient. In practice it is not required for a US RV once the lighting etc. has been converted.

Dave
 
Hi Paul jut to add my bit in ,we have been useing all the 110v appliances since we have been back in the UK  with no problems even on 50Hz the 28inch front TV runs on a small 110 to 240v transformer and monday night when the site had a power failure we still had the inverter to fall back on everthing being 110v
Ian

just to add Cornwall is now sunny and starting to warm up (still want to be in the states though)
 

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