Buying a car in Germany and bringing it to the UK?

Question

My boyfriend is interested in buying a car in Germany as he is about to be based there with the army.
The cars are a hell of a lot cheaper there. We understand that they are left hand drive but thats fine and are looking at buying one a couple of years old.
Does anyone know what fees/taxes are involved in bringing a German car to the UK??
Pros/Cons will be most useful.
Thank you

Answer 1

I have a friend that brings new cars from Germany to uk about every six months. He has to pay uk vat but can reclaim German vat. I dont know how it works on used cars and import duty. It might be better to take a RHD car over to Germany and bring it back when he returns.
Surley there is someone in his Regiment that can advise on this ?

Good Luck. XX.

Answer 2

Loads of forces personnel do this, and mostly (unless you are given an obscure posting in some far flung village, which I doubt) there is plenty of advice available. You will probably find local Garages willing to source new Right Hand Drive.(R.H.D.) vehicles for you, and if it's a garage dealing a lot with forces personnel you may find they also sell 2nd hand R.H.D. vehicles too.
Bringing a vehicle back to the U.K. involves nothing more than driving through 'nothing to declare' then re-registering it here in U.K. (As long as vehicle is more than 6 months old ----'Nothing to pay')
Happy motoring!

Answer 3

Cons
It will be worth less in the UK because it's LHD
You'll have to get it registered in the UK

Pro's
None