i'm curious to know if anyone has bought a rover off e bay from overseas. i see them on there from time to time, but i'm hesitant to bid because i dont know what i would be getting myself into. has anyone here done it? or know what might be involved. registration, i'm sure, how difficult is that? any input would be appreciated. a SIII 109 , for example.
importing E-bay rovers
- Thread starter d2dave
- Start date
I actually bought mine 109 off ebay.co.uk when I was living in England. (It was a '73)
Importing went very smooth through delivery and customs. I had a bit of trouble registering it in VA, where they wouldn't give me a title until two years later when I filled out an affidavit. (something about it not having a title to begin with, but British cars don't have a separate "title" like our vehicles do)
Anyway, when searching for a vehicle you need to remember the basic caveats for rovers and just used vehicles in general. You might find a broker or a company that will can assist you on the import process and you just meet it at the port of entry.
Importing went very smooth through delivery and customs. I had a bit of trouble registering it in VA, where they wouldn't give me a title until two years later when I filled out an affidavit. (something about it not having a title to begin with, but British cars don't have a separate "title" like our vehicles do)
Anyway, when searching for a vehicle you need to remember the basic caveats for rovers and just used vehicles in general. You might find a broker or a company that will can assist you on the import process and you just meet it at the port of entry.
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mumndadskin
Well-known member
does it have to have current MOT to be exported? This is something I'm toying with in the next 4 or 5 years when our options open up and I dont have to deal with tuition.
Lets say I flew over there, checked out whatever the Euro version of craigslist is, found a runner and bought it on site. I'm curious as to what the next steps are.
-title transfer: is it like here where you buy the car and do it when convenient, or does it have to be done before it can be exported. whats the time frame on that?
-driving license: I could probably find this faster in google, but are we allowed to drive over there with USA drivers licenses?
-MOT: why does this seem to be such a deal breaker on auto sales over there? Is it like inspection here (where most cops don't notice/care unless you are really over due)?
-lets say you have some crappy job with 2 weeks vacation, whats the time frame of having to be there in person for this kind of thing?
-US title transfer: Is it like buying a car in Arkansas and getting it titled in Texas?
Lets say I flew over there, checked out whatever the Euro version of craigslist is, found a runner and bought it on site. I'm curious as to what the next steps are.
-title transfer: is it like here where you buy the car and do it when convenient, or does it have to be done before it can be exported. whats the time frame on that?
-driving license: I could probably find this faster in google, but are we allowed to drive over there with USA drivers licenses?
-MOT: why does this seem to be such a deal breaker on auto sales over there? Is it like inspection here (where most cops don't notice/care unless you are really over due)?
-lets say you have some crappy job with 2 weeks vacation, whats the time frame of having to be there in person for this kind of thing?
-US title transfer: Is it like buying a car in Arkansas and getting it titled in Texas?
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Ive done it three times. This is what you need...
A bill of sale
An MoT
and stay in good contact with the shipper. We used Wilmhuasen something or other. The lady that you'll have to deal with her name is Amy and she can be tough. There are rules but, if you contact the customs agent...I forget his name. Portly bald fellow (make an APPOINTMENT! and dont be late)
My only warning to you is that these vehicles can be absolutely trashed. Most of the times, these vehicles are just repainted (sometimes rather poorly) and the frame should be replaced almost immediatly...
After you get it over here, contact the vehicle registration office and a plain clothes state trooper must come out and inspect the vehicle and ask you a few questions (to make sure its for personal use and safe).
Make good with all the guys at the ports and they WILL take care of you. Also, they are ALL union guys so get there early and make sure they arent on a holiday of some sort. You WILL wait almost all day for the truck to get off the boat. Most of them are transported VIA RORO (roll on roll off) so if they cant drive it off that aint happening.
Anyways, Ill try and think of some more stuff but, there is a start.
Good luck,
Matt
A bill of sale
An MoT
and stay in good contact with the shipper. We used Wilmhuasen something or other. The lady that you'll have to deal with her name is Amy and she can be tough. There are rules but, if you contact the customs agent...I forget his name. Portly bald fellow (make an APPOINTMENT! and dont be late)
My only warning to you is that these vehicles can be absolutely trashed. Most of the times, these vehicles are just repainted (sometimes rather poorly) and the frame should be replaced almost immediatly...
After you get it over here, contact the vehicle registration office and a plain clothes state trooper must come out and inspect the vehicle and ask you a few questions (to make sure its for personal use and safe).
Make good with all the guys at the ports and they WILL take care of you. Also, they are ALL union guys so get there early and make sure they arent on a holiday of some sort. You WILL wait almost all day for the truck to get off the boat. Most of them are transported VIA RORO (roll on roll off) so if they cant drive it off that aint happening.
Anyways, Ill try and think of some more stuff but, there is a start.
Good luck,
Matt
d2dave said:
I know someone who did this last year, worked out real well for him. He was very happy with the transaction. He said that it went smoothly, partly because the owner was willing to hold the truck for him till the shipping and stuff was worked out. Otherwise, there would have been some extra fee for storage.
LRflip said:
Wallenius Lines perchance? Bi-weekly sailings from Wilhelmshaven and then Liverpool to Portsmouth, VA. A local chap has done this several times and used T. Parker Host & Co. as the shipping agent/customs broker.
Not sure if the rules have changed, but you could remain a 'casual' importer if you did no more than three vehicles in a five year period. After three, you bump up into another category where there is far more scrutiny and regulation.
Selecting the right port of entry is half the battle. Things seem to go missing frequently in the New York ports. Portsmouth is just the right size - large enough to have frequent sailings and friendly customs agents (at least they used to be...), but not big enough for paperwork, etc. to get lost.
thanks everyone. this gives me something to go on. my 03 disco will be paid for in about a year, and i'm gonna make it my project and get the wife something else. but i've been toying with the idea of selling it and getting a 109. what do ya'll think? i'm thinking i'll have about 10 grand to work with on the 109, so i should be able to get a good one. thoughts?