Bangernomics Guide to Importing a Car from Italy

Numero Speciale

Import an Italian

Guide

...how to register just about any vehicle from abroad

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Italian Edition ISSUE 1 / 2019

Bangertorial

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ou asked me for a brief guide on how to import a vehicle from Italy and here it is. This may look like a magazine, but it is more of an elongated explanation with some pictures which we are giving away free.

However, the information should help anyone importing a car from anywhere. Although getting a car out of each country varies, the procedure when it comes back to Blighty is exactly the same. I know at least one Renault 4 from France which is here because I reassured the buyer that the V55/5 wasn't quite as scary as it looks.

The point is that this is a straightforward procedure, but because you are involved with government departments and paperwork, things can go slightly awry. Provided you keep an eye on things, stay calm and patient everything will be fine. So enjoy yourself and look forward to driving a classic car from abroad. It will be one of the best automotive adventures you will ever have.

James Ruppert EDITOR PREACHERMAN james@bangernomics.com

THE TEAM

C over Credits l The Bangernomics Innocenti on collection from Bologna

Editor James Ruppert Inspiration Jimmy Smart Publisher Dee Ruppert Tel 0788 540 1977 Email contact@bangernomics.com Phassouri House, School Road, Norfolk IP25 7QU

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It never rains when you buy a car from Italy.

Innocenti Mini History Introduced in 1974 the Mini 90 and 120 was the first official hatchback based Mini which preceded the Metro by six years. Styled by Bertone it was one of the first superminis.

Underneath it was standard A series Mini running gear (998cc 49bhp in the 90, detuned 65 bhp 1275cc in the 120) yet it was only marginally larger than the old car being just 2.6in longer and 3.5in wider. Leyland Innocenti went bankrupt in 1975, De Tomaso took a controlling interest in 1976. In 1982 their Mini 3 had Daihatsu power and the British connection ended.

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Italian Import

Getting this back to Blighty...

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FOR GOODNESS SAKE LOOK AT THE CAR…Tempting as it is to simply sit

in front of a keyboard or tap your phone to buy, always best to make the effort and see the Banger or classic in the metal. At least you will know it is real. Plus travel broadens the mind and what a wonderful excuse for a few days away. Just bear in mind that you will be terribly excited and it is inevitable that you will overlook the sort of faults and issues that would make you walk away from a heap in Britain. Make sure you have a sensible significant other or mate with you to point out that it only has just the three wheels. Unless you are buying an ultra rare export Reliant Regal. Just do a bit of research about parts availability and practical stuff.

THE DIFFICULT BIT. PAYING FOR IT. Here’s the thing. You’ve been all very polite

and chatting online via Google translate, but now you have to do the actual deal. The seller might be jolly nice and the car better than expected. Do you still make a lower offer?

Bear in mind that the seller holds all the cards and the car. You have to get back on a Ryan Air flight tomorrow whether you like it or not.

Back to work and possibly an empty garage.

That’s why it is important to do as much tooing and froing about the condition before you make the trip. If it is as described, pay the asking or negotiated price, if not good luck.

You could be all clever a local lawyer to hold your payment until everything is finalised, but we are buying something Bangernomics for a few thousand Euros tops, rather than a Lancia Integrale. The majority of buyers are going to prefer cash and bank transfers and that is probably going to cost you a minimum of £25 to process and won’t necessarily happen in 24 hours. So stick to real money. You might hear that getting cash at the airport is a dumb thing to do, but actually Moneycorp are worth a go as they had the best exchange rate when we went to Stantead.

DRAW UP A DEAD SIMPLE CONTRACT. You will need proof of the sale

to show theItalian authorities, although they are more likely to pay attention to the one that the seller has to show which will be in Italian.

Best to have something for your records anyway. You just need your name and address, the seller’s name and address, what the vehicle is, chassis number the amount paid and both signatures and the date. That’s it.

THE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BIT. TAKING IT AWAY In Italy the

complication is that you can’t simply drive off with a car you’ve bought. That’s because the registration plates belong to the owner. So you

either need their permission (then post them back when you are in Blighty), which is highly unlikely, or you would need to get temporary export plates. Good luck getting those unless you are going to spend a week there. If you are planning to drive back, then getting a UK insurance company to cover your purchase is not difficult. They will do that on the chassis number. So you will need the plates, a declaration of sale, the Italian MOT and the original registration documents. Incidentally although you can drive it in Europe on Italian or export plates, once you are in the UK you are not allowed to drive it on the Queen’s Highway. Unless that is you have a pre-booked MOT test. In that case you had better get your timings right (don’t dock on a Sunday) and your story straight with your garage.

THE ITALIAN PAPERWORK

The declaration of sale is essential and has to be witnessed by a notary, which will cost you money. Better to get the seller to find an Auto Agency (ACI) where the local bureaucrats live.

They look like a 1970s travel agency staffed by mature students who will witness the sale and where the seller surrenders the registration plates. Whatever you decide or can do you will also need an Italian export licence and at the moment that costs €45.50. You will also have to complete a CMR form with all your personal details on it and a basic vehicle specification. If however, someone is collecting your car then their details must be on it and signature. The pen pushers like an official stamp. Make sure your transporter has one, or that you can forge one on their behalf...

even if your new motor is a 40 year old plus pensioner, get it MOT’d. You would be an idiot not to. Making sure it is roadworthy is the very least you can do.

V55/5 Once you have your MOT you will need to fill in a V55/5 form to register it in the UK. Now this form can seem very scary.

There is a ‘How to’ V355/5 plus you can call the DVLA, although you will have to be a tad patient. They are very helpful once you do get through. Don’t get too panicked by the really technical stuff like the Stationary sound level (dB(A)) because that may not exist.

You will be able to find all the usual stats like wheelbase very easily. So answer as many as you can.

SPECIAL DELIVERY

With the V55 filled in and an MOT done you can finally start stuffing an envelope.

They need proof of your address, so a utility bill, and proof of insurance such as a cover note. There may be other requirements depending on the vehicle it may need some Type Approval documentation. Mostly that’s it, except for the original registration documents. That’s understandable as they could be reused by people who are not quite as honest as you. Quite often they are a work of art. Ideally then take decent scans or pictures and bind them into a book that you can stick in the glove box, or keep by your bedside. Anyway, post all the documents off to the DVLA, but use special delivery so you BACK IN BRITAIN Once your imported know they actually gets there. Lose those car is home you have 14 days to let the tax and you will enter a world of administrative office, HMRC, know you’ve imported a car. pain. Oh yes and you are required to include The good news is that you can do this online a good old-fashioned cheque or postal order through the .gov website using the Notification for £55. of Vehicle Arrivals Service, or NOVA service.

FINALLY Please be aware that the DVLA They then let you know how if there are any can ask for your car to be inspected. A import duties payable. Any car bought from company called GSR are subcontracted with inside the EU that’s over six months won’t be this work it at the moment. It seems all the subject to any charge. The NOVA questions inspectors do is take lots of pictures and find are not very taxing, sorry, pretty basic stuff. the VIN plate. They want to establish that the You will need to register on the site with a car is what it is supposed to be. Otherwise, password and you will have to check in from time to time to see if you have approval, it can don’t be worried as they don’t seem to know very much. . take a couple of weeks

MOT Meanwhile, if your vehicle is under 40 years old then it will need an MOT in order to get it registered. Although you cannot use the car on the road without number plates it can be driven to and from a booked MOT. Remember it will need to be insured and that can be done on the chassis number. Also,

ENJOY Once, taxed, insured and wearing British plates, make sure that you use it as much as you possibly can. That’s the whole point of running a classic car especially one which you have gone to an awful lot of bother to acquire.

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Paperwork

Here’s a simple contract, best to get the seller to do their own as it has to be submitted to the Italian pen pushers.

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Export documents receipt and fee page one.

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Paperwork

CMR Document is crucial, the bureaucrats do like to see an official stamp. Be prepared to mock something up

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Page 2 of the Export document

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Paperwork

This is important, you can’t keep the wonderful original Italian documentation.

That gets sent off with the V55/5, so make sure you make decent copies.

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Notification of vehicle arrivals Vehicle notification system for vehicles brought into the UK from abroad Use this form if you are bringing a land vehicle into the UK for permanent use. You will need to do this before you can register and licence your land vehicle with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) or Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland. Some of the information you provide will be shared with these agencies.

You are not required to complete a notification if one of the following applies: • your vehicle has an engine with a displacement or a cylinder capacity less than 49cc; or is electrically propelled using less than 7.3 Kilowatts • you are only bringing a vehicle into the UK temporarily, that is no more than 6 months in a 12 month period.

The completed form allows us to assess whether or not any VAT is due, and if so, ensure it is paid and accounted for correctly.

For more information and help please read VAT NOVA1 Notes.

These notes provide details about the notification process and additional information to help you complete each section of the form.

Please read the notes before you start to complete the form.

In particular, notes 1 to 3 will confirm: • whether you are required to complete a form • the date by which you must complete the form • which sections need to be completed.

A separate form is needed for each vehicle notification.

If you are: • an agent completing a notification on behalf of a VAT registered business, or • a person intending to complete a notification on behalf a non VAT registered business or private individual.

Please complete the ‘Notifier details’ and ‘Purchaser details’.

If, as a VAT registered business, non VAT registered business or private individual you are intending to make a notification of a vehicle you have purchased or brought from outside of the UK, only complete the ‘Purchaser details’.

If the purchaser is a UK VAT registered business but the vehicle has not been brought into the UK for the purposes of the business (it is not an asset or stock of the business), the purchaser name must be that of a private individual (title, first name and last name) rather than the business.

For more information please refer to VAT Information Sheet Notification of Vehicle Arrivals. For help to complete this form, please contact the VAT Helpline on 0845 010 9000.

Part 1 Notifier details Only complete this section if you are notifying on behalf of the purchaser of the vehicle.

1

Full name or business name

3

Title and full name

VAT Registration Number If VAT registered in the UK or the Isle of Man

4

Phone number if landline include area code

5

Email address

Business name

2

Business or private address

Postcode: Country:

VAT NOVA1

The NOVA form that you can complete online and send to HMRC. HMRC 04/13

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Paperwork

Recommend you look at this form, but also call up the DVLA. They are very helpful 0300 790 6801

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V55/5 looks daunting, but don’t panic if you can’t answer every single question, because you probably can’t.

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