Guys,
I might be moving to the UK shortly, does anyone have any experience of the cost and recommendations for exporting my car from NY to the UK? What do i need to do to get an SVA test and any part suppliers as i guess I have to change lights and add fog lights

Thanks
Cati

 

Hi,

You will need a rear fog light, and the rear cluster will need to be modified to accept orange flashers somewhere (often, they replace the reverse lights, as they are not a legal neccesity).

In theory, you also need flashers installing in front of the doors on the fenders, but my last mustang did not have them. (the idea is that you need to be able to see a flasher when looking at the car side on).

The headlights need to be adjusted to point to the left rather than the right.

There are many shops that specialise in SVA work, it normally costs about £300 for the work.

The big win you have is that there is no sales tax or excise duty to pay on personal imports. If you are coming over with a spouse, buy another mustang now, bring it with you, SVA it and sell it for a massive profit. A new GT convertible is currently fetching about $55k here, so there is profit to be had!

PM me if you need any more info.

Cheers

James

 

I'm not sure about all the changes required for the UK, but I can tell you that the shipping charges will probably run you from $2500 to $3000 for surface transportation .... I shipped a 96 GT from S. Korea to LA back in 2005 and it cost me $2400 (that included a closed container for the car), then because the Korean shipping company made a mistake and didn't sending me a bill of lading stating the arrival place and date, I almost lost the car because it sat at the port of entry warehouse for 10 days before someone there called me to ask about the car. That cost me another $1400 for fees and storage.

You probably wouldn't have that kind of problem shipping to the UK... they do speak English...

Bobby M.

 

Okay, i'm quite qualified to answer this as I just did it this summer...

First, you can do a lot of the work yourself if you are somewhat inclined or have the time to ask a competent technician how to do it. The big changes are just like muzzy said, but here's an American point of view:

• Rear fog light, must be mounted on the back passenger side, must be red, and must be turned on by a lighted switch in the cabin so you know it's on.
• Front, must have your yellow side lights disconnected and have small white lights mounted on your front bumper where they will be visible and can light the ground in front of you. They don't need to be bright, just visible when viewed from the front. Hint: Find the wires that lead to your yellow side lights and tap into them for the front lights, don't cut them! Then, place electrical tape over the contacts of the yellow bulb and when you turn on the parking lights you'll be in compliance. easy to switch back when you come home.
• Side turn signals. This is also easy. Get some adhesive LED blinking lights, should be white. Same as above, tap into the wire that controls your front turn signals on each side and run the wire between the door hinge and front fender. Just mount on the side where they will be visible when you turn.
• Rears: Do not let them screw with your wires and cut them to change your reverse lights, you will likely have problems. The only requirement is that your rear turn signal lights be yellow, not red. Okay, so if you can get clear lenses and change the turn bulb to a yellow one you're done. Otherwise, the best bet is to get a set of replacement tailights that are euro compliant colors (try here http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-06...spagenameZWDVW)
• You will have to have the headlights adjusted to the left, but that should be all you need a local mechanic to do.

Now my warning, the system there is not like the US, the vehicle inspection process (known as MOT, or an SVA if the car is less than 3 years old) is not about making your car safe, it's about making money. Over here the light conversion can cost 125 pounds, but I have seen people get charged 300 pounds (read $600). You can do it yourself for about $150. They will find something wrong woth your car, even if it comes down to measuring the tread of your tires. You have to pass every measure to get your MOT certificate for the year. It's like a state inspection sticker, but its a big green piece of paper. This should be between 40-50 pounds (read $100) and then you have to pay road tax. For a V8 it will be 180 pounds (read $360) for the year. no getting around it, you can't drive without them and you have to get new Euro plates, front and back. if you are military you will get reimbursed for road tax. Also, if you are not military, you may have to pay a customs tax of 17.5%, but I'm not toally clear on that. If you sell it to a brit, you will have to pay the 17.5% VAT tax.

Also, look into getting a tune for the Euro gas, cause it's sifferent over here. Not to mention it's also currently 1 pound per liter (read $2 for 1/3 of a gallon) I think our cars hold around 60 liters?

I've personally seen about 10 Mustangs over here, and they definitely dominate the road!!

Good luck!!

-Darth

 

I have seen replacement rear break lenses that have the inner most panel yellow instead of red. That will definitly retain the stock look. I totally forgot where I saw it, but I remember it was on a pretty popular parts website.

 

Now I know why I have absolutely no wanderlust. I'm perfectly happy staying right here in the good old USA where at least I can identify all the crooks with their hands in my wallet.

 

Hmm anyone know where to source the OEM Ford EU/UK tail light bezels with the amber section?

 

There is not VAT or duty to pay on relocation imports as long as you keep the car for at least one year before selling it.

I am moving this to General Mustang Chat, as it is not performance related.

 

Thanks everyone for help, I am brit in New York so familar with the good old MOT. It can be a pain in the ****, but most of my cars have gone through first time, it's really a fitness test for your car to be on the road, so brakes, lights and suspension have to be in working order and the structural parts have to be sound. Not something that a dedicated stanger would over look I am sure

To be honest I wish they would something like that over here and get some of the death traps I see around NY off the road. Gaffer tap is no way a replacement for chassis sills!!! The state insepection now that's a joke

 

Cati....couple of useful websites for you.

The Mustang Owners Club GB
www.mocgb.net

And a relatively new S197 UK forum
www.s197.co.uk

You'll get some good advice from both sites.

 

Guys

thanks you have been really helpful, the rhd conversions look interesting, what does it cost