Shipping POV to England?

[Mike Honcho]

Considering putting the UK on the dreamsheet out of the FTU, and I'm having a difficult time finding the regs for importing a vehicle. I've found the UK customs website, but it's going to take some time to decipher that document.

Does anybody have some good techniques or gouge for bringing in a newer vehicle? It's an 07 Tacoma if it matters.

Cheers

[M2]

You can take it, but you may want to consider getting something locally instead. For one, you will be sitting on the opposite side of the vehicle and although it is doable, it is not optimal. Secondly, the roads in the UK were designed for considerably smaller vehicles, making maneuvering a mammoth like the Tacoma a bit tricky. Third, insurance may be expensive, and parts won't be as easy to come by as if you were driving something sold in the UK. And your US warrant will no longer be valid, if the local Toyota dealership in the UK even services your pick-up the best you can hope for is the same warranty it would have there, if it even sold there. If you need any warranty work done, be prepared to pay for it yourself then fight with Toyota to reimburse you. Not always the case, we took a Passat to Germany and the local dealership actually did a US recall fix on it, but it was a German car in Germany so we had a bit of an advantage. And you will be limited to how much gas you can get on-base, I think it is equivelent to only going back and forth to work; and if you have to fill up on the local economy, be prepared for a shock. Gas is $7-8/gal over there, maybe even higher.

And, don't bother going to the UK customs web site, as your vehicle will be transported over via the US military. Contact TMO for the info. You do have to make some mods to a US vehicle if you bring it to the UK (some white running light up front and a rear fog light if I remember correctly); but you will not be subject to import customs.

However, you will stick out as an American. Not a big thing in the UK, but you never really want to stand out overseas.

Cheers! M2

p.s. Also, read this.

[Mike Honcho]

Valid points, and thanks for the info. The warranty alone is something to think about.

They sell Toyota Hilux (is it hiluxi, or hiluxes?) there, which is the same truck, but I'm pretty good at doing the work myself. Hell, I own a Jeep. And if the Taco is a mammoth over there I might think again about going in the first place.

Not to get too personal, but wifey is an RN, and this truck is her primary. I had thought (which is dangerous) about taking the Yota, leaving the TJ here with family and getting something on the economy for to and from work.

Or am I just steering myself into staying CONUS, where I can keep the 4x4's, hunt, and eat BBQ?

[Hacker]

Just a side point...vehicles are VERY EXPENSIVE here in the UK. Pricing is about double what you can expect to pay in the US for a comparable used car. In other words, if a used car were to sell for, say $3,000 in the states, it will sell for about £3,000 here -- which makes it cost nearly $6,000. In fact, pretty much everything in the UK has a price that is similar to what it costs in the states, only in Pounds, which makes the actual price to us Yanks double.

I think it's valuable to have a right-hand-drive car here for a number of reasons (safety, first and foremost), but if you want to be "fiscally" responsible bring your own car. As mentioned, everything here from the road lanes to the parking spaces are much smaller here. I drive a Ford Mondeo (same as the Ford Contour in the states from the late 90s) and that is comparatively a larger car that sometimes I can't even fit into parking spaces lengthwise (sts).

You can buy as much gas on base as you want...you are restricted on how many coupons for off-base fuel you can buy. So, a drive to Scotland can be made from Lakenheath/Mildenhall if you plan your fuel stops very carefully (and can make 400+ miles on one tank), otherwise you'll have to fill up on the $8/gallon economy.

[HercDude]

You do have to make some mods to a US vehicle if you bring it to the UK (some white running light up front and a rear fog light if I remember correctly); but you will not be subject to import customs.

Also you have to have the headlights switched to the opposite side (so the higher beam won't shine into ocomming traffic), and every car has to have fog lights (I think).

It's been 6 years since I lived there, but I found buying a Europen car a huge advantage. The lemon lot at Lakenheath or Mildenhall will be full of decent (and crappy) cars of guys PCSing, and the local towns have a bunch of used but still in good condition wheeels as well. Sitting on the left but driving on the left will scare the hell out of you on the country roads in Suffolk that have 7 foot hedges comming litterally within inches of the roadside around a tight turn where the speed limit is 70 mph.

I bought a Rover (UK make of Honda) for $3k when I showed up, and sold it 14 months later for $2.9k. Repairs were a breeze, parts were easy to find, and I didn't stick out as a foreigner.

[Guest Pogo]

A few bits of advice from a British driver:

If you can't afford a German brand car buy Japanese, ignore the French, Italian and Korean brands, German and Japanese cars just work forever.

No one except people with brand new cars use main dealers for repairs or maintenance, find an independent who specialises in your brand.

Getting insured by a British insurer with no "no claims discount" is expensive, expect to pay $2-4000 in the first year depending on age. See if you can transfer your US no claims record across.

Compared to my driving in the US, driving in the UK will introduce you to traffic lights every 100 yards, roundabouts, speed cameras, no one stopping at Stop signs and no turning on red ever.

[uhhello]

USAA insures with no increase that I have noticed at least. I drive a 06 jetta over here and I have no problems with it. Just takes a bit more effort to make sure the coast is clear at a roundabout.

[M2]

All good advice. I was stationed in the UK and have been back there TDY on a few occassions. Even drove over from Belgium via the Chunnel on two trips. I gotta say driving a left-hand drive vehicle in the land of right-hand driving can be harrowing. For one, as HercDude said the hedges are scary, and I swear you can even see the groove in them cut out by the mirrors of passing vehicles. Secondly, you really have to pay attention at intersections when you turn, on numerous occassions I had think twice about what I was doing as I almost turned into on-coming traffic. I found driving a right-hand car to be a lot easier.

Heck, if you like Jeeps (I own an LJ myself), go find a newer RHD TJ and take that with you! Or, as sugested, but a secondhand car while you are there. Although not as cheap as they used to be, you can still get a lot of your money back when you leave, as long as you take halfway decent care of it. I just think the Tacoma would be a lot to handle on the UK roads...and maybe even moreso for you wife.

But I wouldn't let this one issue keep you from trying for an assignment there. I love the UK, the people, the culture and the countryside are all wonderful, and you haven't lived until you've done a real pub crawl! Even though things have changed a lot since I lived there (it was always expensive, but now with the even stronger Pound it is a lot worse), I still enjoy my trip back and if I ever had the chance to move there again, I would gladly do so. There is a lot to do and see, and a lot of history there!

Cheers! M2

[uhhello]

There are Excursions, Tacomas, Tahoes, Expeditions, and all the other big American vehicles all over this base now. I'm assuming most live on base but there is an Expedition across the street from my house off base. It all depends on where you plan on living and the condition of the roads on your way to work. If you can't get rid of your current vehicles at a good price, bring them but buy a vehicle off the lemon lot when you get here to travel around in. Like M2 said, I have driven on some pretty crazy roads in my british honda accord and can't imagine trying to squeeze some big American gas hogs on them, but, if you know where those roads are they are easily avoidable.

[Toro]

The left hand drive on the right side of the road takes some getting used to, but so does driving on the right side of the road with a right hand drive. We took both our cars over there and never had any problem. I had a compact, my wife had an SUV - I only drove a right-hand drive once. Roads were never really a problem (again, takes some getting used to), but the parking can definitely be a pain the ass. I had a bud who brought over an Expedition and, other than some parking issues, never had any problems.

M2 has some good points on the MX. I had a engine part fail that would have cost me $2000 on the economy to fix. The AAFES auto shop (where we got our cars tuned up regularly) was fortunately able to order and fix it for significantly cheaper.

I had thought (which is dangerous) about taking the Yota, leaving the TJ here with family and getting something on the economy for to and from work.

We planned to only take one car and buy one when we get there, but were unable to sell the second. If you do take a second car over, it will be on your dime. It cost about a grand when we took ours over (2001) and when we brought it back (2004). It's also a mild ass pain to take the second car because you're only paying to get it to the port of entry (which for Lakenheath was about a 5 hour drive), whereas your first car will be delivered to Brandon (about 10 minutes north of Lakenheath). We ended up paying the contracted delivery guy extra to throw it on one of his trucks and bring it up.

Or am I just steering myself into staying CONUS, where I can keep the 4x4's, hunt, and eat BBQ?

No way, go England!

[Flare]

While the UK is out for me, I do have a 69% chance of going to Spang or Aviano. Anyone feel differently about bringing their good car to either of those locations? (ok, ok, I'll lose some cool points here...we have a Dodge Caravan....any issues with bringing this?)

Also, thoughts on bringing a motorcycle to either of those locations?

[M2]

Europe is a different animal. For one, the drive on the right side of the road, meaning you won't have to worry about new headlights or anything. Two, as there is more room on the Continent, roads are usually wider. Not always, you will still find some ancient cobblestone pathway that is being used as a road; but for the most part having a larger vehicle is not as much of a problem. I did a tour in Germany and Belgium, and although your minivan will stick out somewhat (they do have them over there, but they aren't as popular as they are in the States. And don't feel bad, we've got an Odyssey), you'll enjoy the hauling capability when you go shopping! Parts may be a problem, but if you find a good mechanic it shouldn't be an issue unless it is a piece of shit and breaks down all the time.

As for motorcycles, most definitely bring one! It can go in your HHG and riding in Europe is a experience of a lifetime. A bud and I rode south through the Alps into Italy and it was the best motorcycle trip I have ever taken. Plus, you can haul ass on the roads over there, and drivers are much more motorcycle-friendly than they are in the States.

All that said, as much as I like Aviano I would take Spang over it in a heartbeat. Driving/riding in Italy can be nerve racking, the Italians do deserve the reputation they have. However, Germany and especially the Eifel region around Spang is a lot less crowded and quite beautiful. We used to go there from Belgium all the time, it was a much nicer drive than going back down to Ramstein where we'd been stationed previously. Either place would be great, but given the preference I would chose Spang over Aviano. I am sure many would disagree with me; but if those are your options, then consider yourself quite lucky!

Cheers! M2

[Flare]

Thread related question.....any tips/lessons learned before you throw your vehicle on the bo-at?

Also, the paper suggests to protect the undercarriage....thoughts on how to do this?

[M2]

Flare

New vehicle? I would video tape every inch of it. We took a two-week old Passat over to Germany in 1995, and they video taped it for us.

Also, remove everything valuable. You'll box it all up when you drop it off, but better not to leave anything in there that you can pack in your HHG. And don't drop the insurance on it!

Protet the undercarriage? New one on me, sounds like a dealer scam...

Otherwise, just make sure you have a ride home. I've done this numerous times and honestly it is pretty painless, except for not having a car for a month or so...

Cheers! M2

[Dupe]

Make sure you plan for the tranist time on your vehicle. You can either bum/rent before you PCS or throw your car to the shipper, jump on the airplane, and ship/rent while you wait for your car on the other end. Either way, it takes about 60-90 days to get your car accross.

[Toro]

Thread related question.....any tips/lessons learned before you throw your vehicle on the bo-at?

If you ship through a military contractor, they will be Nazis about cleaning it - don't give them anything to call you on. I have shipped two cars to and from England without problem. My only suggestion would be to make sure you have all the paperwork when you show up to pick it up (in addition to the shipping papers - title, insurance, etc). I will say that when we shipped ours back from England, the idiots at the car port left it outside when a HURRICANE rolled through and it flooded the floor boards. F***nuts at the port of acceptance tried to write "a little water damage" on my receipt and I told him I wasn't taking the car until he wrote "floorboards are flooded," and then I went and got my camera and took a picture of the sidewalls that had debris halfway up the door where the stagnant water had reached during the storm

Also, the paper suggests to protect the undercarriage....thoughts on how to do this?

Do they plan on dredging it through salt water?

That sounds f***ing retarded. You shouldn't have to protect the undercarriage of your vehicle.

[Guest Cap-10]

POV shipping question, but not to England.

I am on a 1yr remote. I did not ship a vehicle over, but I am thinking about shipping my current car back to the states.

Is this even authorized?

Has anyone ever done this?

Cap-10

[Butters]

POV shipping question, but not to England.

I am on a 1yr remote. I did not ship a vehicle over, but I am thinking about shipping my current car back to the states.

Is this even authorized?

Has anyone ever done this?

Cap-10

As long as it is an American car and not a ROK bumber car I am pretty sure you can. I did it when I was stationed in Japan 8 yrs ago.

Caveat: As long as you were authorized to ship one over when you left the states.

[Toro]

I am on a 1yr remote. I did not ship a vehicle over, but I am thinking about shipping my current car back to the states

Haven't done it, but I've done the car to Europe thing twice now. Ditto Nole96 that if you were authorized to ship one over, you should be authorized to ship one back (regardless of whether you actually shipped one). If anybody else there has a car they shipped over, you should be good to go. But to clarify Nole's statement, it doesn't need to be an American car, only have American specs (a lot of military folks shipped backed BMWs, Mercedes, Volvos, and the such straight from the factory that were built to American specs).

[SPiF]

Getting insured by a British insurer with no "no claims discount" is expensive, expect to pay $2-4000 in the first year depending on age. See if you can transfer your US no claims record across.

A question on overseas auto insurance. Has anyone been able to save more using USAA overseas, or do they even cover the UK, Germany, or Japan?

[Toro]

A question on overseas auto insurance. Has anyone been able to save more using USAA overseas, or do they even cover the UK, Germany, or Japan?

I would imagine they insure everywhere, but I know for a fact that they insure in the UK and Germany (used them for both). If you have USAA, I would use them. Your US providers are limited (I think Geico was the only other that provided coverage in the UK), but I would stick with a US company.

[Guest cheap]

I have some questions as the Mrs and I are trying to make our way over there.

What's the general policy regarding classics in the UK? Anyone have experience with something more... "custom"? I'm trying to gauge how (if) my kit car will go over there... smallblock V8, no emissions equipment at all, and very loud side exhaust but titled and registered in the states as a 1965. Definetly NOT a daily driver, more of a weekend toy (it has no top at all).

What kinds of inspections or registration/insurance troubles have popped up in the past? What's the availability of vehicle storage there (home garage-wise or something else)?

Thanks for the help,

Dave

Edited November 12, 2008 by cheap

[Steve Davies]

Dave

Can't answer all of your questions, but be aware that we have emissions laws that will determine whether it will be legal to drive your car on public roads. If you get caught driving a vehicle that does not conform, you will be given a roadside fixed penalty (a fine) by the Police.

We also have regulations that relate to noise from the exhaust, although many young people over here regularly flout these!

One thing to note is that if your vehicle is more than three years old (which it is), you must have an annual Ministry of Transport (MOT) inspection, without which it is illegal to drive on public roads. Emissions and sound checks are conducted during the MOT test, and you will automatically fail if you do not meet the standards. Getting caught driving without a valid MOT in the UK is a big no-no, and you will get a fixed penalty and points on your UK driver's license. The Police have cameras on their cars that scan all of the license plates and check a database for MOT and Insurance, so driving without either has become an increasingly silly thing to do.

Hope this helps a little.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest IncompletePete]

Yea, as Steve said, you'll need to have some sort of silencer and catalytic convertor fitted, although a lot of people fit them for the MOT and remove immediately afterwards (I'm not condoning that, mind!).

You are in luck, however, in regards to road tax as what I'm guessing will be a monsterously big engine. As it's pre 1975, you're tax exempt, therefore saving yourself about £500 - £1000 per year.

There are a smattering of lock ups to hire around the UK, whether they'll be large enough to accomodate your car is another matter as they're often just tiny single garages designed for UK cars.

[Guest tentoad]

Sounds like you have a AC Cobra with a 1965 dataplate

I restore old british sports cars.

My advice would be to google up an old Jag, Triumph, Healey club IN ENGLAND and pose your question.

Better yet, try to find one close to where you are going to be stationed. Great folks!

None of those cars have all the modern stuff and they pass the MOT under seperate criteria.

The only thing I dont know is whether your car will qualify as it was "manufactured" after that era.

The brits know their cars and the MOT is a serious inspection, a good club will have all the corporate knowledge you need.

Good luck

Edited November 12, 2008 by tentoad