Can anyone help me with a couple questions about shipping my three classic minis back to the U.S. later this summer?

First, is there a reasonable company that will ship three minis cheap?

Secondly, does anyone know about what Import fees I can expect from Customs?

Any help will appreciated

Ash

 

Nice Minis!
First, they have to be at least 20 years or older, otherwise they don't meet EPA emissions. I think it is a flat fee of $40 for the first $1000 then 2-7% of the value of the car for import duties.
Sorry I can't help you on the shipping.

 

It looks like they will be shipped from Britain.
Check Wilhelmsen... same company shipping Minis to USA from Southhampton.
A 40 foot container should be able to carry all three cars.
You could browse the webb. Many many shipping companies.
I checked to bring home a MCS fro Europe and the price a year ago would be about $1,000 - 1,300 + insurance, not cheap.
If I can find my notes I will post them.

 

I've wondered about that too, for the age requirement, this means the newest Mini that can be imported is a 1979 model? Given that the last Mini was built in 1999?

 

20 years old as of today - ie 1987 minis

 

Wrong! The Minis must be 25 years old or older to comply with DOT/NTHSA exemption, even tho EPA is 20 years old. Therefore, all cars must be originally registered prior to 2/7/82 (this is a "rolling" date) to be eligible to import under the exempt because of age rule. That's the only way to do it "legally".

If you want to take them to California the state law there requires them to be pre-1974s, I believe. Check state laws for wherever you're headed.

Customs duty is 2.5%, plus you'll have dock fees, brokerage fess etc of another couple hundred.

For the best service and assistance in shipping call Phoenix Cargo in Southampton/London. They are excellent and lots of experience with Minis. I've shipped several via them. They also do freight consolidations etc.

PHOENIX CARGO SALES AIR, SEA AND RO/RO
44 (0) 1425 673336
44 (0) 1425 673391
07970 751908
terry.pittaway@phoenix-cargo.com
Terry Pittaway
Partner (Sales & Development)
Emma Travers
Sales Liaison

 

BTW, Customs laws do give leeway to the agent to determine if the value off your car seems appropriate. If he doesn't think so he can deem its value greater.

Be sure that your import can meet whatever restrictions your future state of residence may have. That varies widely. You can't get some cars into California, period. Other states may have smog tests you must pass. Be cautious, check it out first.

 

if importing into Cali YOU'll need a customs broker to pick up vehicles.

 

Let me start out by saying thanks for all the help. All this information has now raised more questions.

These minis where wrecks when I purchased them. I only payed $700 for the orange one 1982 (Austin Mayfair), $600 for the white 1972 (Mini 1000) and $1,800 for the 1980 mini van (Mini95). Who determines the value of the minis for the 2.5% Customs fee?

All these vehicles will be shipped from Southhampton, U.k. to Galvestin, Texas. Where hopefully I will have a couple Miniacs to help drive them to San Antonio.

Ash

 

Sounds like you're good to go year-wise! Do you have original bills of sale on the cars? That is all that is required legally to prove value. Of course you need the UK proof of ownership. They used to issue a Certificate of Permanent Export. Check with DMVLA in SWANSEA to make sure you have the correct papers. Other than that, you'll need the Bill of Lading which will be shipped to you by Phoenix. Also, if you're going to be in Texas, check with the state to see what the rgistration process is there. Here in FL you must take the cars to a FL DMV office to have an out-of-state inspection performed to verify VIN, then take that form with the bill of sale & customs stamped Bill of LAding to get your title & plates..


Since you have three cars and its your first time, I recommend that you have Phoenix hook you up with a customs broker to handle all paperwork on this end. That way you can simply write a check and go pick up your cars without any hassle from customs. I think you should have no problems whatsoever. Good luck!

 

All my minis were private purchase and have no bill of sales. Will this really matter? I do how ever have all the V5, proving ownership.

 

Been here yet? This is where many of your answers are...

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/

specifically, this for HS-7 is the magic one that applies
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...hs799short.pdf

exclusion #1 says "the vehicle is 25 or more years old...."

now the issue is not simply checking the box however. As my accountant says, every deduction is OK 'til the audit' .... The information you provide at the top of the form MAY be questioned...it may not (else how are there so many 'not really 25 yoa' cars around). The site gives guidelines.

But 'proving' this - data of manufacture - build date - is kind of like proving state residency. here's not one single bit of data that sums it all up - unless you have a birth certificate (being one who moves states more often than some change socks - trust me on this) Having more than one piece of data may be needed & is recommended. Despite living in one state I claim legal residence in another under an allowed exemption and support that claim by where I vote, register my car, get my driver's Lic and file state taxes. I for example have MOT documents that show several years of UK registration where a date of manufacture is noted....but have no original sales document. But the data was not questioned either.....

It's kind of like returning from a cruise and walking past customs with your luggage. few are asked to stop and explain.....but if u are stopped, you may have some 'splainin' to do .....

you got what you got - but if you can get more.....

 

PM sent

Mike

 

Your V5 is sufficient evidence of compliance as it shows the date of original registration on its face.

For permanent export info see the DVLA

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/v526.pdf


As far as "value" since you don't have a purchase document, it may be up to the "reasonableness" of your claimed value in the eyes of the customs agent. This may be able to be sorted out easier with Phoenix Cargo and your selected Customs Broker who can advise you of the best procedure.

 

Again thanks for the information, but I have one more question. If I'm picking them up in Galvestin, would I have to have a customs broker?

Cheers,

Ash

 

Your 3 Mini Coopers are very cool.

 

You can arrange for a broker through Phoenix Cargo (or whoever you choose). Since you have 3 cars, I suggest using one to save time and grief. While the process at customs is straightforward and for one car takes about 1/2 hour, I have run into agents who are somewhat prickly. With a broker you get your paperwork done for you and just go pickup the cars. Easy-peasy

 

Oops! I knew there was a five year span between the DOT and EPA requirements but I thought it was 20 for EPA and 15 for DOT. I got them backwards and five years off. My bad!

 

No problem, just want to get the right info out there....

 

Thanks everyone for the information. This new found knowledge will make the transportion of my three classic minis to the U.S. easier and legal. Thanks for all the post on this topic.

Cheers,

Ash

P.s

I will post a new topic on the restoration of my 1980 Mini 95 a.k.a Mini van. I don't know why they called it a "Mini 95" instead of a Mini Van.

 

25 years old for export. That is the rule for export. Some states require a pretty strict emissions test for cars older than 25 years and thus are not good candidates for import into such states as Calif even though they can be brought into the USA.

Don't worry about the 20 year rule, it doesn't matter as the car is already 25 years old but it is technically for the engine, Car 25 years old, engine 20 years old

I would NOT recommend a container as they can be very expensive and a hold up at customs (not unusual for a new shipper) can cost you dearly in storage and "intensive investigation" fees.

Ship all three cars Ro Ro, roll on roll off where they drive them on and off the boat.

Clean the cars thoroughly and vacuum the interiors. The department of agriculture can put a hold on the cars if they think they need a further clean, a good hosing off and stiff brush to the undersides and in the wheel wells is just good insurance. They have lightened up since the mad cow disease problem here in Uk but you can never be too cautious

I would use a broker on this end and that end as they are just good insurance to make things go smoothly

You need the V5C which is the new form of the V5, 2 pages! You fill in slip number 11 and mail it to the DVLA to let them know you are exporting, then just give copies of the V5C and a statement of value to your broker on the UK end and they do the rest. The remainder of the V5c is your document to use when registering in the USA. Make sure you save all of the paperwork from shipping as those are needed for your VIN inspection at the DOT once the cars are with you (and if your state requires it) and registration once you are ready to do so. There is no longer a certificate of permanant export produced by the DVLA. The V5C does it all for you.

Galv Tx is more expensive than shipping to newark, Your looking at approx 1300 US for the boat ride alone. I know this as I just shipped one into Galv.

You will save some money on the broker fee as they discount if doing more than one car with them, There is one or two fees that cover the clearance whether it is one or three cars thus there is some savings.

Don't ship anything in the cars as they can be quite strict at the port when they are dropped off. For an extra fee you can ship a cubic meter crate (get one from the broker as it has to be treated timber) for a fair fee if you have a load of bits to bring over.

Hope this helps. Peter

 

Also, Marine insurance is all but useless. You get a much better deal if you buy it on the USA side from your broker there for the cars coming from the UK, 1% of stated value as opposed to purchase on the UK side 3% of stated value, It is a double edged sword however as you have to state a value and pay a percentage of that value but that is also the value of the cars when paying taxes on the USA side, Thus if you quote a low amount and pay little for your insurance and the cars are lost??? but if you state a high amount you then have to pay the taxes on the USA side.

Another option is to get a seperate marine policy through your insurance broker that is on the cars but not through either agent or shipping line. One of our customers did this for a very pricey car and it was quite reasonable.

From my experience with insurance through the shippers it is useless. Unless the car falls into the ocean its nearly impossible to get payment.

Peter