Anyone Imported a US C7?

GCorvette

CCCUK Member
I've previously imported a 2007 C6 (back in 2007) but am considering moving to a C7 so am interested to hear if anyone has imported a C7 and what I should expect in terms of costs / IVA changes, servicing etc?

It would likely be a mid year C7 (2016) and looking at a Stingray or Z51 - Not sure I can stretch to a Z06!

Many thanks in advance.
 

richie500

CCCUK Member
I used Ship my Car for my C3 big block- (very easy to deal with and they even sorted out collecting the car from the private seller in us to filling out all the form and getting it registered, they do an online quote which is quite detailed giving you all the costs + what import tax that will need to be paid. (you don't need to speak to them and they don't hassle you either)
I have run quite a few quotes off as I am torn between a C1 or a C6 Z06 for my next vet, beware the import duty will probably scare you off.
 

richie500

CCCUK Member
Based on this beauty (you could join the banana club of two) import duty will be around £9100, shipping the car, getting thro IVA and registering it £3400 approx (doesn't include if anything is wrong with car)
Cargurus.com is excellent for finding vets in states
 

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Chevrolet

CCCUK Member
I'm expecting about a £12k hit for VAT/Import Duty.
GCorvette - A Z51 is a Stingray (with the Z51 option). Looked into importing one myself 2 years ago, when I was having difficulty finding one in the UK. Coughlin Corvette (home of Rick Corvette Conti) had a 2017 Stingray 1LT Z51 manual with 257 miles for $48,471 (£37,427). ShipMyCar quoted £16,135 on that one being:
Shipping £2518
Destination Costs £1594 (inc. IVA & 12 months RFT)
Duty £3757
VAT £8266
Total cost of car therefore £53,262, without getting the radio/SatNav sorted.
 
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richie500

CCCUK Member
all things considered i think we would all be in agreement that if we could get a trade deal with US and get rid of those dreaded import dutys etc then the flood gates would open up for newer second hand vets, C7 as per my post earlier £29000 without even asking for discount - no brainer
 

GCorvette

CCCUK Member
GCorvette - A Z51 is a Stingray (with the Z51 option). Looked into importing one myself 2 years ago, when I was having difficulty finding one in the UK. Coughlin Corvette (home of Rick Corvette Conti) had a 2017 Stingray 1LT Z51 manual with 257 miles for $48,471 (£37,427). ShipMyCar quoted £16,135 on that one being:
Shipping £2518
Destination Costs £1594
Duty $3757
VAT £8266
Total cost of car therefore £53,262, without getting the radio SatNav sorted.
Thanks for those figures, very useful.
What would the IVA add to those numbers?

I assume you didn't pull the trigger?

With regard to the Z51, some are listed as a Z51 rather than Stingray with Z51.
Ideally I want that option but possibly not a deal breaker.

Now if only they had made a Grand Sport in the colour I want...... 😞
 

GCorvette

CCCUK Member
all things considered i think we would all be in agreement that if we could get a trade deal with US and get rid of those dreaded import dutys etc then the flood gates would open up for newer second hand vets, C7 as per my post earlier £29000 without even asking for discount - no brainer
It's a kick to the stomach for sure! :sick:
 

UKBeancounter

Committee Member
Brought a C7 in from the US 2 years ago. Costs were*
1. Price of Car in GBP
2. Shipping costs to get car to UK port including Marine Insurance (approx £2,300 with Hill Shipping) - This included shipping from dealership in the US to the port
3. Add Import duty of 10% onto the above sum
4. Add VAT at 20% onto total of 1+2+3
5. IVA costs and first registration fee.
* Shipping costs have increased at present.

All in this was approx 38% of the cost of the car in GBP. Exchange rate is slightly better at the moment, but as a guide I would say whatever the price of the car is in USD will be the price of the car landed in the UK unregistered and unconverted.

IVA costs were limited to the application fee (I believe this was approx £95 or so), installation of rear fog lamps (US models have no rear fog lamp but two reversing lamps), installation of side repeater indicators (again none on US models).
This is where I spent more than most as I wanted to try and get a "factory look" rather than lights bolted on everywhere. So the mirrors were swapped out for Euro spec mirrors (obtained through Keith at Eurovettes), wired into the wiring loom properly (the US wiring loom does not include the wiring for side repeaters), and replaced factory rear reflectors with modified reflectors containing LED's for fog lamps (no unsightly bolt on rear fog lights). I believe others have converted one of the reversing laps to a fog lamp similar to the Euro Spec cars. Note there is no wiring for rear fog lamp or dashboard switch like the Euro models have.
Cost of this work was around £2,500 in addition to above.

Not sure where you have found a £29,000 C7 from, looking at prices at the moment in the US they seem to have gone barmy. As far as I can see anything at that price is either very high mileage or on a rebuilt/salvage title.
Jason
 

GCorvette

CCCUK Member
Brought a C7 in from the US 2 years ago. Costs were*
1. Price of Car in GBP
2. Shipping costs to get car to UK port including Marine Insurance (approx £2,300 with Hill Shipping) - This included shipping from dealership in the US to the port
3. Add Import duty of 10% onto the above sum
4. Add VAT at 20% onto total of 1+2+3
5. IVA costs and first registration fee.
* Shipping costs have increased at present.

All in this was approx 38% of the cost of the car in GBP. Exchange rate is slightly better at the moment, but as a guide I would say whatever the price of the car is in USD will be the price of the car landed in the UK unregistered and unconverted.

IVA costs were limited to the application fee (I believe this was approx £95 or so), installation of rear fog lamps (US models have no rear fog lamp but two reversing lamps), installation of side repeater indicators (again none on US models).
This is where I spent more than most as I wanted to try and get a "factory look" rather than lights bolted on everywhere. So the mirrors were swapped out for Euro spec mirrors (obtained through Keith at Eurovettes), wired into the wiring loom properly (the US wiring loom does not include the wiring for side repeaters), and replaced factory rear reflectors with modified reflectors containing LED's for fog lamps (no unsightly bolt on rear fog lights). I believe others have converted one of the reversing laps to a fog lamp similar to the Euro Spec cars. Note there is no wiring for rear fog lamp or dashboard switch like the Euro models have.
Cost of this work was around £2,500 in addition to above.

Not sure where you have found a £29,000 C7 from, looking at prices at the moment in the US they seem to have gone barmy. As far as I can see anything at that price is either very high mileage or on a rebuilt/salvage title.
Jason
Brilliant post and very helpful, thank you!
The £29k was from Ritchie's post I think and that was without the import taxes?
That said, most of the cars I look at are $48k upwards!
 

richie500

CCCUK Member
Not sure where you have found a £29,000 C7 from, looking at prices at the moment in the US they seem to have gone barmy. As far as I can see anything at that price is either very high mileage or on a rebuilt/salvage title.
Jason
Another one Z51 3LT $43,000 = £31,272 not high millage, unless you call 35000 high mileage :) , you would have to check the title, again thats without asking for a discount and its in Miami so you could probably get the dealer to drive to the docks.
My advice would be wait till you can get out there as nothing beats seeing in the flesh and you will have more chance of striking a deal.
The red one in picture great price, looks good with low mileage however the interior pics give it away. (not looked after) . there was 34,000 c7's made in 2015 so i don't think prices are on the rise, there is aways a deal to be had.
 

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Chevrolet

CCCUK Member
Another one Z51 3LT $43,000 = £31,272 not high millage, unless you call 35000 high mileage
Well, the car I got the SMC quote on 2 years ago was $48k in the US/£53k on the road in the UK. So that red one at $43k is probably near £50k on the road in the UK with 35k miles and a poor interior? That doesn't make sense to me?
 
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richie500

CCCUK Member
The car is £31,272 + £9828.57 (Duty and VAT) +£3394.99 (IVA , shipping road tax etc, see quote) = £44,495.56 not £50K
Please do not take this the wrong way, have i missed something.
I was only trying to share my experience with SMC and how easy it went.
 

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Chevrolet

CCCUK Member
Please do not take this the wrong way, have i missed something.
I was only trying to share my experience with SMC and how easy it went.
Sorry Richie, wasn't intending to be rude? And yes the SMC quote system is great! But even at £45k on the road in the UK, that's still too much for a 35k miles 2015 car, even one in excellent condition (IMHO).
 
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richie500

CCCUK Member
Sorry Richie, wasn't intending to be rude? And yes the SMC quote system is great! But even at £45k on the road in the UK, that's still too much for a 35k miles 2015 car (IMHO).
I agree with you, the import duty and vat kill the deal. The only thing going for the usa is the amount of choice but then unless you can fly over you are looking for lady luck on your side.
Take care :)
 

Stingray

CCCUK Member
Z51 with 3LT interior will put you equivalent to Euro specification. I'd avoid base Stingrays because you won't save much money and resale might be a challenge. Remember, many of the costs of getting a car imported and onto the road in UK are exactly the same irrespective of the initial cost of buying the car.

I'd have thought it would save a whole world of pain simply to buy a car that's already over here, either a Euro model or a US car that someone's already imported.

On a used US car I doubt it's worth the cost/hassle of getting the electronics converted although you'll obviously have to get the lights sorted. Radio should work pretty well straight out of the box and a £100 TomTom installed in the central cubby should crack the Satnav subject neatly at a fraction of the cost/hassle of conversion.
 

Roscobbc

Moderator
I agree with you, the import duty and vat kill the deal. The only thing going for the usa is the amount of choice but then unless you can fly over you are looking for lady luck on your side.
Take care :)
How anyone could be happy paying £45k'ish for a 35K mile, 5/6 year old car defeats me - that only £20K or so down on what a s/h one would have been when a couple of years old. I would love a C7 but prices seem to be a good £10K+ more than where they should be IMHO - might as well use the money as a dowm payment for a C8.
 

Chevrolet

CCCUK Member
How anyone could be happy paying £45k'ish for a 35K mile, 5/6 year old car defeats me - that only £20K or so down on what a s/h one would have been when a couple of years old. I would love a C7 but prices seem to be a good £10K+ more than where they should be IMHO - might as well use the money as a dowm payment for a C8.
You wouldn't/shouldn't pay £45k for that specific car? One of the great things about a C7, as was/is for a C6, is that after a couple of years old, they keep their value really well. Mint low miles (<10k miles) 2014/15 UK spec cars (3LT/manual only) have been/stayed at "early" £40k for several years.

Cars are worth what they sell for (obviously). If you do a paid Parkers valuation for a "Good Condition" 2016 (UK spec) C7 with 4k miles, that says £50k for a Private Sale/£54k at a Franchised Dealer.
 
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