Cost breakdown of importing car from Europe

[robtechno]

Hi Peter,
There is another story. Very cheap transport costs and low insurance fee, No import taxes, No broker usage and No problem.

So you can not say with or with out a broker is better.
Just do what ever you think is right. The bottom line is that you get your car over here and drive it.

Have a good one
Rob

[Gary73Super]

After reading all the various experiences, it does seem like a common thread that the customs people on the east coast (northeast at least) create a lot more headaches when importing a car than the customs people on the west coast or Gulf coast. One poster described that as possibly following procedure more closely, but to me it appears like them just being jerks about it rather than wanting to help people in what should be a very simple process. I also find it hard to believe that cars have been sitting on the dock in Seattle (I'm guessing this is a different port than Tacoma?) for a couple years unless those cars are under 25 years old. In that case, all bets are off because you are taking a huge risk even trying to import such a car that will have to comply with U.S. DOT and EPA restrictions to be titled and registered like any other car.

I will thus modify my conclusion to state that the thing to do is to be calling the port customer service office and the port customs office well before your car arrives and ask them whether you can do the procedure yourself or if a broker is needed. I was told by both offices at the Port of Tacoma that only if you start importing cars frequently (i.e., you become a dealer), will they then balk at you doing it yourself and require you to start using a broker. For an individual importing a car for personal use, both the port office and customs actively encouraged me to just do it myself and save the money and hassle of involving another party. So, I can say at least that when importing into the port of Tacoma, there's no need to involve a broker. Others have had similar experiences at various ports, and obviously some have had aggravating experiences both when they've done it themselves and even when they hired a broker.

Bob, a Giulietta Berlina would certainly be another car that justifies importing into the U.S.!! They are rare anywhere, but essentially non-existent in the U.S. A couple of them came on the market while I was looking and I admit I was smitten by the idea of having something so unique and charming in style. But, ultimately my number one desire was to have the best driver I could (which is also why I decided on an Alfa sedan over an Alfa coupe like I had previously owned) so the Giulia made more sense. If I was ever to be in the position to own two very nice vintage Alfas....

At the Tacoma port they will hold the car for you for 15 days without any extra storage expenses. They had cleared my car through customs within 48 hours of it hitting the dock, although they also like to say you should expect it to take 3 to 5 business days.

I'll also concede that the European bank Roland and I used did tweak the exchange rate a bit in their favor from the current rates I was getting off the internet (they also extracted their own small fixed fee out just like my bank did to send the international wire transfer). But, it wasn't nearly on the order of 1.40 to 1.45. As we've seen though, your experience may vary. Best advice here is to either find out in advance the rate you will be getting (or at least very close since it will change daily) and the service fee from the bank the money will be wired to or to do the transaction in two wire transfers--one to purchase the car and one to pay for the shipping and then make up any shortfall (the latter is how I did it with Roland).

Finally, I will agree with Randy (101/105guy) that if you are going to wait for the right Giulia sedan to come along in the U.S. or maybe Canadian market, you are indeed in for a very long wait! The last one that I saw that was truly for sale and met my criteria (completely rustfree, not a Nuova model, a 1.6 dual carb or better engine) was the one Jeff Trask had in California last year (I wasn't in a position to buy then although I would have liked to have been). Even then it was a pretty dear price for a car that needed paint work (sold for around $14K I believe) and it was a paint color down my list quite a ways. In fact, early this summer I had what looked like an opportunity to puchase a completely original (other than a re-paint in the original color) Biscione model Super from another board member that fall through when the owner realized how much the car meant to him when faced with the prospect of it being gone. The "I'll wait" point of view I think is for those who already have one of these cars and maybe would consider another in the right circumstances rather than those who truly are motiviated to find their first to allow them enjoy the experience of owning one of these exceptional cars. Now that I'm on the "other side" as an owner, I already can see that's the case--the risk/reward ratio is changed and it's hard for someone as a current (or probably past) owner to put themselves in the other position.

Gary

[101/105guy]

from the above posts is that importing a classic Alfa to the US can be done by the average enthusiast. Some had more drama than others, but all seemed to have a good result. And the economics DO make sense, if you consider the cost to rebuild / restore one.
The car from Newport Beach recently sold on e-bay for well over $10 K and it needed a LOT of work.
Jeff Trask's car was a jewel, but still needed a complete repaint.
Gary and I ( and many more ) were able to bring in a car to drive and enjoy.
Oh, and about selling one....
I brought in two cars, thinking that I could sell one to recoup some of the cost of the other. Well, now that I have driven both for a year I can't imagine selling either one!
Randy

[JudgeDredd]

can't thank everyone enough for the great info since i've been bitten by the import bug.

a small side note that might benefit someone. look into paying for the car with your credit card. before you think i'm totally crazy, hear me out. when i was stationed in Germany i bought an Audi 80 as a second car. i went to the german bank where i had an account to exchange my US dollars into then DM. since the car wasn't that much, the teller asked me if i had a credit card. of course i did, she then informed me that the bank's exchange rate is much lower for credit card transactions.

i'm assuming since someone getting ready to wire funds would have those funds available anyway, using a credit card wouldn't be a big deal since those funds could go towards paying off the purchase, therefore not incurring additional finance charges. i'd double check with your bank to make sure what i'm telling you still applies, but i remember it making enough of a difference that it made it worthwhile back then.

and if it has changed, please come back and post it here so we can all benefit.

[Gary73Super]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudgeDredd look into paying for the car with your credit card. before you think i'm totally crazy, hear me out...

[JudgeDredd]

well, when i asked the bank clerk why the exchange rate was better, she said that with a credit card it's like the funds are guaranteed. i wasn't too sure exactly how that worked, but i got a better rate.

right now i'm doing the research. been checking out prices in Europe and making sure i've got the process scoped out. i'm retired military, so i can probably fly over for free, take possession, drive it to port myself, then fly back to wait for the car in port (prolly Jacksonville or Savannah). last time we shipped a car it cost around $1000.

i was really blown away by the price on Giulia Supers and GTVs in Italy especially. being fluent in a couple of languages makes it easy to sort thru the ads too. hey, if it works out, i may just go into business doing this for others, LOL.

thanks again for all the great info. and great thread Gary.

[MrT]

Great stories and info for those planning to do this. I've concluded from the stories and cautionary notes that I should not use Baltimore as a destination. Maybe, given that I'm in VA, the best would be Norfolk? or Tampa? or maybe even cross-country in Oregon (nice road trip)?

Some places, not specifically the NorthEast, but definitely including it, have a history of graft and such issues. This makes it harder.

Michael

[JudgeDredd]

just my 2 cents worth, but i think Baltimore being so close to DC is caught up in the 9/11 fallout still. i guess since the attack hit home there and in NY, it's somewhat understandable. then again, Marylanders can be a PITA, so that may have something to do with it. hey, if you had to commute an hour or more just to get to work, you'd be a little cross too, i guess. either way, i try to avoid the whole NY to northern VA corridor as much as possible. picked up a car in Jax, FL and Brunswick, GA, both decent experiences, but they were cars bought thru diplomat sales programs in Europe. not the same as importing a Eurospec Alfa.

[Alfiat]

I've imported 3 cars from Holland (Amsterdam to Baltimore) and never used a broker. I probably would have the first time if I had known about them but the shipper in Amsterdam never mentioned them and he made it so easy. He had a instruction sheet with all the steps that needed to be done in Holland then I simply drove to the shipping yard and dropped off the car. I kept track of the progress of the ship via a website. When the ship arrived I received a fax from the shipping line with instructions and the price of shipping to be paid COD. All three times I was able to pick up the car a day or so after the car arrived. The worst part of the job is you have to go back and forth to customs then the shipping yard, then back again. Then much waiting around. When all was said and done it was a great learning experience. BTW, shipping only cost me $850 - $895.

[JudgeDredd]

What shipper did you use from Holland? Great info, thanks.

[Alfiat]

I've used two shippers but by far the best is HOEGH Autoliners.
Home - Hoeghautoliners.com
I dealt with Dimetri (sp) in Amsterdam. Fantastic and very helpful people (like most Dutch). They used to ship in to Port Newark via Amsterdam but now only come into Baltimore. Farther away but still worth dealing with HOEGH (formally HUAL) If the F'ing dollar was worth anything I'd be shipping more cars home this summer. If anyone needs more details (for Holland to USA) PM me and I'll be glad to assist.

[karmat]

One thing no one has mentioned yet in this thread is that you can actually have the car shipped within the US under customs bond (to guarantee its handling as non-imported goods) by a certified shipper, to your nearest customs facility. Since many middle-sized cities have customs offices this can actually save you quite a bit of leg work. I don't know what the fees are to do this with a car, but when I imported my engine from the UK a few years ago it arrived in Detroit. I had it brought under customs bond by a certified shipper to the facility in Columbus, OH where I lived. In Detroit they had insisted on all kinds of EPA paperwork and some kind of UK certification. In Columbus I went to the office (without the engine--it was still at the shipper), the inspector checked the serial number on the paperwork from the shipper against the bill of sale, told me about the VW he was restoring, and sent me on my way.

If you are getting the runaround a few hundred miles away, consider shipping the car closer and dealing with it yourself.

Hope that helps,
Karl

[karmat]

I should add a big thanks to Gary for taking the time to compile this information and share it with all of us. Very informative for me. I have considered importing a car a number of times.

Cheers!
Karl

[JudgeDredd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfiat I've used two shippers but by far the best is HOEGH Autoliners. Home - Hoeghautoliners.com I dealt with Dimetri (sp) in Amsterdam. Fantastic and very helpful people (like most Dutch). They used to ship in to Port Newark via Amsterdam but now only come into Baltimore. Farther away but still worth dealing with HOEGH (formally HUAL) If the F'ing dollar was worth anything I'd be shipping more cars home this summer. If anyone needs more details (for Holland to USA) PM me and I'll be glad to assist.

[JudgeDredd]