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Hello! Logistics Question With Shipping A Mini To Baltimore


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#1 HowardMiniMe

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Posted 16 March 2019 - 06:44 PM

Hi everyone!

 

I just recently joined the mini forum and I live in Maryland, USA. I been looking for a classic Mini but it's rarer than a Ferrari's or Lamborghini's here in the U.S. The last time I saw one on the street I was a teenager and now I'm fifty. I figure if I'm ever going to enjoy owning one then traveling to the U.K. to look around and hopefully buy a mini  to take home.

 

I've already done my research about the 25 year rule for import and lined up two shipping companies that will load the car at Liverpool or South Hampton. 

 

I do have a question about getting the car to the port. The seller would take their registration plates off the vehicles so the car would not be legal. Is there a way to get temporary registration to get the car from point A to point B? Or would I need to enlist the services of a towing company? If towing is requiring how much is the cost? Flat fee or per mile?

 

Second questions about certificate of ownership. Here in America we have two documents: registration and car title. The registration shows the registration plates fees are paid up to date with the state motor vehicle authority. The second document is the title which shows ownership and is used to transfer ownership when sold.

 

What ownership documents would be provided when I buy a car in the U.K? Would those documents show any liens (or released liens from a bank loan), or would that be detailed on a separate document? 

 

Any insight and feedback would be very appreciated. I look forward to joining the Mini community with an actual car soon. Thank you. 

 

Howard


Edited by HowardMiniMe, 16 March 2019 - 07:42 PM.


#2 pusb

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Posted 16 March 2019 - 07:46 PM

 

Hi everyone!

 

I just recently joined the mini forum and I live in Maryland, USA. I been looking for a classic Mini but it's rarer than a Ferrari's or Lamborghini's here in the U.S. The last time I saw one on the street I was a teenager and now I'm fifty. I figure if I'm ever going to enjoy owning one then traveling to the U.K. to look around and hopefully buy a mini  to take home.

 

I've already done my research about the 25 year rule for import and lined up two shipping companies that will load the car at Liverpool or South Hampton. 

 

I do have a question about getting the car to the port. The seller would take their registration plates off the vehicles so the car would not be legal. Is there a way to get temporary registration to get the car from point A to point B? Or would I need to enlist the services of a towing company? If towing is requiring how much is the cost? Flat fee or per mile?

 

Second questions about certificate of ownership. Here in America we have two documents: registration and car title. The registration shows the registration plates fees are paid up to date with the state motor vehicle authority. The second document is the title which shows ownership and is used to transfer ownership when sold.

 

What ownership documents would be provided when I buy a car in the U.K? Would those documents show any liens (or released liens from a bank loan), or would that be detailed on a separate document? 

 

Any insight and feedback would be very appreciated. I look forward to joining the Mini community with an actual car soon. Thank you. 

 

Howard

 

 

"I do have a question about getting the car to the port. The seller would take their registration plates off the vehicles so the car would not be legal. Is there a way to get temporary registration to get the car from point A to point B? Or would I need to enlist the services of a towing company? If towing is requiring how much is the cost? Flat fee or per mile?" - That isn't how it works in the UK. The registration plates belong to the vehicle. You could just buy the car and drive it to the port legally (provided your insurance and vehicle tax are in order).

 

"What ownership documents would be provided when I buy a car in the U.K? Would those documents show any liens (or released liens from a bank loan), or would that be detailed on a separate document?" - The seller should give you a receipt, also you would have a V5 slip, which is the temporary registration that proves your ownership


Edited by pusb, 16 March 2019 - 07:46 PM.


#3 Albannach

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Posted 16 March 2019 - 09:45 PM

Hi Howard,
Different countries use different systems to Title their cars. Unlike the States, when a car in Uk is first registered it is given a Permanent Tag, that goes with it to the scrapyard at the end of cars life.

Edited by Albannach, 16 March 2019 - 09:55 PM.


#4 HowardMiniMe

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Posted 16 March 2019 - 10:35 PM

Thank you both very much for your information. As you can see I had no clue and this really helps me. 

 

Howard



#5 pusb

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Posted 17 March 2019 - 01:10 AM

Thank you both very much for your information. As you can see I had no clue and this really helps me. 

 

Howard

 

Glad to help mate.

 

Did you consider looking for a Mini in Continental Europe? Buying one on France, Germany Belgium etc would mean left hand drive, which would be much more suited to American roads.

 

You could still drive it up to Liverpool to have it exported. 



#6 wzd345

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Posted 17 March 2019 - 07:46 AM

I exported a car to Utah about 15 years ago, delivered it to Southampton for the buyer which eliminated the need for him to register, road tax and insure it while in his ownership in UK.  Documents needed by him to register at home were: a detailed bill of sale from me and the original or a legally certified (notarised) copy of the UK registration document, V5 - the short receipt slip supplied by seller was not sufficient.  Regulations for this may vary from state to state in USA, so best to check locally in advance.

 

If you buy a LHD car in Europe, say Belgium of Holland, you can ship direct from there, probably to Baltimore.  Your selected UK shipping agent will be able to handle it, just arrange with the seller to deliver to the port.  Best to buy from a garage to achieve this.

 

Buy the best you can afford and remember Minis rust and a 20/25 year old one will for sure have some.   

 

Try here:

 

Hofman Classic & Sportscars

Rodenburg 1 9351 PV Leek The Netherlands
9351 PV
tel: http://www.hofman.nl


Edited by wzd345, 17 March 2019 - 07:54 AM.


#7 Homersimpson

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Posted 17 March 2019 - 09:38 AM

Have you considered Australia?  They had minis for a reasonable period and are less likely to be rotten than UK cars.

 

They do have a few differences to UK minis (for example some have windup windows on externally hinged doors).

 

As mentioned above the biggest problem with a UK car is likely to be rust and it may be hard to tell a lovely straight original or properly restored car from a fillered up old spud which will have rust pushing the filler out in the next few years.



#8 Ethel

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Posted 17 March 2019 - 10:29 AM

It'll be a minor technicality for Minis as they're all too old to be likely to be on hire purchase or leasing contracts, but a V5 does not prove you are the owner, just the registered keeper.

 

Japan is probably the country with the largest trade in exported used cars. There'd be fewer to choose from in Mainland Europe, but the prices can be lower as the market's smaller and they'll have the advantage of being left-hand drive. 



#9 kit352

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Posted 21 March 2019 - 09:33 PM

Pm me if you want to talk about this. I live in the uk and the us. I ship cars all the time. Its fairly easy if you know the steps. I can give you some advise if you want.

#10 Magneto

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Posted 22 March 2019 - 04:24 AM

I don't know why you say they're hard to find in the US, there are plenty for sale even right up there in your area. Check in with John McGee at McGee Custom Minis - he imports all the time and always has some cars for sale - he's right there in Annapolis, Maryland - not far from you.

 

https://www.facebook...66785820018607/



#11 HowardMiniMe

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Posted 06 April 2019 - 02:32 PM

I don't know why you say they're hard to find in the US, there are plenty for sale even right up there in your area. Check in with John McGee at McGee Custom Minis - he imports all the time and always has some cars for sale - he's right there in Annapolis, Maryland - not far from you.

 

https://www.facebook...66785820018607/

 

Thanks I didn't know about this person. 



#12 Cooperman

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Posted 17 April 2019 - 09:35 AM

I exported a 1964 Cooper 'S' to California many years ago. I simply booked it onto a Ro-Ro ship from Tilbury to Long Beach, CA, drove it to Tilbury and it arrived in CA about 5 weeks later. My friend who had bought it from me went to the port, collected it, was issued with some documents and drove it 60 miles to his home up the Ventura Freeway. He then went to the vehicle licencing office, obtained a CA number plate ('1071S') and drove it home.

 

It was all very easy and there was no import duty to pay as he had technically owned the car for over 12 months in the UK prior to shipping.

 

All you need is someone to drive the car to the port of export. It just needs to be insured for the driver to drive it. You don't need to pay for a 'total logistics' company to do the export. You can easily arrange it yourself.






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