importing a car

[skippy]

a wee thought folks, my car is only a year old, and i have been informed its very expensive to buy a car in Cyprus, so am i better having my one shipped over? if so, what sort of prices am i looking at for shipping and import duty?

thx

Brian

[Chris & Andrea]

Hi 'Skippy',
I read all about this recently, but for life of me I can't recall where. I know it went something along the lines of the car has to have a minimum of 3,000 kilometres on the clock and owned by the person intending to bring it into Cyprus. You'll obviously need proof of ownership, bill of sale and insurance docs. etc. There are a import forms that require production, but again I can't remember the form number(s)
There are some ex-pat members either driving or considering driving from the UK, but the suggestion is it's frought with security problems.
It's possible to ship it over with everything else in one of those large containers.
Hopefully you will get more info?
Kind Regards
Chris

Sunday 16th
Hi Skippy ~ I've done a bit more digging for you and have found a great deal of info on the Cyprus Customs website http:/www.mof.gov.cy/mof/customs
Owning the vehicle for six months appears to be an important pre-requisite and low emmission vehicles under 1600 cc are favoured in preference to greater capacity vehicles. forms T2L02 or T2LF import documents are required at the port together with proof of ownership including the number plates! otherwise import duty and VAT will be imposed.

The information below taken from the website will be of interest?
Example 1
A used saloon vehicle is 9 months old at the time of its transfer to Cyprus from the United Kingdom on the 17 November 2006. The cubic capacity of its engine is 1789 cc and the carbon dioxide emissions are 180 gr/km.

The excise duty payable is calculated as follows:
Initial excise duty: 1789 Χ €3,42 = €6118

This amount is reduced:
by 10%, because of the carbon dioxide emissions: €6118 - 10% = €5506
by 18.50%, because of its age (9 months) and type (sedan) : €5506 - (18.50%) = €4487
Additional excise duty €0.02/c.c.: 1789 Χ €0.02 = €36
Total excise duty payable: €4487 + €36 = €4523

Example 2
A used cabrio car is 6 years, 7 months and 10 days old at the time of its transfer to Cyprus on 15 November 2006. Its engine cubic capacity is 2499 c.c. and the carbon dioxide emissions are 250 gr/km.

The payable excise duty is calculated as follows:
Initial excise duty: 2499 Χ €5,98 = €14944
This amount is increased by 10% because of its carbon dioxide emissions, i.e. €14944 + 10% (€1494) = €16438
The total of the initial excise duty and its increase is reduced by 62% because of its age (6 years, 7 months and 10 days) and type (cabrio), i.e. €16438 – 62% (€10192) = €6246
Additional excise duty 2499 c.c. Χ €0,02 = €50
Total excise duty payable: €6246 + €50 = €6296

Also if retiring to Cyprus and have owned the vehicle for at least 6 months and VAT was paid in another EU Country then no VAT or import tax is payable.
If you are a retiree in Cyprus then vehicles bought in cyprus are free of vehicle duty.
Hope this helps one and all
Regards,
Chris

[peterwalter3000]

My friend and I have really looked into taking our own cars over to Cyprus as he is about to move over permenant and myself also in the future . We have looked on the Cyprus custom web sites and at all the reviews on different web sites and have come to the conclusion it is not worth the hassle , between the amount of tax for the car that you have to pay bringing the car in and the running back and forward to the customs at Nicosia and the way they muck you about , It`s just not worth it .

[Chris & Andrea]

There you go ~ there appears to be varying experiences mainly dependant on the engine size, but there's even more hassle if you try and trade the car in at local dealerships?

[yummymummy150]

Its not easy trying to decide what to do, can only get all imfo and decide near the time. thanks for the imfo Chris.
Tricia

[flouri1971]

I would contact a shipping agent, they will arrange all this for you and give you a quote before you decide. We know expats from the UK that have done this and it saved a lot of hassle in the long run. Good luck.

[grumpy]

Hi skippy, I have a copy of the Cyp government car tax calculator, if you pm me (or anybody) with your email addy, I will fire it ove.
Cheers
Grumpy

[Chris & Andrea]

Looks like my hard work within this thread was overlooked as it also includes the calculation?

[grumpy]

Chris & Andrea,
Your hard work has not been in vain, and is appreciated and should I say well explained, however I have it on a spreadsheet where you simply put the vehicle details in, purchase dates etc and it does it for you, I would be happy to fire it across to you to use or distribute.
Cheers

[Chris & Andrea]

Hi 'Grumpy'
Just me being grumpy ~ down to this rubbish Easter weather, although there's a strange yellow thing shining through the window as my fingers move briskly across the key board 'ha ha'. The good news is that Easter won't be as early again for another 150 years!
Yes it would be great if you can e-mail the formula over to me. Is it something that can be 'posted' for all to see or are there some restrictions?
Anyway glad to say the sun has perked me up a bit, so you have a nice day now!
Regards,
Chris