Import rules

[Mike-SEiW]

I'm dying to know if I can import my Westfield into the UK. I know I should wait until I get there (only 3 weeks now) and then contact DVLA, but I'm too impatient.

I've read what I can on the net but still haven't the faintest if I can import the Westfield as is, or if it needs modifying. As it stands now, it's registed here in Sweden under a special Sweden-only national rules (something we negotiated keeping when entering the EU apparently). If I was doing the reverse, i.e. moving from the UK to Sweden, I could register it here without having to import it, as it would then be a "belonging". Normal import of this type of vehicle is not possible.

Is there any respective system in the UK? I don't want to do a "normal" SVA as I would have to tear the car up and re-do lots of stuff as I understand it (for example my fuel lines aren't mounted in an SVA friendly manner) and I doubt I will have access to garage to be able to complete that kind of transformation.

Any tips? Is there anywhere I can read a complete list or what the regulations are as to what is involved in a normal SVA and what is demanded (i.e. I know about fuel lines and round corners but what else is there?).

[Frau Vesty]

Anything here of use?

[studbuckle]

according to this you will only need to pass and MOT as the vehicle was permanently registered elsewhere first.

Doesn't matter if it's a 2 year old Swedish Westfield or a 40 year old American muscle car... MOT and all the documents

[Mike-SEiW]

Studbuckle: if I read that correctly, I don't have to pass the SVA if it's three years or older (mine is younger at the moment but if I wait until next summer, it will be 3 yrs old.

Non-type approved vehicles less than 10 years old that are personally imported are required to pass a Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) test. To qualify as a Personal Import [PI], the following conditions have to be met.

·       If the vehicle has been imported by a person entering the United Kingdom;

·       That the person  had, at the time the vehicle was imported, been normally resident in a country other than the United Kingdom for a continuous period of at least 12 months;

·       That person intends to become normally  resident in the United Kingdom;

·       That the vehicle has been in the possession of that person and used by him in the country where he has normally resident for a period of at least 6 months before its importation and

·       That the vehicle is intended for his personal or household use in the United Kingdom.

Personally imported vehicles over 3 years old, that meet the above criteria, will be subject to the MOT test.

On the other hand:

Will my imported vehicle need Single Vehicle Approval (SVA)?

If you have a valid manufacturer's Certificate of Conformity, or other type approval certificate, then probably not.

If Westfield can supply me with a CoC, then I don't have to go through the SVA. Can they?

[Mike-SEiW]

It seems I only need to pass a "standard" SVA, rather than something called an "Enhanced SVA". I suppose that is good...I will keep on reading later on. Thanks for the links (one of them I had since before).

[Mike-SEiW]

Hm, in the SVA4 booklet it says:

Recognition of Foreign Single Approvals

If your vehicle has been singly approved by another EEA Member State to standards equivalent to those of British SVA, it is eligible for a Ministers Approval Certificate on that basis.

You must provide evidence of the actual standards to which the vehicle was tested by or on behalf of the authorities in question.

It has passed the Swedish regs, which are very similar to the SVA....a faint glimmer of hope appears