Cost of round-trip car ticket to Europe [cheapest port]

[550Maranello]

Chaps,

We are planning a long trip to Europe to visit relatives and friends in several countries. A rental car for three to five or six months would be very expensive and buying a used car in Italy - to be sold later - is out of the question due to country and comuni regulations, permits and taxes, a real nightmare.

I have been thinking of sending the car and bringing it back at the end of the trip.

Any tips?

Orazio

 

[gerryvz]

Well, you're on the right side of the US to make these the least expensive !! You should consider $4-5,000 for this, round trip from an East Coast port. There are web sites where you can price this out more specifically.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[alabbasi]

Buy a car in England, they're cheap as chips there and VAT is paid only once.

 

[bing]

Buy a car in England, they're cheap as chips there and VAT is paid only once.

Steering will be on the wrong side if most of his visits are on the mainland, best Belgium and get a local/friend/relative to buy for you and register under their name. Otherwise it will be expensive to get insurance as non resident, if at all.

If shipping cost is only around $4-5k it might be cheaper to bring your car over on temporary basis. AFAIK you are allowed 6months tax free then you have to ship it back out.

 

[550Maranello]

Thanks for the tips. I did a quick search and found this company.


Only $1135.00 to ship a car from US to Spain.

NEX is specialized in the car shipping to Spain. Transportation of classic, exotic, antique cars, motorcycles, vehicles, trucks and trailers, RV’s, buses, mobile homes, watercraft, race cars, sailboats, yachts and construction equipment, heavy equipment and other wheeled machinery.

NEX provides the most reliable car shipping services to Spain. Call 1-888-744-7639 or E-mail Spain@shipnex.com to book your car on our next vessel to Barcelona or Valencia.

We offer two different options when shipping a car to Spain.

Roll On/Roll Off Service (Ro/Ro)

The most affordable method for transporting cars overseas. A Ro/Ro vessel has a ramp which opens up to allow the cars to be driven into the vessel.

Container Service

Container shipping for transporting your car provides the safest way of transportation to Spain.

International car shipping to Spain is now much easier with NEX. Request international car shipping rate , book your request and ship your vehicle in just few steps.

 

[550Maranello]

Oops, forgot to bear in mind the cost of gas in Europe driving a V8.

 

[bing]

So how long will it take by boat ? If you are really serious about this I would research regarding Customs clearance and figure out which is best port of entry, Portugal or Spain ? Although within EU, member States have different interpretions regarding the use of Foreign/non EU registrered cars.

 

[borring]

We Love US cars, bring A Mustang or another old V8 and sell it when your done with it.

 

[Jelmer]

I agree with Bing: wouldn't it be wiser to ask someone in Europe to buy a car for you, bring it to a shop for proper maintenance, sell it after use? If you do it right, it won't cost you a penny.

Heck, for the money shipping to and back will cost, you can get a nice 250D which will save you plenty of gas costs, too...

 

[550Maranello]

Thanks Jelmer, I am into that. A friend of mine, the manager of the Mercedes House in Brussels, is trying to give me a hand. There are many goods cars for less than E1,500 - Renault Laguna, VW Goldf TDI, MB 200CDI, Peugeot 206.

 

[alabbasi]

Steering will be on the wrong side if most of his visits are on the mainland

Plenty of LHD cars for sale in the UK. Here's a cheap 91 560SEC on UK plates that you can probably sneak back with you.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-MERC...9142663?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f24ba8307

 

[550Maranello]

Sure, but what about gas consumption? Three, four months in Europe in a V8!!!

 

[Jelmer]

Then get a nice W124 250D!

 

[195910]

Then get a nice W124 250D!

Problem is with registering a car in Europe if you are not a resident. You can do export plates, but what if you don't want to export the car!

 

[Jelmer]

Simply get someone else (a friend, relative, etc. Heck, I could do it.)

 

[bing]

Problem is with registering a car in Europe if you are not a resident. You can do export plates, but what if you don't want to export the car!

Oh Hello!

get a local/friend/relative to buy for you and register under their name. Otherwise it will be expensive to get insurance as non resident, if at all.

wouldn't it be wiser to ask someone in Europe to buy a car for you

 

[Jelmer]

Bing! Bad boy!