I visited West End Edinburgh to look at their shiny FL Yeti City model. 

 

It looks really nice in Shark Blue! They're going to have to put a sign on it saying not available in this colour. 

 

Anyway I wondered if the colour was available in other countries and went to Skoda Germany to have a gander at the configurator.

 

Sure enough no Shark Blue either but more engine choices and the pricing was cheaper for options but slightly more expensive for the car (different standard equipment too, no Bolero radio but cornering fogs and other bits and pieces).

 

I was particularly interested in the 2.0 140hp Green Tec and 1.6 103 hp DSG Green Tec in the city model (only 4 engine configurations on the UK site, 14 on the German site!!). 

 

This lead me to wondering if anyone has experience purchasing a car on the continent with options. Where does VAT come in etc... Feels like a can of worms 

I think the main issue is wether or not they'll do you a Right Hand Drive?

How about Eire? 

 

PS Wasn't something about import problems mentioned here a while back?

Edited 16 January, 201412 yr by Brijo

2 year warranty :(

I think the main issue is wether or not they'll do you a Right Hand Drive?

 

 As far as I'm aware they have to sell a right hand drive. EU law.

Was a few years back (2003), but I bought a new Seat Ibiza from a dealer in Holland.

 

The dealer was very familiar with exporting to UK buyers, spoke perfect English, and it was all fairly painless.

Got it delivered by a transport company (that dealer was used to using) as it was the only way the car would be insured whilst in transit across the sea - as I couldn't insure a car with no reg number

 

You could choose more options over there than you could in UK, and it was full RHD UK spec otherwise.

I chose things like Xenon lights, rain sensing wipers, stability control, etc etc - none of which you could choose over here!

 

I recall having to pay the VAT over here, then you have to go and get it registered etc.

 

Never had any issues with servicing or warranty work by a UK dealer.

 

As mentioned, you'll only get the manufacturers 2 year warranty, not the 3rd year extension that's provided by UK dealers.

 

I think foreign dealers referred to the colours by different names, which was a little confusing.

 

Back then, there was a price advantage to importing - not sure now, maybe no financial incentive any more

I've bought half a dozen new Toyotas from Belgium.  This was around 1999 - 2000 when the currency exchange rate made it a favourable exercise.  At the time there were articles in the motoring press and elsewhere advising how to do it, where to buy from, how to deal with the the registration/VAT/insurance/warranty etc.etc.etc. requirements.

 

To be honest it can't have been that difficult if I was able to get my head around the paperwork :-)  And that was when I didn't have a computer....I relied on fax messages to confirm the purchases.

 

My reason, at the time, was simply to make a few bob, as I was able to sell them on at a profit.  I registered them in my name and advertised them, as personal imports, in Exchange and Mart and was completely upfront with buyers...and they all sold - either straight away, or, in the case of one of them, a year later after we ran it ourselves.

 

Nowadays you never see it being done as it was then.  I suspect the insurance companies have made it harder to insure imports, the exchange rate has made it unprofitable, the online brokers can offer two or three grand off most cars now and, to be honest, I couldn't be arsed to mess about and take the risk now. 

 

There was no problem with options or right hand drive. or getting it approved at the DVLA or getting temporary insurance, or getting it on ferries etc....but it was a lot of messing about and, if it's no cheaper these days (as I strongly suspect), why bother?  At the time, Toyota used to sell me a service book in English and they even stamped it for me.  I can't see that happening now.  I rather think it could turn in to a nightmare.

 

PS.  I did ring a few Irish dealers at the time but I recall it was cheaper (and just as easy) to go to the Continent.  The specs there were definitely different....maybe the Belgium spec was nearer ours? I can't really remember.

 

The dealer over there was a gem....really helpful and spoke perfect English.  I remember he drove me to Brussels (from Ostend) to get something or other registered....I think the trains were on strike that day.  (It was, actually, a bit scary but you do these things when you're younger, don't you?)

 

But if anyone fancies going to the trouble of looking in to it again, then I'm sure we'd all be interested to see what happened.  I'm not that someone though.

Edited 16 January, 201412 yr by oldstan

2 year warranty :(

Really?

 

3 years for new cars registered in Eire from June 2012.

http://www.skoda.ie/owners/warranty

Really?

3 years for new cars registered from June 2012.

http://www.skoda.ie/owners/warranty

The third year is probably down to the dealer not Skoda like in the UK.

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A small stumbling block.

To register an imported vehicle used to mean a visit to the local DVLA office and was reasonably painless.

They are all closed now and you'll have to do it online via DVLA Swansea.

Knowing Government departments and new systems and procedures, there are bound to be teething problems.

The third year is probably down to the dealer not Skoda like in the UK.

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This is what is says - 

 

ŠKODA Warranty

To show the confidence we have in all of our ŠKODA products, we offer the following warranty cover:

• 3-year warranty on ŠKODA vehicles registered from June 1st 2012.

I wait (expect) to be corrected, but I understood it's still 2 years throughout mainland Europe?

 

http://www.skoda-auto.de/service/garantie

I wait (expect) to be corrected, but I understood it's still 2 years throughout mainland Europe?

 

http://www.skoda-auto.de/service/garantie

I bought my Yeti in November 2012 and it came with 5 year warranty which is still the case for purchases here in Cyprus

http://www.skoda.com.cy/aftersales/warranty

This is what is says -

ŠKODA Warranty

To show the confidence we have in all of our ŠKODA products, we offer the following warranty cover:

• 3-year warranty on ŠKODA vehicles registered from June 1st 2012.

Last time I looked that's what it says in the UK.

Actually just checked and it says 2 year unlimited mileage then 3rd year up to 60k miles. It doesn't mention the fact that the 3rd is not by Skoda.

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Another point worth mentioning is insurance.  When quoting for insurance you may be asked "is this an import?" or "is this a UK-specification car?".  Remember to answer truthfully folks as you don't want to find out that the insurers are not on your side when if/when the time comes that you need their money.

 

I own a parallel import motorbike - it is a German-market bike personally imported by the previous owner.  It is 99.9% the same as a UK-spec bike but it isn't a UK-spec bike.  I am always up-front about this with insurers and have never had any bother, but I thought I'd mention it.

Last time I looked that's what it says in the UK.

Actually just checked and it says 2 year unlimited mileage then 3rd year up to 60k miles. It doesn't mention the fact that the 3rd is not by Skoda.

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My extract above, was from the Skoda.ie webpage, and they give a 3rd year up to 150,000km (93,000+ miles), somewhat better than the UK's 60k limit.

ŠKODA Warranty

To show the confidence we have in all of our ŠKODA products, we offer the following warranty cover:

• 3-year warranty on ŠKODA vehicles registered from June 1st 2012.

• 2-year warranty for ŠKODA Genuine Parts and Accessories

• 3-year warranty for paint defects

• 10-year warranty against body perforation for the ŠKODA Fabia (12/1999 - 02/2008), ŠKODA Octavia Tour (from 07/1996) and ŠKODA Superb (10/2001 - 02/2008)

• 12-year warranty against body perforation for the New ŠKODA Fabia (from 12/2006), ŠKODA Octavia (from 02/2004), New ŠKODA Octavia (from 11/2008), ŠKODA Roomster (from 03/2006) and New Superb (from 03/2008)

*Third year warranty is limited to 150,000km. ?

Here in France, Warranty for 2 yrs only, fell foul of this last year, had a relay prob in the 3rd year, local garage sorted it, had to pay and reclaim from skoda uk!

Buying in Europe and export/import, possibly not as attractive now with the current exchange rate, based on 1.20€/£ they are more expensive and with various 'comfort' packs less choiuce of 'bolt ons' - I had considered this route about 2 yrs ago, but found a good deal UK side on a demo car with 1k miles on it! 

My extract above, was from the Skoda.ie webpage, and they give a 3rd year up to 150,000km (93,000+ miles), somewhat better than the UK's 60k limit.

ŠKODA Warranty

To show the confidence we have in all of our ŠKODA products, we offer the following warranty cover:

• 3-year warranty on ŠKODA vehicles registered from June 1st 2012.

• 2-year warranty for ŠKODA Genuine Parts and Accessories

• 3-year warranty for paint defects

• 10-year warranty against body perforation for the ŠKODA Fabia (12/1999 - 02/2008), ŠKODA Octavia Tour (from 07/1996) and ŠKODA Superb (10/2001 - 02/2008)

• 12-year warranty against body perforation for the New ŠKODA Fabia (from 12/2006), ŠKODA Octavia (from 02/2004), New ŠKODA Octavia (from 11/2008), ŠKODA Roomster (from 03/2006) and New Superb (from 03/2008)

*Third year warranty is limited to 150,000km. ?

But it doesn't say that it is 3 years manufacturers warranty. The fact it is mileage limited suggests the situation is the same as the UK, its just that for whatever reason in the Republic there is a higher mileage limit.

Unless compelled by law I can't see Skoda offering different manufacturer warranties in different countries.

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Last time I looked that's what it says in the UK.

Actually just checked and it says 2 year unlimited mileage then 3rd year up to 60k miles. It doesn't mention the fact that the 3rd is not by Skoda.

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Agree, but then again it does not say that it is not either, as you originally stated above.  But in common with other VAG brands, I suspect that 3rd year is a dealer backed warranty

 

Anyway, if the 3rd year is by the dealer, it will only be an issue if the dealer ceases trading or looses their Skoda franchise, and even in that event, I dare say that Skoda UK would probably honour the 3rd year warranty as a goodwill gesture - for UK supplied cars.

Skoda UK may make warranty claims a PITA as not a UK car, so don't expect the same effort on their part.

Then there's resale issues and insurance.

I doubt these days it's worth the effort with the deal companies around

3rd year certainly did not used to be by Skoda. I think it is effectively an insurance policy funded by the dealer network, not individually by dealers/franchisees.

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Was dealer based on other brands I've had, and I'm sure VAG is the same. As above they put into an insurance policy which is what actually covers issues in year 3

Just to clear up the warranty situation in Ireland.   The third year is not a dealer extension

It's three years and it's from Skoda Ireland who are a wholly owned subsidary of Volkswagen Ireland who in turn are fully owned by V.A.G.

I have done it - twice.  But it was a while back and it only made sense whilest the £ was riding very high against the Euro.  Big savings to be had (around £3000 after meeting all travel expenses to collect the car) and no real problems after that.  Insurance not really a problem these days for a UK specification car.  The trick was to find a country (such as the Netherlands or Denmark) where the VAT was high.  This forced the manufacturers to lower the basis price to sell the cars, and it was the basic price you were buying at - the VAT was added in the UK at UK rates.

 

However, our VAT is now a bit higher than it was then, the £/Euro relationship has changed, and I think UK prices relative to the rest of Europe have also dropped.  I'd be amazed if these deals were still viable now.

^ No!