Converting 2012 Fabia VRS to Right Hand Drive

[jmccormac001]

Hi Guys,

I have a strange question. I bought a Fabia VRS in Spain in Nov 2012 and just got a new job in the UK. I love the car and want to take it back with me. It's left hand drive and while this doesn't bother me so much I was wondering if a conversion to right hand drive is possible? It's more for my wife and insurance etc. I know the car is made with the steering wheel on both sides but I'm not sure what the change would require if possible (except a new dash etc).

 

The reason I ask is, if I sell it here I'll lose a ton of money (probably enough to cover the conversion cost), then I'll have no car when I arrive in the UK. If it is possible I am sure I can source a dash etc second hand in the UK. 

 

Any thoughts would be great,

Cheers

James

[tweenster]

Surely that would cost a bucket of cash, be a complete PITA, and would probably be subject to a massive insurance price hike as the car would be classed as modified.

[Neily03]

If you can afford to do then you can afford to sell and buy something even better RHD in the uk.

[vxh26]

Some years ago, while working abroad I researched doing this to a BMW 320 - definitely not worthwhile.  Anyhoo, by all accounts it appears that the Fabia vRS doesn't have a great resale value in the UK either - sell yours there and buy a RHD model  in the UK.

[sharkrider]

what he said ^^^^ sell yours in Spain, and buy a new one here OR just live with the LHD ....

[PhilTheGeek]

Wiring harness alone will be somewhere in the region of 4000 euros.

[philhoward]

Most modern cars have differing bulkhead panels between LHD and RHD - if not the actual pressing, then you'll find holes and brackets change from one to the other.

 

Converting isn't as easy as it used to be many years ago..

 

If you want a RHD, sell the LHD first and buy a factory RHD.  Cheaper and easier, even taking a hit on the losses on the actual purchase costs.

[Phil-E]

Sell in Spain and buy another here.

 

You would also then have all the fees of importing it (extended MOT, log book, number plates etc) if you kept your current one here.

 

what he said ^^^^ sell yours in Spain, and buy a new one here OR just live with the LHD ....

 

It's a pain in the backside driving LHD in the UK.

 

The Major problem is not being able to see properly when turning left at a junction.

 

And driving on narrow country lanes means all you can see is the hedge and not round the bends!

 

Phil

[vxh26]

 

<snip>

And driving on narrow country lanes means all you can see is the hedge and not round the bends!

Wouldn't you actually be better off on right-hand bends?

[Ootohere]

Lots of UK drivers take their cars to Mainland Europe,  its not that much of a Head Ache.

[Phil-E]

Wouldn't you actually be better off on right-hand bends?

 

Yes for some of the bends but most of the time you are wedged up against the hedge.

 

I drive to Europe in the RHD car many times a year and don't have a problem.

 

It's just not ideal to live with long term really.

 

Plus the resale value of that vehicle in the country you have taken it to drops a lot.

 

Phil

[booke23]

Definitely sell it in Spain and buy a RHD model when you get to the UK. 

 

Converting it would be possible....there are companies that specialise in this, but it absolutely will cost a fortune and as Phil suggests, you'll end up with a car that will be seriously devalued in the UK when you do come to sell it. Plus the everyday practicalities would probably get a bit annoying after a while.....Multi story car park entry, toll booths and overtaking are all a bit of a nuisance when you're sitting on the nearside of the car.         

[mannyo]

No need to convert the car to RHD, just drive your LHD over here. I drove a LHD imported from Dubai here for 2 years with no problems (Well except the arabic service book and owners manual).

 

As the car is registered in the EU there are no duties to pay to register here either as far as I am aware. You only pay duty if importing a brand new unregistered vehicle.

You don’t have to pay VAT if you’re importing a second-hand vehicle and the VAT was paid in another EU country - but you’ll still need to tell HMRC.

 

All you need to do is change the headlights to RHD ones, put the car through a UK MOT which is done against the VIN number an then complete the easily filled in registration form. Just make sure you have the spanish registration papers and its type approval certificate from Spain. Once its registered, buy your roadtax and away you go. The Fabia vRS is type approved for use in the UK which makes registering much easier.

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/overview

[jmccormac001]

Thanks for all the advice guys, the car is up for sale here at the minute. Just wondering if I can't sell it before leaving if the change would be possible. After reading the advice its probably not worth it. If I can't sell it i'll just bring it over and drive it there until it dies which won't be such a bad thing I think.

[philhoward]

At least with the Fabia being quite narrow it isn't the end of the world when it comes to toll booths etc..

 

Most of the miles I've done in mine were in mainland Europe - I found it more of a problem when I had (twice!) LHD hire cars I brought back to the UK temporarily but that was because they were a lot wider so I couldn't easily reach across for things like toll booths and car parks tickets.

[dazz600]

Toll booths and parking ticket machines I would class a minor faff

Overtaking a hgv on a single lane carriageway I would class dangerous at best

Yes you have enough power to get past but pulling out to check the road ahead will probably get you wiped out by an oncoming vauxhall driver

I would seriously sell the car first by whatever means possible and take any financial hit

Converting and importing won't work out much cheaper and your own safety is priceless