Car import options from Scotland

Hi folks,

We're looking at adding to the car count on the island ...

I'm toying with the idea of importing a used car from the UK ... instead of a used local one. The main reason being the larger choice offered abroad, but also a part of me thinks that a 3-4 year old car which has been exposed to the roads and driving style here ... well ... it may be more used than a UK one ...

Easiest thing for me would be to pick up a car in Scotland, since I'd stay with family while I search ... so, is there a recommended way to ship over from there?

Other option is that I drive it down south and get Express to take it over which we did last year ...

Bringing a car or purchasing one here has been covered many times before, have you read the previous posts?

Sure have ... I truly strive to avoid the dreaded "try searching" response ...

lastminuteman wrote:

Hi folks,

We're looking at adding to the car count on the island ...

I'm toying with the idea of importing a used car from the UK ... instead of a used local one. The main reason being the larger choice offered abroad, but also a part of me thinks that a 3-4 year old car which has been exposed to the roads and driving style here ... well ... it may be more used than a UK one ...

Easiest thing for me would be to pick up a car in Scotland, since I'd stay with family while I search ... so, is there a recommended way to ship over from there?

Other option is that I drive it down south and get Express to take it over which we did last year ...


On a purely financial basis, I don't think it would be worth it!
The registration tax to import it would be excessive and together with the shipping costs you would be better off  buying here.

If you use the search button it stops having the same answers on here over and over again.

Distance Glasgow > Malta = 2,225 miles
Average cost to drive a medium size petrol car = £0.65 p/mile

Total £1,500 ish + 3 night-stops + ferries

Then whatever it costs for import duties etc.

The simplest thing would be to part exchange your existing car that you already imported for one from Malta or for a car from one of the specialist import companies.
Would be a lot less hassle and probably cheaper when you include all the costs of you flying back to Scotland, finding one and moving it here.

Ray

Yeah .. we're looking to keep the current "kids taxi" and add to the fleet if you know what I mean ... :-)

I'm starting to think it probably is easiest just to keep an eye out for a local car - to ship the car with Express is about €1200, registration tax the same again ...

I'm not really a fan of driving (even less so since moving here!) .... so driving it all the way across from the UK doesn't appeal to much!