Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Hi
Can any one assist me please, I would like to import a classic car from the UK, and am unsure of the duty rules on this kind of export, also is it a relatively easy thing to do, would appreciate any tips that you can pass my way
Cheers
Harvey

Just going through rigmarole of importing my 3rd Morris Minor - the 2nd one is a '71 Saloon and for sale - see the Motors section if anyone's interested.
1st of all you have to get here! I drove each time. Expensive but least pain is motorail from Germany to Turkish border. 2nd trip I took a ferry from Italy to Greece. This gives a break and avoids the possibility of trouble in the Balkans where some have had expensive experiences with dodgy border police etc but the 3rd time I drove all the way.This is the cheapest method and I experienced no troubles. OR you can ship it out - about £600 I think but I have no first hand experience,
On arrival you get a temporary import certificate. It depends on whether you live here or not as to how long this certificate lasts. Most I was allowed was 3 months but as a temp resident I only got 1 month. The car has to be imported i.e. pay the tax by the expiry date of this certificate. Late the fines are quite large.
Tam Konat (who owns the Onar Village hotel/holiday village 0533 8611188) runs the Classic Car Club here and as far as I can ascertain you have to go through him to register a Classic Car. Very helpful man who speaks very good English. It cost just over 800 TL to join the Club. Tam or his Secretary register the car with the Antiquities Department. You need 2 passport photos, 2 X 3 in by 2 1/4 in piccies of the car, log book, temp import certificate and copy of passport photo page. It takes about a week to register. Give him two copies of everything.
Second step is to obtain an Import Licence. This is obtained from an office in Lefkosa. Drive straight into town, past the hospital, just before the mega crossroads that lead to the Government buildings on the right is a big white building - car park at rear, 1 st floor is the office you need. Take with you:
Tam's bumf
Log Book
Temp Import License
Your ins/outs - obtainable at the Police Station - 9 TL stamp
Mukhtar's certification of residence
Title deed, purchase or rental agreement for your abode
passport
COPIES of everything
Third step, armed with an Import Licence you then have to pay the tax at the Customs Office. Head towards Lefkosa again but at the big roundabout take the road to Famagusta. About 3 miles on the left is a Mercedes garage. Turn left here and Customs are 500 yds up on the right,
You have to have an agent to go through customs!! As recommended by Tam, the one I have used is conveniently just opposite the Customs - 0533 840 3834. Good English. You will also need 'proof' of the purchase price of the car when new!! I obtained letters from the Morris Minor Club. Throw all the bumf at the agent and sit back!! You will also need the car for an extremely thorough MOT!!! They simply check the engine and chassis number. Oh yes, and they weigh them - sometimes!
And that's it. Pay up and look good!! Cost about £1500.
That's a fairly good outline. Let me know if you have any further queries.
Richard

All of the above is excellent advice but you need to be aware that "You will also need 'proof' of the purchase price of the car when new!!" this piece of information directly relates to how much the import tax will cost you, i.e. it is a percentage of this original price (e.g. if you have a Merc that was £20k new you will pay approx 50% of that in tax). Speak to Tam Konat before you do anything as he will be able to advise you.

I provided 'proof of purchase' of £575 for my Moggies in 1971 and was charged about £1500 in tax.
If you import a new car (less than 5 yrs old) you will pay 50 - 60% of the list price on first purchase/registration which is why not many people bother.
By all means check with Tam but I think the agent I mentioned would be a better bet.

Hi

This is what I know about the regulation. Not sure if they are up to date. Your best bet is to go down to the customs office in the industrial area in Lefkosa.

The import regulations in Turkish Republic of North Cyprus do allow importation of Classic Cars on the condition they comply with the following:

1.A motor vehicle considered classic if it is over 25 years old.

2.The word classic vehicle indicates any motor vehicles.

3.Commercial Vehicles are not normally considered as a classic car.The executive committee of Classic and Sports Car Club of North Cyprus gives the final decision whether the vehicle is a real classic.

4.The Classic & Sports Car Club of North Cyprus investigates the vehicle and sends a letter to the Antiquities Department indicating whether the vehicle in concern is or is not a classic vehicle.

5.Kit Cars or Modified Vehicles are not considered as classic vehicle.

6.The imported classic vehicle is taxed based on its value when it was new. The importer of the vehicle is responsible in providing concrete evidence to the Club and Department of Customs and Excise to prove the vehicles value when new.The letter which shows the vehicles value when new can be obtained from the vehicles Club or any agent selling such brand.

7.The original log book of the vehicle must be submitted to the Club with the application.

8.The Club discourages any misuse of the law and encourages the importation of real classic vehicles and not any old vehicle.

9.For its services,The Club asks for a minimum donation.Equivalent to ½ minimum monthly salary indicated by the government.

10.All payable taxes effective on 1/1/2010 are mentioned below:

Price Stability Tax : $500.00 USD

Price Stability Tax : %6

Defence Tax : %2.5

RESULT!!! £1150 import tax, which includes the agent's fee, paid today for my Morris Convertible.
After a fairly trouble free ride, I went straight to the office that issues log books and allocates number plates. Now things have started to unravel!!!!
They've found three discrepancies that they want corrected. Two are on my temporary Import License which actually expires today! In one place the vehicle is ONLY described as a 'Minor' and there is an extra digit in the engine number. I await a decision but I may have to return to Famagusta for them to correct their paperwork. I find this a very frustrating/laughable example of pushing bumf for the sake of it. As I say, this piece of paper expires today and the car is outside if they want to confirm the make and engine number which are both listed correctly elsewhere in the mountain of bumf I have collected. The third is a typo error - a date reference.
It's not even jobs for the boys as it will be me who has to 'leg it' to Famagusta.
Still 'fun in the sun'! What else would I be doing? Watching the test maybe. Perhaps lunch in Famagusta?

Same as my fun and games in 2005 with regards my MGB V8 Famagusta customs and importer said all O.K.with regards paper work, (took my money) Lefkosa customs said wrong engine number one letter missing.
Back to Famagusta custom next day 8.00a.m told it's my fault, fined 48tls, new stamp over old stamp
and back to Lefkosa customs did not check paper work told we know you, go to reg/tax office and pay for plates and road tax.

Sorted but lunch in Famagusta is off!!!
Received my Log Book, tax disc and registration number allocation today for 300TL. Although I spoke with different people today - the Common Sense Watch!! I think the fact that I had the Secretary from the Classic Car Club with me was the deciding factor!!
The nonsense about the expired temporary Import License was solved with a few strokes of a biro and the date typo was reconciled easily at a nearby Government office where the error had originally been made.
To share another experience! I bought my Morris in Jersey but I couldn't leave with the distinctive Number Plate. They withdrew the log book and issued me with an Export Certificate. Although I had a photocopy, the lack of a Log Book in my name caused endless rangling at various borders on the way out!!
To obtain a new one here I was given a form to fill out with all the car and my details. It also needed witnessing by two Cypriots and a Muhtar. I was discussing how to quickly complete this form with a Muhtar's signature when the lady selling rolls/pies outside the car tax office offered to help! She charged 78 TL which included a 23 TL stamp and was back wthin 10 minutes.
Job done and another two way trip to Lapta avoided.
Never did see the Test but they appear to be doing well without me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy motoring!!

Congrats Gengis bey, a bit of tenacity, a few smiles and not throwing your toys out of the pram at the first problem works wonders. 'may your road always be open'

1971 Morris Minor 2 dr Saloon still for sale - see Motor Section