New member planning to move from UK to BC

[Crowsfoot]

Hi guys, I've never posted on any forum before so forgive me if I don't get the etiquette just right quite yet.

I'm currently in the UK near Leeds but me and my family will be moving to BC (my wife has job in Surrey) in the summer. I've owned and loved Land Rovers for years from the Airportable Lightweight of my youth (sadly gone) to the 23 year old 110 with a 300tdi fitted that is my current daily drive.

I suppose what I really want to know is should I bring a Landy with me or buy one when I get over there?

Mine is a bit too rough to import (by the time I pressure wash off enough dirt to get through Canadian customs there probably won't be much actual metal left!) so I'd be looking to getting a decent one here and shipping it over or buying when I arrive.

I'd be interested to know what's available in BC and what kind of prices they fetch. If I pay out 2000GBP to ship out a UK vehicle I don't want to find I could have bought one locally for similar total outlay...........

Cheers,
Andy

[DaveB]

We don't need any more Andy's in the club! :?

But you're welcome anyway. We have a number of migrants from the UK that have done exactly what you're talking about. Hopefully one of them will chime in. My suggestion is that any decent Land Rover you bring over will be better than you can find here, and will be easily sellable down the road.

Welcome to the site.

Dave

[LandyAndy]

Hi Andy,

My wife & I emigrated in '07, I brought my D90 with me and in hindsight I should have brought a 110 or 130 as well. There are quite a few trucks around for sale but you'll have a better choice back in the UK & even taking shipping into account, it'll work out cheaper.

My advice is to get the newest 15yr old (Feb 1998 at present) that you can afford, refurb/rebuild & upgrade before you come and then bring it over. Service parts are easily available (esp in the lower mainland) but if you want add-on's & you need them shipping in, the freight & taxes become expensive.

I'd say the best option having lived here for 5yrs is a 110 CSW with a 300tdi in it. I wouldn't bring in a TD5 as there doesn't appear to be allot of support for the engine at present... I guess that'll change in the next few years as we get more into the early ones bearing in mind they were fitted from 1998 onwards. I'd rebuild onto a galv chassis, 2" OME lift and add on all the sliders, guards & stuff that your cheque book will allow. If you intend to be doing more extreme off-roading then seriously consider a full external cage, either Safety Devices or Protection & Performance.... as good as each other. Your heading into show season, so there should be some good deals to be had for stuff. Donnington indoor 4x4 show is this weekend I think.

If you can find a LHD locally or out of Europe even better, driving a RHD isn't a huge problem but if you start to do longer trips it can become tiresome and in traffic it can be fun. Down the road insurance may/could get more expensive for them over LHD's. BTW, ICBC is bloody expensive already, I pay almost double for a 1999 D2 fully comp, than I did for my 206gti.... go figure :cry:

Converting from RHD to LHD as you know is fairly easy, getting running gear here isn't an issue as there are plenty of classic RaRo's to rob parts off but getting dashboards & interior trim is becoming hard and getting very expensive. A good/perfect LHD lower dash will command ~$1000 alone, allot of the guys in the US have very deep pockets & this just drives the prices up.

If your bringing it all in a container, stock up on spares & post up on here before you head out as people will 'rent' space off you for larger items (think tdi engines).

Just drop us a PM if you need any more advice.... it's free... well.... almost, I'll tap you up for a beer when you get here :wink:

Cheers,
Andy

[ANDYD]

Yeah! welcome to the forum.... Finally more Andy's than Dave's ....... It's about time!

As has been well said in the messages above, Bring the best condition 5 door 110 with 300tdi, you won't go far wrong, if shipping in a container pack it full of defender parts ......
LHD will command a better price if you resell.
I believe your personal belongings are free of import tax when you are moving ....

Cheers, Andy

[LandyAndy]

I believe your personal belongings are free of import tax when you are moving ....

Correct, as long as they are listed on your 'goods to follow list'....

Hint Hint.... they don't have to all be shipped at the time you emigrate. You can ship items that you have 'left behind' at a later date and not attract import duty/tax as long as there on your GTF list when you land. Just note that there to follow on at a later date. :wink:

If you can afford it, bring in 2 trucks & sell one on to fund the container/shipping. We paid ~7000 pounds door to door, full service for a 40' in 2007.

[BCROVER]

Hi Andy

I would definitely agree with whats been said, buy the best and newest 300TDi 110 CSW or twin cab pick up depending on preference. The process is fairly simple. You will need to have owned the vehicle for either 6 months or 12 months (check the immigration website for importing a car to Canada. I can't reminder which) to be able to to claim a duty free import. You must declare this and all your incoming effects when you first land in Canada.
I would try and get a numbers matching set up. Customs and ICBC will check the serial numbers of the chassis and engine, (unless you are really lucky) A new engine serial number (ie a new engine is fine providing that the UK V5 reflects the new numbers.) I assume it is the same if you have a new galvanised chassis but I would do some research. With a rolling 15 year limit for importing you are into the best vintage of 300TDI's and should have no problem finding a good one in the UK.
The only thing with renovating it in the UK is that in essence you are increasing its value and therefore if paying import duty, you are going to pay more import duty (if you declare the increase in value which you should legally :roll: )
If you are interested in an external cage I would rather give my money to Whitbread off road in Lampeter, They do a good job and will fit it for you.

Good luck

Will

[LandyAndy]

You will need to have owned the vehicle for either 6 months or 12 months (check the immigration website for importing a car to Canada. I can't reminder which) to be able to to claim a duty free import. You must declare this and all your incoming effects when you first land in Canada. I would try and get a numbers matching set up. Customs and ICBC will check the serial numbers of the chassis and engine, (unless you are really lucky) A new engine serial number (ie a new engine is fine providing that the UK V5 reflects the new numbers.) I assume it is the same if you have a new galvanised chassis but I would do some research. With a rolling 15 year limit for importing you are into the best vintage of 300TDI's and should have no problem finding a good one in the UK.

If memory serves me correct it's 12mths, get the chassis stamped with your old # if you can before it's galv'd if not get the chassis co. to do it for you & have it noted on the invoice. Noted on the tax on new parts but I'm sure by the time you come over the truck will have lost it's 'fresh out the box look'.... and if there 12mths old then their used anyway.

Keep us posted on progress !

[Crs]

Welcome! More Andys give the Daves and Stewarts a run for their money. :D

I live in Surrey, so drop me a line when you get here.

As for LRs, it depends on what you want. There's very good advice above for Defenders. Yes, definitely buy em first and bring them! Same goes for an old, rare Range Rover (eg a 2 door). It's a different story for other models. All other models have been sold over here in decent quantities and are probably cheaper here (or in the States -I imported both of mine from there). Want a newish Disco3, RR L322 or RRSport, get it here. Also, Canadian/US rovers are petrol only. Diesels are very rare and highly prized, but I don't know what sort of interest diesel non-Defenders would generate 2nd hand. The market would be small. Also, considering the $4k shipping cost mentioned, I wouldn't recommend something really cheap.

Good luck :D

[Russ]

Hey Andy,

Not sure if you're the guy that called me at the Landy Dealership I work at, but I'm glad you elected to join this site. As mentioned, you'll get the right info here.

Cheers,

Russ