Export Sales

If you are buying a VAT qualifying car in the UK and looking to export the vehicle beyond the EU, you will need to know how the VAT reclaim process works. If the correct process is followed you will find you're get a very large cost saving on your export purchase, this can be as much as up to a 20% saving.

It isn't common knowledge that not all car dealers are set up to deal with the VAT reclaim process in house and some dealerships will ask you to cover the VAT until it is returned from the UK Tax Office; we also know of customers from other dealerships who have purchased a car in the UK and never reclaimed the VAT. This is something we want to avoid and eliminate as the process is simple, as long as you have the tools and knowledge in place.

Read on to find out more about how to go about this and stay stress-free throughout the process.

What is a VAT qualifying car?

A VAT Qualifying Car is a car that has previously been owned by a business or is a brand-new car from a main franchiser. A VAT Registered individual or company buying the car solely for business use or for export outside of the EU can reclaim the 20% VAT from the purchase price.

Reclaiming the VAT yourself

Buy directly from a UK dealer and have the invoice show the amount of VAT you are paying so it can then be reclaimed. You can apply to reclaim the VAT yourself. The documentation must be written and presented correctly, and all information must be present and correct. You will need information about you, your circumstances and details of the car. Be careful that during this process, the car does not get registered to a private UK address, as this can negate the whole application, as the VAT can only be reclaimed if exported outside of the EU.