Buying a boat from France...

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Big-Bang1

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Hi!

Looking at purchasing a 24 foot moboat from France, it's on a trailer and ready to tow back. I wouldn't normally give it a second look but the saving over UK price is considerable. It's through a dealer and they will obviously take care of the paperwork. However, whilst looking around there is another nearly identical boat for sale around 20 miles from the one I'd like that another grand cheaper.
Has anyone purchased a boat from France from a private seller and if so what hoops did you have to jump through? If you'd rather private message me that would be fine. I did do a forum search but all the relevant posts I could fine were years old.
 
I am in the same situation.Looking to buy a boat from France from a private sellers,doesn't have a proof of the Vat being paid(2003 boat)I don't know is I should go ahead with it? At the border will they stop me to check the relevant papers for the boat?
 
Big-Bang1 said:
Hi!

Looking at purchasing a 24 foot moboat from France, it's on a trailer and ready to tow back. I wouldn't normally give it a second look but the saving over UK price is considerable. It's through a dealer and they will obviously take care of the paperwork. However, whilst looking around there is another nearly identical boat for sale around 20 miles from the one I'd like that another grand cheaper.
Has anyone purchased a boat from France from a private seller and if so what hoops did you have to jump through? If you'd rather private message me that would be fine. I did do a forum search but all the relevant posts I could fine were years old.
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Did you went ahead with the purchase?
 
Big-Bang1 said:
I haven't yet, the 14 day quarantine has put everything on hold for the moment.
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The conclusion is if you have the deregistration and your bill of purchase is it enough not to pay vat in the UK? Will they ask you anything at the boarder about the boat? I really have the feeling that they don't ask you anything.
 
I have towed 20ft and below boats to Spain via France (Calais) for about 5 years in a row. Stopped 3 years ago. I never got stopped for paper work. The last trip i was asked in Calais to release the cover so they could check for imigrants, but that was it. We were a family of 4 and it was obvious we were on holiday.
 
lucaandrew40 said:
I am in the same situation.Looking to buy a boat from France from a private sellers,doesn't have a proof of the Vat being paid(2003 boat)I don't know is I should go ahead with it? At the border will they stop me to check the relevant papers for the boat?
Click to expand...
When I used to tow boats on holiday to Europe, I was pulled over once by the British border people on my return and all my paperwork was gone through in detail. The boat was a Sealine 195 bought in the UK, so no problems.
So the answer is yes possibly.
 
lucaandrew40 said:
I know that I need at least a purchase proof,that is my boat and I haven"t stole the boat especially with my accent :)
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Not enough I’m afraid, you will need to prove VAT paid. Even if you didn’t get stopped at the border, when you come to sell the boat it would likely be a requirement of the buyer especially with Brexit uncertainties.
 
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