buying cars from jersey

jonnypb

Anyone bough a car from jersey before? I'm after a Focus hatchback and my local ford dealer buys their courtsey cars from jersey as they say that the hire companies in jersey sell them on after 3,000 miles so you can get a good clean low mileage car for quite cheap

Is this true or are they spinning a line?

thanks

Lorian

Courtsey cars? Hire cars more likely.

Not that this is a problem per se, its pretty hard to thrash a hire car around jersey.

The roads are a bit tight. I've seen hire cars there with bumpers ontop of the bumpers to avoid body damage.

vikingaero

This company local to me buys cars from the Channel Islands:

http://www.youngandpartners.co.uk/company.htm

So it's true.

vansboy

There are several companies offering these ex daily rental cars, but not too often are they 'bargain' prices.

I've never been able to make the purchase price worth the effort.

If you want some current examples, of cost, PM me.

VB

Stephen_Leak

Yes, they are ex-hire cars.

However, the only road on the island big enough to need a 50 mph limit is the little bit of dual carriageway from St.Helier to the airport. Every other "A" road would be a country lane over here. I can only describe the bus and coach drivers over there as "craftsmen"!

OK, they are in a "coastal" environment, but they don't need road salt in the winter and the cars probably haven't been there long enough for anything to get through the modern anti-corrosion treatment.

A local garage used to import and sell them - at times, it was just like being in St. Helier, but without the sea!

jonnypb

Lorian wrote: »

Courtsey cars? Hire cars more likely.

Not that this is a problem per se, its pretty hard to thrash a hire car around jersey.

The roads are a bit tight. I've seen hire cars there with bumpers ontop of the bumpers to avoid body damage.

sorry what i meant was they buy the ex hire cars from jersey which have less than 3,000 miles and use them as their courtsey cars then sell them on after another 6 months or so

they said most the hire cars in jersey are always sold on before they get to 3,000 miles, why that is i don't know or even how true it is

thanks for the replies so far everyone

martindow

The Channel Islands are a duty free zone with no VAT. I think you might have to pay VAT to import a car to the mainland. I would phone the Customs and Excise to check there will be no nasty surprises!

vikingaero

I don't think there's any duty on cars over 6 months old.

vansboy

Regarding the VAT status of these vehicles, they will be sold to you as VAT QUALIFIYING, which means the VAT amount will be inclusive of purchase price.

The added bonus here, being that a business will be able to reclaim the 17.5% normally lost within the transaction. Thus, the garage running them as courtesy cars, still has virtually the same benefit, as buying new, but without laying out so much £$£$ in the first instance.

They then have a lower priced used example, to sell on later - with minimal depreciation. It certainly sounds like the OP has a garage worthy of being a Moneysaver, themselves!!

& the current price of Focus Titanium, under 3000miles 56 reg is £10400 if anyone else was interested!Other models in the Ford range available!

VB