car importation

[Oosik]

Is there a domestic auto maker they are trying to protect with this? Are all the Japanese cars there charged this?

[BC]

wrong forum.

[Oosik]

Let's see BC.

Kevin posted the article in news from the Ukrainian front, which is a read only forum.

This forum, directly under it, is Ukranian front discussion.

Hmmmm, 1+1=2.

Don't you have anything better to do?

[BC]

I calculated:

how many hmmmm'rs  = rw?.. just can't figure it out.. my RW was happy to see me in a good pair of shoes.

Yeah guess I do have better things to do.. movin on..

how bout you?

[Oosik]

No one knows about import duties from different part of the world into Ukraine? I cannot believe all those taxi drivers paid that much for their cars.

[Jet]

Perhaps this over-simplifies a bit, but I wonder what shipping the engine independently of the car might do for the tax problem....

At $8,000 and $17,000 tax, why not buy half a dozen Lada 1300s

[Oosik]

With the cost of displacement so high and labor so cheap, I guess if  you wanted to start a taxi company you could just import a shell and  hire Fredrik Flintstonski.

[Kevin]

I will post definit info when I get it next week. But I heard though the grape vine that the local claim their cars are for "parts" only to avoid the tax and when they get to Ukraine they "build" a car from parts... I have to give them some credit for this one.

It appears that I will be allowed to keep my car for 1 year in Ukraine and get tempory tags for it.  I can even pay for the temp tag for 2 years in advance.  I will be required to exit Ukraine every year and re-enter.

I'll keep everyone posted.

[Kevin]

Bringing a Car into Ukraine.

Some of you guys ask me to post about my ordeal of bringing a car into
Ukraine. As of today my car is in Ukraine. But I still have a lot of
problems ahead.

For starters I used the Ukraine Company Meests based in New Jersey to
ship my car over. They gave me the best price of $800 plus a quote of
around $200 to off load the car in Odessa Ukraine.  I should had known
better then to use a Ukraine company. I though they would know how the
system works the best. It seems the Israel companies have better
insights then the Ukrainian companies do and cheaper prices. 20

My car shipped without any problems. I took the option of having my
title FedEx back to me instead of going with the vehicle. I did decide
to ship the car with some of my belongings and it looks like 95 percent
of them made the trip. A few penlight flashlights and two blankets
didn't seem to make the crossing I did learn that even though the crates
are locked the do roll down your windows for you while they ship the
cars giving anyone who can open the crate access to your car. Including
the other car owners if they unload before you. (Hint: be the first to
unload).

The due date of arrival is unknown to everyone except GOD. I was first
given a 3 month due date following by a one month due date after it
left. It arrive a week late in Odessa.  It seems the policy is we will
contact you when it arrives and you must come the following day. No
matter where you are. Fines start on the 3rd day.  I made the mistake of
arriving on my original due date just to come back a 2 week later. 
Hint: "When they call, drop everything you are doing and head for the
port the fines are very high if you make them wait"

Cost at Port: I know there is a way to bypass using an import/export
company to get your vehicle, but I wasn't able to find it or the
information center.  Meets is going to assign you to an agent in Odessa
and they know you are an American so here comes the charges.

A base rate around $50-$75 for starters. If you decide to change your
exporter or do it yourself you are still going to get billed by them.20

$50 for the men who will walk with you at the port. (Hint: If you are an
American you will need to process documents 2 days before so you can
enter the port otherwise the exporter will be driving you car out for
you)  $25 "Special Fee" will be collected in cash at the port to help
feed the workers.  Everyone pays or you wait longer.20

Late fee's Depending on the exporter if you are a day late you are going
to pay. My first exported assign by meests wanted $400-$600 so I change
exporters and got a $54 bill from my first. My second exporter was too
busy and made we wait 5 days @25 day.  A total of $125 in holding fees +
extortion fee from the first exporter and I was out $175 before I even
started...   Suggestion: Get a flat rate from the company that you pay
to ship to include unloading fees.20

Cargo Fee's
You are going to pay for the size of your crate no matter how many cars
you ship. I was charge for a 3 car crate unloading even though the first
2 cars where long gone.  Sorry no refunds.  Again be their first. Other
they will claim the fist two guys didn't pay. (Hint: Talk to the other
car owners before you pick up the car and compare prices get shipping
list from shipper)

Unloading Fee. You are going to pay this twice. First you will pay your
rep.  $25 to unload your car then you will pay cash to the dock workers
to unload your car.  Some of the local know how to work around this and
it seems only the foreigners pay.

Time:
The offices open at 9am, I was there at 8:30. Around 12noon you will
head to the port with a group of owners. (hint: ask for a one man tour
instead of a group tour). Around 4pm you will meet the rep. at the
Customs office: (Hint: located on the pier next to Hotel Odessa under
the bridge, you can walk down the ramp with the traffic and get to it
faster then walking to the end of the pier and back again. ) Sign your
forms and the reps goes back to the port to take the car though port
customs. Expect to have your car around 6pm.20

Customs:
Temporary: For a temporary usage the custom office as of Feb 2006 will
give you a 2 month custom decoration and you may drive on your US
registration and Tag: (notice: I am working on how to extend this) .
Don't expect the custom office to know the current laws or give you
advice. They only know how to say No and come back in two months.

Permanent/Resale: You will pay around twice the value of the car. The
custom tax is based on engine size and value. It is cheaper to bring in
a high end luxury car then a cheap car. My tax quote was around
$15,000.00-17,000.0020

There are also some unknown charges on the bill to cover administration
cost.  I paid a total of $390 to get my car out of Odessa.  Total spent
$1190 plus cost of car. So far.

Special Notes:
Customs: I had notices that only my car seems to a have a real value
declare on it in the shipping docks. All other cars seem to be priced in
the 5-6k range. I have later learned that cars under 6k have a
discounted custom tax or a flat tax amount. :> 20

Another item I've notice Most often the SUV, or any car with a hatch
back where missing the back seats.  I've been told there is a separate
custom rate for work vehicles that have only 2 seats. :>   There are
companies that specialize in putting in back seats into vehicles.   (I
have to give the locals some credit for finding this loophole).

I am now in the process of legalizing my car so other family members can
drive it. I have no intention of selling it, but I would like to keep it
in Ukraine for a year or two as a temporary vehicle for my personal
usage. I will post again with a following up after my meeting with the
road police and attorney or someone who knows what they are doing.20

Help: If anyone has brought a car from the US and is still driving it in
Ukraine. If you have been able to figure out how to get legal permission
for other to drive please email me off list. I need a copy of the
form/letter you used.20

Thanks
Kevin Hayes

p.s. It would had been cheaper if I sent the car to Poland and drove it
into Ukraine.