I'm considering buying some auto parts off an American manufacturer, they are happy to ship direct to me as they have no UK distributor

Quote is just under $300 plus UPS carriage at $85

Question is (which they can't answer) I assume I may get stung for some import tax & Vat ?, does anyone know how to work this out ?

Not 100% but its about £35 and above, but dont quote me, I buy parts from the US and sometime I get caught for import duty and vat, (Boots struts for my probe with shipping £34 NO duty or tax, but then last order was over £100 had the pay something like £22 before they would deliver them once my item arrive in the uk..
I`ve asked the seller Rockauto`s to put it down as Secondhand and a value of $5 but they wont,
I also buy from Australia and tell them to just put a low value on the item (because costs to much to send items back) and I`ve never paid Duty or tax

You should find the information in the Gov.uk site

I’ve just received some motorcycle parts from the States, cost $290 including shipping ($70) The carrier DHL text me to say that the items are on their way and I owe £21.00 customs duty. Paid on line easy peasy.
You have to be careful of asking the seller to put a low value or gift on the package as it is fraudulent.

I used to buy stuff from the U.S. on fleabay on a regular basis, got stung for customs duty, VAT and Royal Mail handling charge every time so rarely bother now.

Different items can have different customs duty. Depends on the Customs Commodity Number (CCN), there is a list at

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/classifying-vehicles#classifying-vehicle-parts-and-accessories

For example a dipstick is CCN 9026108900

Pop this into the search box in https://www.trade-tariff.service.go...UR&day=10&month=10&year=2019

Here we work down through the definition

90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof

9026 Instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking the flow, level, pressure or other variables of liquids or gases (for example, flow meters, level gauges, manometers, heat meters), excluding instruments and apparatus of heading 9014, 9015, 9028 or 9032

902610 For measuring or checking the flow or level of liquids

9026108900 Other (not electronic) - Other (not a flow meter), which results in VAT at 20% and Duty at 0%



Whereas an ECU is CCN 85371098 and the VAT is 20% and Duty is 2.1%


The tricky bit is deciding on the CCN if it isn't obviously in the CCN list

Then Duty is payable on the Goods plus Freight (outside of EU) and Insurance - and then add VAT - also add the import agents fees

Thanks for the advice chaps, I think I might risk it