BUYING, IMPORTING, CONVERTING AND REGISTERING AN AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS AS A UK MOTORHOME

Buying and IMPORTING a US SCHOOL BUS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Contents
  • Introduction
  • Why choose an American Bus
  • Buying and Importing a US School Bus
  • Amazing Spaces
  • Blog
  • Stripping out
  • Interior
  • Construction
  • Planning
  • Electrical
  • Utilities
  • Seats
  • Floor
  • Engine
  • Exterior
  • Underside
  • Headlamp
  • IVA Test
  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Original Photos
  • Artwork
  • Links
  • Misc Stuff
  • Update November 2021
I bought my bus without traveling to the US to see it. I'm no expert in heavy vehicles or big diesels, so little point in spending £1000 going to look at it and kick the tyres.
In order to reduce the risk of buying a complete turkey I took a number of steps:-
  1. Get the seller to send you hi-res pictures and videos of everything (inside and out) - lots of them!  Do you trust them?
  2. I posted the pictures to the Skoolie.net forum http://www.skoolie.net/forums/ and asked for an opinion.  In summary the answer I got back was "rust looks worse than it probably is"
  3. Use a third party to give you an independent opinion of things like brakes, gears, engine noise etc that are hard to judge from photo/video
  4. Call the School district where the bus came from and talk to whoever maintained it

Other sources inlcude:-
  1. eBay
  2. Craigslist
  3. Auctions (not sure how you would do this without being there in person)

I would suggest buying from a US Dealer who understands how to export a vehicle.  In essence there is a trail of documents required and 3rd parties to deal with.  I didn't have any significant issues (other than not understanding the whole process before I started)

The following 3rd parties are involved:-

US Dealer - I used Peter LaBarge at Quality Bus Service http://www.qualitybusservice.com/usedbuses
School District Transportation Dept - I phoned them up to check the bus was OK when they disposed of it
US Vehicle Tester (I used Lemonsquad.com who do a fixed price survey)
Authorised driver to deliver to US Port (I used Paul Konstantinos 4konstantinos@gmail.com 315-414-9669)
US Shipping Agent - I used ATI http://shippingati.com/ who deal with the shipping insurer (Zurich) and the Shipping Line (K-Line)
Port Escort Agency - The driver may need to be escorted onto the Port (some regulations called TWIC)
Shipping Line (K Line) - I never had any direct dealings with them
Shipping Insurance (Zurich) - I never had any direct dealings with them.  Arranged via US Shipping Agent
UK Customs Clearance Agent - I used UK Import Services https://www.ukimportservices.com/ ) who deal with HMRC re VAT and duty as well handling import paperwork.  Contact is lee.willingham@ukimportservices.com
UK Insurance Agent - I used Adrian Flux with a UK policy via Equity Red Star) who provide a cover note to allow you drive in the UK (you have to get it back from Southampton docks)
DVSA (was called VOSA) - who test whether the bus meets UK Regulations (as well as run MOT process)
DVLA - who (eventually) issue the V5 Registration document and a UK Registration Number

You will need to provide a Digit Classification code.  I used 8702101900 – 16% Duty
https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff/commodities/8702901900

I used Quality Bus Service. They have an inventory of buses for sale
Lemonsquad will send you an independent vehicle report
Read this first
You fill in HMRC form C384 and send to UK Customs clearance agent
Total shipping was $2768 in Insurance. You pay by volume - get driver to fold in mirrors!
ATI (US Shipping agent) has an online site where you can check and submit required documents and see progress.
The Shipping line issues a Bill of Lading to the US Agent (ATI)
Bluebird will issue you with a Certificate of Conformance with US Standards, but wasn't of any use in UK since it has no Type Approval
You need the Certificates of sale to show you are the owner. The dealer can do this for you.
Invoice from UK Customs clearance agent
The UK Import Agent deals with HMRC who issue you a release document to say duty and VAT paid
US Shipping Agents produced a Dock Receipt that US Customs approve for export
Wasn't expecting to have to pay for an escort agency!
The original title travels with the vehicle and is stamped as approved for export by US Customs
HMRC write to you to say vehicle can be submitted to DVSA for testing. They won't test unless you have paid the taxes
You need specialist insurance to drive while going through IVA test process. Use Equity Red Star
Invoice from the dealer. I paid $6500 (£4000) for the bus
Check the Shipping schedule. Pick a port closest to where you buy from
Shipping Agent keep you updated on progress
This was one of the video clips the dealer sent me...
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  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Contents
  • Introduction
  • Why choose an American Bus
  • Buying and Importing a US School Bus
  • Amazing Spaces
  • Blog
  • Stripping out
  • Interior
  • Construction
  • Planning
  • Electrical
  • Utilities
  • Seats
  • Floor
  • Engine
  • Exterior
  • Underside
  • Headlamp
  • IVA Test
  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Original Photos
  • Artwork
  • Links
  • Misc Stuff
  • Update November 2021