Transporting personal items for holiday home

I'm in the same position, so any help welcomed.

Regards,

Frank

We brought our UK car with belongings in August (non residents). I had made lists in english and Spanish of items with a 2nd hand value and totalled under 400€. You have a duty free allowance of 430€ per person if travelling by air or sea but only 300€ by road as per Spanish government website. All items used, except food stuffs, (chutneys and dry sauce mixes, no dairy, no meat.) At customs after a quick look through windows, asked if we had a pet. On answering no we were waved through. Didn't look at lists at all, but I,d still do them every time. Did notice no vans in the 3 lanes of cars to leave so vans must be isolated elsewhere, also few cars pulled over with overfilled boots. Took about 15/20 mins to get through to leave. I have already answered this on other posts so must be available on posts in search facility along with others experiences. We plan to bring our van next time in March as we did before Brexit (car used as first trial after Brexit to see changes). I will make lists again but keep under 850€ as total (2 of us). Without lists you risk customs officer calculating the values and they,ll over value. I have also read of people being charged the iva by customs and charged for documentation stating items not being sold within 12 months but haven't had feedback whether the duty free allowance has been allowed or just dismissed. 

If you or anyone reading is planning journey by ferry please feel free to use our Britanny code :- S0267G, surname Savage. 0 is number not letter. 

Regards 

Pauline 

WE came on holiday, no lists etc came through tunnel No customs problems

Returning to France from Spain on a small road going over that hill between Zaragoza and Pau, French customs were stopping all, had a chat on was soon on our way we did not have excess of anything with us, no inspection.

I travelled to Spain taking the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander a few weeks age  i had heard a few horror stories at customs i have a small van i filled with items for our holiday home including two beds side draws ect. Was told by lorry driver on the ferry to take of G.B. sticker as would be fined at customs when we arrived at Santander drove strait thru customs lots of cars were packed to the hilt nobody was stopped drove strait thru. No guarantee thou. hope that helps.

I, m afraid it doesn't sound like those outside items are items that are "personal household belongings" so you may be accused of buying items recently, also supposedly must be used, not new and over 6 months. Sounds more like items are new, bought because cheaper in Uk so think they, d be likely to attract iva and import duties. I have recently read another persons posting on a different forum which stated if you could prove items were purchased pre Brexit (so over at least a year now) as UK was in EU at that time therefore iva couldn't be charged. It gave me confidence to return with our van as all my items would be used, old and applicable. The poster was worried about a load of electrical products and was told by Admin of that group that virtually all electrical products would be found on the web with a production and retail date to prove it was exempt. If your suspect items are new could you not get someone to handwrite a receipt with a much lower value so the import duties would at least be less. It would be the French border you would be challenged not Spain. We never go via France, ferry to Spain every time. Costly but so much simpler. Mind you the ferry prices have risen tremendously and I wouldn't recommend anyone book at this worrying time with possible lockdowns and travel restrictions on the horizon. Already people are cancelling their bookings. 

Hope this helps. 

Regards 

Pauline 

You will only be challenged at borders re. importing goods into EU. As you're going through France that's your first border control. You shouldn't get stopped at Spain border as its internal (already in EU). You might get stopped by Police along the way so be careful you are not overweight on your load and ensure your van is in tip top maintenence, especially lights, headlamp converters etc and Uk sticker not GB. Fines abroad are horrendous. Make lists in english and french just to cover yourself with very low values (2nd hand values) may not get used but I,d still do it. I sympathise your anxiety with the delay, we went March last year and didn't return until November(with ferry cancellations and various restrictions) but then with restrictions again this year didn't get out until August and back in November so pay back time. Unsure at present re next March, nothing booked yet but definitely going by van. Its only £200 differrence taking a van to taking a car on ferry price, but fuel more expensive of course, but again get lot more transported. 

Good luck to you

Merry Xmas and stay safe

Regards 

Pauline 

Hi

I am planning to bring in my new electric bike via an easyjet flight. Will I need to pay customer duty at airport?

I could be wrong but as a tourist(non resident) you do have an allowance of €430 so if more they may want differrence in vat if you are leaving it in Spain. If however you are taking it to return back with it I don't think vat applies. You can phone Easyjet for certainty as its like taking skis etc. See gov.Uk site, it mentions items temporary brought into the country. 

Regards 

Pauline 

Thanks for all the helpful hints!

The car is now full to the ceiling ready for next week's ferry trip!

Fingers crossed it will all run smoothly..... if I learn anything new I'll share for future travellers!!