Wookie,
Do you have to tell UK customs you bought a car ?
Do they want money ?
I recently bought a Z1 in Cananda.
I was in the warm usa customs office for 45 minutes.
They asked me a lot of question, I paid $106.
The customs office was full of truckers with all sorts of problems.
I was happy to get home.
Unfortunately there is no "dodging" the tax man. People who take this option do it for the experience (often spend a couple of days in Europe before returning) rather than any cost savings. The car is already UK registered when you collect and all the relevant duties are in the price you pay. If you dd a personal import you have to evidence duties have been paid before you can register it.
Many years ago I bought a GS750 imported from Texas and that was subject to VAT and import duty in total 26% at the time (always amazes me how "used" items are subject to VAT even though it was already paid once when it was new)
I recently sent some used parts to a member in Spain and his costs on delivery were more than the value of the parts !!!!!!