Recently bought some GTO spares from one of our Aus members and was hit with a £41 import charge by Border Force which I thought was too high. You have to pay before they will deliver the package but you can reclaim any overpayment.
Our machines and spares are all over 30years old, as such, they are classed as HISTORIC VEHICLES and should attract zero import charge and reduced VAT at 5%. ( I was charged 20%)
Used the following form to reclaim :-
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/581510/bor286.pdf N.B. This form only applies to Border Force.
Keep all the labels off the package and photo copy them, send the originals.....also send invoice or email from seller showing purchase price......also sent a copy of the registration document showing registered as Historic Vehicle and a couple of pages of this sites history document highlighting production ceased in 1971. Also quoted Duty Classification Number 970 5000090. No forms are returned to you.
Give it try, it works. After 3 weeks I received a rambling 2 page letter detailing how the charges are normally calculated with no reference to historic vehicles but they did refund the 15% difference in the VAT, approx £25. Not a fortune in this instance but proves it can be done. Might be £100s next time. You don't get the £8 handling fee back.
Did ask the seller to mark customs declaration as 'Historic Vehicle Parts' which is maybe why I avoided the import duty but they still charged VAT at 20%, which I believe they do as standard and hope you don't notice or are unaware of the reduced rate.
Can add further details if you are interested, Brian.