What fees to import a Renault van from NI?

Hi,

I am importing a 2018 Renault Master van from NI to Ireland: what fees do I have to pay?

Thank you

Mark Kelly (Ennis)

Oct 2024 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...

Should I buy an Ocean Fisker?

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a second=hand electric car in the near future. I have been looking at the Ocean Fisker (good price second hand at present). There has been a lot of negative views/reviews on the car on YouTube. There seems to be a lot of issues with software updates and talk of the company going bankrupt. Do you think it would still be a good car (could it still be serviced and would it work/drive) or would it be a brick in the driveway?

Regards

Des Joyce (Galway)

Oct 2024 Filed under: electric cars

Read our answer...

How much to import either this BMW or Audi?

Hi team,

I hope this message finds you well. I am considering importing a vehicle from the UK to Ireland and would appreciate your insights on the most cost-effective approach. Notably, I've observed a significant price disparity between the second-hand car market in Ireland and the UK, which calls for a re-evaluation of our local market.

Currently, I am interested in two specific models:

2017 (66-reg) BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 420d M Sport manual

2016 (16-reg) Audi A5 2.0 TDI quattro SE Sportback

Unfortunately, I find it challenging to determine the exact costs associated with importing these vehicles into Ireland. Could you please provide a breakdown of the expenses, including VRT, VAT, and customs duties?

Additionally, I would like to know if sourcing a vehicle from Northern Ireland would yield lower costs.

Lastly, if I engage a dealer to handle the import process on my behalf, would this approach potentially reduce the import expenses?

Thank you for your assistance!

Best regards

Dean McDonnell (Leixlip)

Oct 2024 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...

Revenue's VRT calculator is rubbish!

What are my options if I'm looking to import a car (from NI or GB) but unable to get a VRT estimate on Revenue's VRT Calculator because of this now very common error on their site: "No Vehicle found for Combination Selected. Please update your filters."?

There are no other relevant filters to update. The error occurs for multiple common manufacturers, models and years, nothing exotic. E.g. Mazda MX-5. Only a few make/model combinations will not give this error. The issue occurred after Revenue's recent 'update' to the site, when they strangely added seemingly every global manufacturer to the site (without adding a search function, making it tedious to scroll for ages to find Toyota, say, especially on a mobile).

I contacted Revenue on MyEnquiries two weeks ago. No response yet. Do I really have no option but to actually go and buy the car from NI or GB, bring it to the NCT centre just to get a VRT quote (not even an estimate)? It's obviously too late for me then if the VRT quote is ridiculously too high (as is commonly the case as Revenue seemingly pluck the OMSP from thin air).

Are Revenue not obligated to provide a VRT estimate for all makes/models that are selectable on their own site or at least those models for which they have a record of having been through the process before?

Thanks!

James Dunning (Bray)

Oct 2024 Filed under: VRT

Read our answer...

Can I get an NI dealer to import a car for me?

Hi,

Great article 'Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland'. I'm looking to import a used car (older than two years) from NI to ROI but as the NI market is very limited in stock for the make/model I'm looking for the car would need to originally come from GB (bigger market, more choice).

With the latest Revenue guidelines on 'Vehicles that were not previously in use in NI', in theory is there any downside (legally or financially) to me asking an NI dealer to buy a specific car from a GB dealer on my behalf but in the dealer's name, import it to NI under the Windsor Framework and sell the car to me for import to ROI and give me a copy of the NI Customs Declaration?

Do I understand correctly from Revenue's guidelines and your article that this would then leave me liable to VRT but not to ROI customs or VAT?

When importing the car to NI, does the dealer have to pay UK customs and VAT that they would then likely have to pass the cost on to me in the form of a higher sale price? Or can the NI dealer reclaim the UK VAT upon selling the car to me for export to ROI?

I just want to pre-determine any additional costs beyond VRT and any fee the NI dealer may add on.

Thanks in advance for your help

George Davis (GREYSTONES)

Sep 2024 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...

Can an NI car dealer claim back VAT?

In the scenario of a private individual importing a car from an NI dealer that has not previously been used in NI, is it correct that if the car has been imported to NI in accordance with the Windsor Framework that no ROI customs or VAT applies?

If so, what requirements does the NI dealer need to meet in order to import the car to NI in accordance with the Windsor Framework? E.g. does the NI dealer have to pay UK customs and VAT? If so, would that UK VAT be re-claimed by the NI dealer upon selling to me (for export to ROI)?

Thanks!

David O'Loughlin (GREYSTONES)

Sep 2024 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...

Can we use a commercial Land Rover privately?

Hello

We are looking at buying a 2015 Land Rover crew cab [a five-seater] Discovery from a family relation. He owns the car and pays commercial tax rate of €333/year. My wife and I are employed in the private sector and do not own a company.

We want to know:

1. If we buy the car and use it for day to day commute, dropping kids to creche etc, can we still avail of the €333 tax rate?

2. Is it possible for us to take out insurance on the vehicle whilst availing of the tax rate above?

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks

Owen Stephens (Dublin 15)

Sep 2024 Filed under: commercial vehicle

Read our answer...

MG3 or Mazda2 hybrids?

Cna oyu compare the MG3 'self-charging' hybrid and Mazda2 self-charging hybrid for both town and distance travel?

Mary Pierse (Dublin)

Oct 2024 Filed under: choosing new car

Read our answer...

VRT on an imported VW Transporter?

Hi,

A friend of mine purchased and imported a Volkswagen Transporter van a year ago from England but didn't pay the VRT yet. He has paid the Customs Duty (10%) and VAT (23%) but didn't pay the VRT.

How much would the VRT be if he decides to pay it (including any late payment penalties where applicable)? Is it VRT Category B of 13.3% of OMSP or is it €200 flat fee based on N1 van category as it has only three front seats (no back seats) and a laden mass greater than 130% of the mass in service (whatever that means)?

Thanks

Des D (Maynooth)

Sep 2024 Filed under: VRT

Read our answer...

I can't get insurance on a private van...

I currently own a standard car. Like many, I'd love a campervan, but the costs are too high, so I am hoping to buy a van to convert it. I am not a business owner, and I am aware I will pay the private tax on the van.

However, I seem to be coming across an issue with insurance. I understand I will have to take out a new policy, I would not move my no claims over to the van, so will be starting from scratch. But I seem to be declined insurance everywhere and I'm not sure why. I would insure it as a private van, until the conversion is complete and then look into converting on the logbook etc. Is there any law/rule against owning a commercial van, taxing and insuring it privately, converting it and then not changing it on the log book to a campervan?

There seem to be so many hoops to jump through, I just want to put a bed in the back of my van...

Any help would be appreciated, thank you!

Kirsty Durnall (Midleton)

Sep 2024 Filed under: insurance

Read our answer...