CompleteCar
Ask Us Anything

To help readers get the most out of this free service, we ask those that wish to submit a question to first register their details using the registration form.

Thank you



Previously answered questions

When to change my Skoda Rapid TSI's timing belt?

Hi,

I have a 2018 Skoda Rapid Spaceback TSI 95 (999cc) petrol currently at 97,000km. Wondering when to change the timing belt.

Kindly let me know please dear experts.

Thanks in advance.

Joshua D (Dublin)

Aug 2024 Filed under: servicing

Read our answer...


Is this BMW exempt from VAT and duty on import?

Looking at 2024 BMW 5 Series on sale by Northern Ireland main BMW dealer. The car is still on an English plate and was registered in England in January 2024. It has covered 7,000km from new. The dealer has it in Northern Ireland for four months. The dealer tells me that because the car has been in Northern Ireland for a reasonable period of time I can import it into ROI without paying VAT and duty (VRT only).

I thought that a car had to be in private ownership in Northern Ireland to be exempt from VAT and duty. This car has never been in private ownership since it arrived in Northern Ireland.

Liam Connolly (Letterkenny)

Aug 2024 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


I won a 2010 Shogun!

I won a 2010 Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2. It was first registered in Nothern Ireland in March 2010 and as far as I can make out it remained there until it was delivered to me a few days ago.

What do I do next? We want to take the back seat out of it. Do I need an engineer report after I take out the seats, before I bring it to the NCT centre? And do I need to get a letter from Lucky Day competitions to say I won it?

Anita Jackson (Schull)

Jul 2024 Filed under:

Read our answer...


My Renault's TomTom system needs fixing...

I need to get my TomTom working in my Renault Scenic. I have got two conflicting views:

1 - The age of the vehicle (2016) means it is now too old and is out of date. Someone has one of similar vintage and his is fine.

2 - It is of unique fit in that it is part of the media in-car entertainment system.

What is the correct answer?

James Williams (Nr London)

Aug 2024 Filed under: satellite navigation

Read our answer...


Do I just pay VRT importing this Audi from the North?

Will I have to pay just the VRT if i import a Jan 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron 45 S line with 10,000km on the clock from Northern Ireland (no VAT or import duty)? It was only registered in Northern Ireland, never in the UK. I'm finding the Revenue wording difficult to follow.

Thanks for your help!

Paddy Phillips (Midleton)

Jul 2024 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


When to change my BMW 420d's chain?

When is my BMW 420d timing chain due? It is a 2014 BMW 420d F32 M Sport with 216,000km. It is regularly serviced and there is no rattling noises coming from the engine or anything.

Tommy Whyte (Portlaoise)

Jul 2024 Filed under: servicing

Read our answer...


Can I import this car from the North without duty and VAT?

I am considering buying a car in Northern Ireland. The car was originally a UK vehicle but was imported/registered in the North since Apr 2023. Would duty and VAT be owed on this vehicle or would the '90-day rule' apply?

Thanks.

Peter Dennison (Kildare)

Jul 2024 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


Can I get my money back on a used car?

I bought a car in April from a dealer that gave me three months of warranty. During this period I paid motor tax (400 euro) and insurance. I also had to do my NCT during which it was discovered that the car was outside the permit pollution numbers, as it was burning too much oil. Also needed to replace two ball joints and the windshield had to be replaced since I bought the car with a small crack.

I then took it back to the dealer that seemed very helpful and said it would fix the car for me since it was still in warranty.

Four weeks later my car is still there. I tried to either get my money back (he offered me €3k less than what I paid) or get another car (he does not have a car with similar price and valued my car €1k less than what I paid).

I decided to wait to get it fixed since it was not worth for me to lose money to get some money back or another car. Now he told me the entire engine needs to be replaced!

Is the engine replacement process good/bad for the longevity of the car? Do I have any legal basis to get my money back?

Thanks

Robert Alves (Drumcondra)

Jul 2024 Filed under: warranty

Read our answer...


I'd like to import my 1999 Volkswagen T4...

Hi there,

I want to register my 1999 Volkswagen T4 from Germany. It has about 34,000km on the clock and just two seats. I cannot find this type of vehicle on the VRT calculator. How much will the VRT be approximately?

Thanks in advance

Viktoria Havlik (Killarney)

Jul 2024 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


Is VAT definitely due on importing a used car?

Is VAT in fact due on second-hand vehicles purchased by private individuals - from a foreign motor dealer or from a private person in another country (say Japan)? S.10.1 of Revenue's Tax and Duty Manual (May 2024), VAT and VRT on transactions involving Motor Vehicles' reads "There is no VAT liability in Ireland" in those instances.

Brian M (Bray)

Jul 2024 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


4,959 Irish motoring queries answered to date

On CompleteCar.ie there is no such thing as a silly question. No matter how small or complicated an issue seems, we'll do our best to help. Our experts will quickly answer your queries in a friendly and jargon-free manner.

Please remember that we offer advice, not gospel. We cannot be held responsible for recalls, a second hand car's history, 'acts of God', changes in car pricing or Government policy. We are here to help and offer independent, impartial and free advice. What you do with it is entirely up to you.

By submitting a question you are agreeing to this statement. Thank you.

CompleteCar.ie aims to be compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), implemented on 25 May, 2018. At no stage shall we contact you without your express permission (by entering your email address, you are consenting for us to send you emails relating directly to your question).

Your data will never be shared with a third party and it is kept in a secure database on our servers, with limited personnel access.

You have the right to have your data deleted at any time and also to get a copy of your data on file. For any related queries, please send us a message using the form on the Who we are page.