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

Can we import our two cars from the UK?

Hi,

With reference to your importing feature, I was wondering how much of this would apply to me? I am moving to Ireland with my partner who is an Irish citizen and we both want to bring our cars with us. Both are UK-registered in 2015 and both have been owned for around three years. Are we going to get charged large fees to do this or are we going to exempt due to having owned them and not just buying to import i.e. is the terminology related to the latter and we have nothing to worry about?

One of the cars is a 3.0-litre diesel, so wondering what tax band that would fall under?

Many thanks

Alex

Alex Parris (Gorey)

Jul 2021 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


We want to import our Mercedes from the UK.

We want to import our Mercedes-Benz into Ireland from the UK. We understand that VRT needs to be paid, but do not understand the VAT element. What is the VAT due on? On the value of the car, or the VRT that needs to be paid?

Jim Com (Ireland)

Aug 2021 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


How to get a Nissan Navara insured privately?

Hi,

I recently bought a Nissan Navara privately and I can’t seem to get it insured for private use. How do I get it insured and taxed privately?

Thanks

Gavin Dolan (Ireland)

Aug 2021 Filed under: insurance

Read our answer...


Will my imported Amarok be VRT-free?

Hi,

I am moving back to Ireland permanently next year from Australia. I own a 2016 VW Amorak that I want to bring back with me. I own the vehicle for more than six months. Can you confirm if I will be exempt from VRT and if there are any other taxes, unexpected costs on arrival in Ireland?

Thank you

Bryan Glynn

Jun 2021 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


What to replace my Mondeo with?

Please point me in right direction. I have a 2018 Ford Mondeo and would like to change in January 2022, so I need some advice. I like diesel. What three cars should I be test driving? Around the size of the Mondeo with five doors. Help!

Fergal Reidy (Celbridge County Kildare)

Jun 2021 Filed under: choosing new car

Read our answer...


Which full-size new seven-seater to go for?

Hi

I currently have a Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace but would like to upgrade to a seven-seater with seven full-sized seats as I'm expecting my fourth child. I'm looking at the SEAT Alhambra, which ticks a lot of boxes, but would prefer a petrol or hybrid option. I can't go electric as parking is on-street and there's no option to plug in. Looking at a 2021 Alhambra so would consider something in a similar price range.

Any advice appreciated,

Karen

Karen Golden (Dublin 6)

Jun 2021 Filed under: choosing new car

Read our answer...


Can I bring two cars to Ireland exempt?

Hi there,

I am going to be moving from UK to Ireland. If I have owned two vehicles for more than six months are both vehicles exempt?

Thanks in advance

Scott Jolly (Ipswich)

Mar 2021 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


Is it ok to keep a UK car here during lockdown?

Hi guys,

My daughter drove home to Dublin from London last October in her UK-registered car. It has been sitting on the road outside the house since then, she drives around occasionally to keep the battery up. She is still here because of the lockdown here and in London. My neighbour has said that if someone reports the car to Customs that they can take it off her and she will have to pay import duty to get it back. She has owned it more than six months. It is her intention that if we and the UK EVER get out of lockdown that she will drive back to London.

She has no money as a result of Covid and is on the Covid payment and came home because she could not afford her rent in London. My husband and myself have been in lockdown for over a year now, we are just not able for the worry of this. Have you any advice please? We do not have a driveway big enough to take this car.

Regards Helen

Helen ONeill (Dublin)

Mar 2021 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


Help me understand import costs please!

Hi,

I am interested in importing a used 3.0-litre V6 Jaguar XF from England (2013-2014 and about £12,000). I am finding the real cost of doing so very confusing especially the VAT implications. If I have to pay the Irish VAT rate of 21% is it possible to avoid paying VAT on the car in the UK or will I be paying VAT in both countries? Also, since the XF is manufactured in the UK does this mean that it is exempt from the 10% customs duties incurred since Jan 2021? Any insight would be much appreciated.

Eoin Murray (Dublin)

Mar 2021 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


I have a unique import question from NI!

I have a two-part question. Can you offer clarification on the distinction between registering a car vs importing a car to NI/ROI after the Brexit cut-off date? Back story: I have a GB reg car and I've been the registered keeper of it for more than two years. I took it to NI in Sep 2020, before the Brexit cut off date of 1 Jan 2021. However, it has still been registered at a GB address, whilst I move between the two countries. I am now ready to register the car in NI at a permanent address.

1) Are there UK custom duties and VAT now attached to this if I register it in NI? Or because the car was taken (can I say imported?) to NI before the cut off date - just not registered - is the process the same pre-Brexit? It is still registered at an English address. I would specifically like to check if registering the vehicle in NI before the cut off date was necessary to avoid the extra UK import fees due to Brexit?

2) When I subsequently move to the ROI, will the car be subjected to Irish Customs Duty, VAT and VRT? I keep reading used cars from Northern Ireland will not be subjected to the new customs/VAT fees but I'm not sure if this is applicable to the car detailed above. Revenue.ie state: "You can register a vehicle registered before 1 January 2021 without any checks on the customs status if it was registered: i) in Northern Ireland or ii) to a person resident in Northern Ireland". So whilst it wasn't registered in Northern Ireland, it was registered to a person with an address in Northern Ireland before the cut off date.

Any information is gratefully received.

Cheers

Caroline Ponsonby (Lisburn)

Mar 2021 Filed under: importing

Read our answer...


4,972 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.