Thoughts on my Golf's timing belt interval?

Hi,

Re: timing belt interval on Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI (Mark 7.5, first registered 2019).

Has Volkswagen changed the intervals on timing belts? When I bought my 2019 Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI I enquired as to the interval for the timing belt and was informed that it would need replacing at 240,000km or if that mileage was not reached it should last the life of the vehicle.

Today when I scheduled my car for a routine service at about 87,000km I was told that the interval for timing belt is either at five years of age or 120,000km. The cost of replacement at main dealer is a massive €700. I made a point of confirming the timing belt interval when I bought the car to budget for the overall costs of running the car while in my ownership. I feel aggrieved with Volkswagen if it's the case it has changed the interval without notice.

The cynic in me would think VW is merely lining its pockets. Am I taking a risk if I don't change the belt now that the car is five years old although the mileage is only 87,000km?

Thanks, Des

Des D (Maynooth)

Nov 2024 Filed under: servicing

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Should we replace our Tiguan with an EV?

Hello,

We currently own a VW Tiguan R Line and coming to the end of PCP plan in August next year. I am considering a new Tiguan and also the new Skoda Kodiaq. I also have been doing a bit of research into possibly buying an EV. Some are now considerably cheaper than the normal ICE vehicles.

We have three kids and the normal mileage is 25k km per year. Over the next couple of months we are looking at the cost of change. We also chatted about the possibility of keeping our current car for another few years and wait for EVs to get better technology and range. There is also the depreciation aspect of EVs presently and the price of batteries are still falling.

Would it be a good time to change to EV or wait?

Wayne Fitzpatrick (Athy)

Oct 2024 Filed under: choosing new car

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Will I have to pay VAT and VRT on this MG?

Hi,

I'm looking to import a 50-year-old MG from Northern Ireland (NI). The current owner in NI has owned the car since May 2024, so less than six months. The previous owner also lived in NI, but there is no way to prove that from the V5 document, or from MOT certificates which are no longer required. The car has an original UK mainland registration.

Given the comment 'Proof will be required that the vehicle has been in private ownership for a reasonable period of time’, stated on the Revenue pages, will the import be liable for both VAT and VRT?

Thank you for your help

Marcus Wilson (Bandon)

Oct 2024 Filed under: classic cars

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What taxes to pay importing a Tesla or Skoda?

Hi,

I am looking at buying a second-hand Tesla Model 3. I am keeping an eye on some that are in the North. We are talking 2020 Model 3 standard plus with 50,000km done.

From my research I believe I do not have to pay VRT. However, I can’t get clear info on customs duty or any other hidden costs. Can you help? Also, if I was to go for a 2019 Skoda Superb plug-in hybrid, I assume I have to pay VRT and customs duty?

Adrian Miskell (Athenry)

Oct 2024 Filed under: importing

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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