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Previously answered questions
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
Thinking of importing a Combe E from the North...
Hi,
I'm considering importing an electric Vauxhall Combo E from a Vauxhall dealer in NI. It's a 2022 model with 10k miles on the clock. It was originally registered in the UK mainland and as of yet not been registered in NI. What would the VRT, VAT implications be if I where to purchase this vehicle?
Thanks in advance
Willie Nugent (Dublin)
Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
Thinking of getting a BMW i3...
Hi,
Are EVs exempt from VRT if looking to import one? Having trouble with the Passat and if and when it gets sorted my wife wants it gone and to treat ourselves so started looking at used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe but tow truck friend warning us away from the 2.0 diesels: "doesn't matter who had it, where or how often it's been serviced or easy life, they are all trouble." And 3.0 diesel harder to find here but still give timing chain trouble.
Son is 20 and learning to drive so depending on cost to fix may dictate keeping it so third car turning to a BMW i3. When I met my wife she drove a SEAT Arosa and we kept that and I used it for my backroad commute to work for years as economical second car runabout.
With fuel, both diesel and petrol rising it might tick a few boxes to look at small economical runabout, it's auto so will suit both wife and son and our first step into EV.
Earlier with the range extender seems lower on the recommend list compared to the later fully electric 2018 onwards or i3S model.
ROS VRT site looks like it has had an update and gave both i3 and i3S options but wasn't clever enough to blank out NOx and CO2 fields. When checking rates for i3S it auto filled a figure for NOx, which I just cancelled out.
Ideally I'd like to buy from a BMW or SIMI dealer with history and warranty and liked your article on importing from Northern Ireland.
Appreciate any advice on importing an i3 (or 4 Series Gran Coupe) from up North
Regards
Damien McGettrick (Lusk)
Sep 2024 Filed under: electric cars
Can I convert my commercial Land Cruiser?
Hi,
Currently driving a 2010 LWB Toyota Land Cruiser (commercial). Now with the arrival of two small boys, I cannot bring them with me when driving. Can I change it from commercial to business/passenger and if so what is the process for same?
Patrick Fitzgerald (Tipperary)
Sep 2024 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Should we go for a new or used Skoda Enyaq?
Hi
We have a 2020 SEAT Leon (most recent design) which we own outright. We are thinking of changing to an electric car, possibly an Enyaq. Can you please give a view on whether it’s better to go for a one-year-old Enyaq or to go for PCP on a new one (probably early next year) but we wish to minimise the cost of changing.
Suggestions on alternative but similar cars would also be appreciated which would maximise the value we might get for our car. Any advice on this conundrum would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Colin Ryan (Malahide)
Sep 2024 Filed under: choosing new car
Are my calculations right on importing this Honda?
Hi,
I've recently paid a substantial deposit on a car in Northern Ireland. (I/we live in Ireland). We bought a petrol car as the import charges are a lot less than diesel. I worked it out to be approximately €196 NOx charge and about €1,200 VRT. In total the cost of the car is under £3,000 Sterling. It is a 2012 Honda CR-V 2.0 petrol.
Can you please advise me urgently as I was going to collect my new car this weekend. If I’m being misled please let me know so I can try to stop the sale due to this discrepancy and get my refund back.
Thanks
Raymond O Callaghan (Slane)
Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
Costs to import a 2018 campervan?
I'd like to import a 2018 campervan...
If I were to import a campervan, what are the payments I would need to think about: VRT, NOx, customs, VAT? How could I know for sure before importing a campervan what value would be considered OMSP because from Irish sites the prices seem to be very varied, which is a problem.
Cait NiRiain (Dublin)
Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
Looking to buy a new small car for under €30,000.
I am looking to gift a car to my wife. With a range of 242 offers, I am inclined to buy a new one. She is still taking her driving lessons and needs hand controls to drive the car due to her foot disability.
She needs a small car with two mandatory features: an automatic transmission and adaptive cruise control. I have narrowed down some options with the budget I have for €30k, but confused what to consider: Suzuki Swift, Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris Luna Hybrid, Dacia Sandero Stepaway or MG3 Hybrid? I am open to suggestions but it should have the two mandatory features.
Thanks
Ankit Gulati (Dublin)
Sep 2024 Filed under: choosing new car
I'd like to import a 2018 campervan...
I would like to import a lovely UK converted campervan that's a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter long van, with probably about 100k on the clock. How much would I expect to pay to import it? Will it be Band 20 or 13.3 per cent VRT? What's the OMSP of that vehicle? Is it the base van or the random price for a camper on DoneDeal?
Cait NiRiain (Dublin)
Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
Looking to import a VW ID.3...
Hi, looking to import a 2022 Volkswagen ID.3 with 12,000 miles on the clock. It was owned and registered to a garage in the North.
The VRT Calculator indicates a zero charge on both VRT and NOx. My question is regarding the VAT, as the vehicle is registered to a garage, rather than a private individual, and zero VAT has been paid. The garage have agreed to give me an invoice to show I would have paid the the 23 per cent VAT on the purchase price. My understanding from talking to VRT office, because it is registered to a garage it will have paid zero VAT, so I will have to pay it here in the south. Where as if it was a private individual the VAT would have been paid in the North at the time of purchase.
Am I liable for VAT on it here in the South? Any advice or help appreciated thanks.
Des Minihan (Ennis)
Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
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