Importing from the UK - definitive guide (Q&A)

ma88 wrote: »

for example the uk reg is FZ57SVF,after register in Ireland will that be 08 -D-...(2008 year Irish,when the uk is september 2007)?thanks.

No, if it is a UK 57 reg from Sept 2007, if registered in Ireland it would be a 07 reg.

sasol wrote: »

But UK reg 57 runs from Sept 2007 to end of Feb 2008 ? So it would be possible to have a 08-D car that would have originated with a 57 UK reg ?

I am not doubting you - just want to make sure my understanding is correct

Your understanding is absolutely correct; it is the date of the registration which is relevant not the index which is maintained in the UK. 57 can be either 07 or 08 in Ireland depending on the reg date.

Hi Folks,

I have a few questions about importing a car from the UK.

1. What documentation should I expect from the seller. Is it like Ireland where we fill out the log book and post it off. Any tips to make sure I don't get duped.

2. Insurance. When driving the car over to Ireland, how does insurance cover work? Do I inform my own insurance company or will they even accept a uk reg?

3. Arriving in Ireland. Do I need to inform the revenue/NCT before I come back or after etc?

Complete novice here so apologies in advance.

TheBoffin wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I have a few questions about importing a car from the UK.

1. What documentation should I expect from the seller. Is it like Ireland where we fill out the log book and post it off. Any tips to make sure I don't get duped.

No.
You need to take car's registration certificate (V5C) with you
Seller might be wary to hand you that document, as normally it works in UK like in Ireland - that you fill in the details. But there is exception for selling vehicle for export abroad, where only option is for seller to hand you over the document.

2. Insurance. When driving the car over to Ireland, how does insurance cover work? Do I inform my own insurance company or will they even accept a uk reg?

They should.
But it's probably good idea to ring them before you go, and ask.
Otherwise you might purchase short term cover in UK, but quite likely it will be only thrid party, and not cheap.

3. Arriving in Ireland. Do I need to inform the revenue/NCT before I come back or after etc?

You have 1 week from moment of arriving in Ireland, to start the registration process (in other words to log into NCTS VRT website and book appointment).

din0saur wrote: »

Thought this might be of interest, apologies if already posted..

13th Aug 2013

Geraldine Herbert (wheelsforwomen.ie) and Anthony Kieran (usedcarsNI.com) joined Anton to talk through the process of buying a used car from the UK and Northern Ireland and what you should look out for while doing so.

http://www.todayfm.com/Importing-a-used-car-from-the-UK

Thought Geraldine hadnt a clue about importing a car, I bought my car from a website and didnt go over to see the car before I put a deposit on it, I did however arrange for the AA to do a complete vehicle check on it before i paid anymore

Also if I am not mistaken, auctions are not the best places to buy a car?

auctions can be a good place to pick a car up in the uk if you go well before hand and have a look at the cars, some decent cars can be picked up for buttons.
A few people i used to know, used to go to auctions quite often mainly to buy cars for breaking as there is usually profit if they go cheap enough.
Ive been to a few in the past but never actually won anything at them usually as the price went above what i wanted to pay or on closer inspection of the vehicle it wasnt worth the money imo

Key the current UK Reg into the following site and it will give you the exact VRT for your model as registered, with the exception of any potential loading for optional extras which are (but not always) taxed separately.

http://www.motorcheck.ie/blog/vrt-calculator/

dnme wrote: »

I dunno, Its hard to trust this thing. It came back with a OMSP of €14k on a 2012 Mazda with low miles CX-5 (VRT of just over 2k). Car in Ireland is worth about 20K minimum.

Then more often or not it returns "Unfortunately we were not able to calculate a VRT amount for this vehicle".

Not to be trusted IMO.

i agree i inputted the uk reg of my landrover series 3 1977 and it said


Vehicle: Land Rover RANGEROVER 4.2 4.2 VOGUE LSE 05DR 5dr, Manual, Petrol, ESTATE

Registered: June, 2002
Mileage: 54,000 mile
CO2: 999g/km
OMSP: €3,182
VRT Band: 36%
VRT Payable: €1,145

seems that motorcheck is not a lucky one with the exact vrt amount or does not give the correct car details,are there any other ways to check that?as ros has more options for the car i was looking for,where the prices differs.

Edgey75 wrote: »

yeah rather worryingly considering the land rover is 1977 a different model 3 door and 2286cc and it shows up as a incorrect range rover.
to top it all off it arrived in my spam box

i dont know of any other sites that are usefull or accurate in finding out the exact vrt, im gambling with the land rover myself but being 1977 im not expecting a bank breaking sum, and it was still loads cheaper than buying the same vehicle here, so far im about 3k cheaper than buying the same vehicle here and its in better condition too.

Try give them a ring and ask them or if you're near an NCT centre pop in.

Marcusm wrote: »

Being 1977, no VRT is due on importation! The reduction in VRT is 100% for cars older than 30 years.

Oops of course I mean no ad valorem VRT but still a €200 standard charge.

i thought as much but wasnt sure, its booked in for later this month

Looking for the same - best way to pay for the car in UK. What I've found:
1. AIB not allowed to transfer by internet banking more that €5000;
2. There are a limit on debit cards: €2500;
3. You could put money on your credit card and pay from it, but dealers wouldn't like to accept credit cards;

FastFullBack wrote: »

Hey guys.
Planning to buy from the UK and want to use transfermate. Just wondering what the typical fee involved is? And what exactly is the service you use from them? You obviously have the bank transfer details setup before you're in the UK and then once you've seen the car and your happy with it ring them up and tell them go ahead with the transfer? Then wait until the money is transferred and you're go to go?

Also has anyone ever successfully negotiated the price down with cargiant?

Have used Transfermate and there is no real fee if I can remember, maybe 30eur, they make their fee on the sterling rate on the value of the transaction that they give you on a particular day which is valid for 3 days or 7 days?

You have to setup an account with them first which is free (passport, utility bill, sign a form with an accountant, garda etc) for money laundering.
You should create the account sooner rather then later so you are ready to go if you see a car. Have used them a few times. no bad experience and they are prompt.

DieselPowered wrote: »

Have used Transfermate and there is no real fee if I can remember, maybe 30eur, they make their fee on the sterling rate on the value of the transaction that they give you on a particular day which is valid for 3 days or 7 days?

You have to setup an account with them first which is free (passport, utility bill, sign a form with an accountant, garda etc) for money laundering.
You should create the account sooner rather then later so you are ready to go if you see a car. Have used them a few times. no bad experience and they are prompt.

How it works on Uk side? You just drop a call to Transfermatethem and then waited for transfer complete? How long it usually takes?