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

danyosan · 05-09-2005 11:06pm

MrC wrote:

Who said I was referring to you?

Well considering you this right after my account I'd say it's a good bet you were referring to me.
"Good to see Boards has no problem publishing accounts of how to dodge mandatory compliance with the taxation legislation of the State. "

And if by your interpretation of the law, you have to pay the tax 24hrs after coming into the country, why wasnt I charged the tax when I proved to the tax office I had been in the country for 6 months?
Dont you think that there is a provision for people to decide whether they are going to live in the country or not before they decide to re-register their car?

Ronanom · 10-09-2005 5:52pm

Hi,
Can someone answer this...

A UK reg car is in my sisters name (she lives in UK at the moment) and is currently at our home house in ireland. Am i able to drive the car (under hibernian's driving other cars policy) with the uk reg here?

danyosan · 14-09-2005 5:30pm

Yes you are entitled to drive it. I know this because recently I went back to Scotland and had the use of my Fathers car. So I contacted Hibernian and they said it was ok to drive a UK reg'd car whilst I was over there.

Ronanom · 15-09-2005 1:24pm

danyosan wrote:

Yes you are entitled to drive it. I know this because recently I went back to Scotland and had the use of my Fathers car. So I contacted Hibernian and they said it was ok to drive a UK reg'd car whilst I was over there.

Ya, but from the point of view of the customs is it ok?

jayok · 15-09-2005 6:54pm

If it's not your car then customs cannot make you register it!

Ronanom · 16-09-2005 12:15pm

jayok wrote:

If it's not your car then customs cannot make you register it!

Hmmm but that seems too easy of a solution...doesn't it?

jayok · 16-09-2005 3:43pm

Well it's just that easy. If you are driving your sister's car and it's not in your name there is feck all the revenue can do about it. They need to sort this out with your sis. However, there is a 3 month limit on how long a car can stay in this country on foreign plates, it is much abused at the moment, but it is the law. If you are planning on driving it for longer than this then you will have to register.

PaulieC · 28-09-2005 12:18pm

The discussion so far (mostly) seems to be focussed on importing pre-owned or pre-registered cars from the UK. I have been looking at a new Renault Grand Scenic 1.9 DCI Dynamique and have found several car supermarkets in England with pre-registered cars for sale at way below the list price. So it looks to work out like this. Sale price is 14,000 stg. As car is unregistered, I can claim VAT back which leaves the price at 11,914 stg. Converting to Euro gives a price of approx 18,000 EUR. Add VAT @21% to that gives 21780 EUR and finally add the VRT of 7645 EUR to give a grand total (without travelling expenses etc.) of 29425 EUR. List price for the same car here is 34,480 EUR.

Is it that easy? or am I missing something ?

ds20prefecture · 28-09-2005 12:34pm

why not pay VAT at 17.5%?

PaulieC · 28-09-2005 2:19pm

Because the VAT rate is 21% in this country. It's 17.5% in the UK

jayok · 30-09-2005 11:56am

Is it that easy? or am I missing something ?

Unless you're registered for VAT, I think you'll find it doesn't seem to work like that.

Basically in the UK the seller will have to charge you VAT if you are not VAT registered. So you'll have 17.5% on the UK price. On top of this because it's a car that's less than six months the Revenue here will charge you the VRT (as expected) and the VAT @ 21% on the price again!! :mad:

I know you've already paid VAT in an EU state and legally shouldn't have to pay it again. However, this legal requirement seems to bypass the Revenue here. Either way you'll have to pay the 21% VAT here if it's new. Dealers who import don't have to worry about this as they are VAT registered.

(BTW registering for VAT is not a trivial matter and I wouldn't suggest you do it just for this transaction).

<edit> From the Revenue's website - Document on VRT

13. When is VAT chargeable and payable?

In the case of a new means of transport i.e. land vehicles (excluding agricultural tractors) that were supplied six months or less after the date of first entry into service or have travelled 6,000 Kilometres or less, VAT is chargeable and normally payable at the time of registration in the State, even where there is evidence, e.g. an invoice, that VAT was paid in the country of purchase.

VAT is also chargeable and normally payable at the time of registration in the State of vehicles (both new and used) that are imported from outside the fiscal territory of the EU.

PaulieC · 30-09-2005 1:29pm

thx Jayok. I have the number for the UK Customs and Excise office to check on the VAT payment.
Obviously, it wouldn't be a viable transaction if I couldn't get the UK VAT back. I don't know if you have to be VAT registered though - as far as I can ascertain, once the car is unregistered and you can prove it's for export, you can either a) not pay it or b) claim it back.
Will report back when I know more

eth0_ · 11-10-2005 6:44pm

Quick question - i've not owned a car before and i'm not on anyones insurance, but i'm planning on buying a car up the north next month.
When I buy it, can I just ring up Quinn etc and explain that I need cover on a UK reg for the month or do you need to be an existing customer for them to do this?

Bluehair · 12-10-2005 4:19pm

eth0_ wrote:

When I buy it, can I just ring up Quinn etc and explain that I need cover on a UK reg for the month or do you need to be an existing customer for them to do this?

I did the same thing a few weeks ago with FBD, no probs with the car being on the UK reg for a while just give them a call once you have your new plates and youre sorted.

eth0_ · 14-10-2005 12:20am

Bluehair wrote:

I did the same thing a few weeks ago with FBD, no probs with the car being on the UK reg for a while just give them a call once you have your new plates and youre sorted.

Nice one!

Did you have to fax the a copy of your driving licence beforehand though?

Bluehair · 14-10-2005 7:39pm

eth0_ wrote:

Nice one!

Did you have to fax the a copy of your driving licence beforehand though?

Nope, just the ncb from previous insurer. To be honest I've been nothing but impressed by FBD especially on the phone to them, to my amazement a human being answers every time by the second ring and they always seem to know their stuff (plus they were the cheapest by far at least for me).

Just rang them a few days ago as well with the new reg, I did fax through the RF100 to them just to show it and they posted out a new disc straight away.

LordSutch · 27-10-2005 8:54pm

rogue.goofball wrote:

Robert,
You seem to go for UK imports rather than from the North. As you have experience with importing, perhaps you have good reasons for this?

Stop trying to confuse us 'goofball', the North is already in the UK so importing a car into the Republic from that part of the UK is the same as importing from 'Britain' the only difference being that if you import from 'Britain' you will incur the (Extra Freight charges).....!

shamrock12345 · 19-11-2005 12:02pm

Well here one that i need some info on, have an english car in ireland which i havent re registerd although i have now been instructed to do so and the VRT is huge so i said well i dont have it so i will just get rid of the car. He then said u cant do that as its been here too long (12 months on and off). The way in which he said this instantly made me think hes lying as he didnt say that much when i told him i would get rid of it then suddenly changed his line and said his boss want the vrt paid on it even though bare in mind this was over the phone and he didnt tell me to hang on while he asked his boss, so they must be telepathically linked or somthing. soall of a sudden he says i cant do it. To me it sounded like someone who got flusterd and didnt want to c a large amount of vrt go out the window.

So can i just take the car back to england and get rid of it.?

As i cant c how they can stop me as im a british citizen so hes saying im not allowed to leave the country with the car? and if the car is no longer in the country then how can they make me pay vrt on it? Any info or advice would be much appreciated especially seeing as its the weekend and i cant get hold of the accountant or the lawyer.

jayok · 19-11-2005 12:13pm

Interesting one shamrock12345. I suppose it boils down to whether or not you are a resident in Ireland. If you are a resident then you will be forced to pay the VRT. If not then there's not a whole lot they can do other than threaten you. I would imagine that if it was that much of a problem for the inspector he just would have impounded it straight away.

Either way, if you are resident in Ireland, you need to register it for VRT or sell it. British citizenship has nothing to do with it, you are resident here and as such required to obey Irish laws.

Seeing as you cannot register it here as the VRT is too high) which makes me think you ARE resident here) you will need to sell it in the UK. The only thing is that I don't know if the Revenue can come to you after the fact and try to clawback VRT! :eek: TBH unless there's a huge amount involved, I would just sell it and keep a low profile.

shamrock12345 · 19-11-2005 12:30pm

Well thats what i was thinking and i imagine it would be pretty difficult for them to claw back something on a vehicle that is no longer in the country, as they would have to prove exactly how long the car was in the country for but this guy isnt just going to go away. but like i said he changed his story mid conversation and started putting pressure on me to pay the VRT so it sounded to me like he just didnt want to lose the VRt as he proaberly didnt expect me to just turn round and say fair enough i will sell it.But i shall get the accountant or the lawyers advice on monday. But once again another classic example of people mainly me in this case not knowing their rights and legal options and once again another irish department trying to steam roll you and get what they want and not presenting the facts and options.

wanwarlock · 20-11-2005 11:30pm

hi guys...

my wife just moved to ireland from the uk (in august to be exact) & brought her 95 fiat punto 55s here. it is now our family car. the car is taxed and insured until the end of the month. she's used the car 3 years in the uk previously.

should i change the plates or should i just continue using the uk reg (and somehow get it insured with the uk reg + yearly MOTs up north)?

seeing the car is like 10 years old, i felt it's not worth it to get it reg here.

any advice???

thanks

ambro25 · 21-11-2005 10:03am

wanwarlock wrote:

hi guys...

(etc.)

any advice???

thanks

Aside from
_ IE Road Tax (depends on engine size),
_ IE insurance (not that much of a difference if you're not a young driver + you've got good NCB + you go for TPFT instead of fully-comp)
_ and NCT/MOT (€50-odd),

it shouldn't cost you anything (but time) to put it on IE plates. No VRT applicable as you've owned car more than 6 months before importing + considering car & value, if you do your maths right, I don't think you'd save that much compared to (i) a yearly trip up North + (ii) risk of impounding.

Hagar · 21-11-2005 10:37am

Some advice please.

I'm an Irishman legally resident in France.
I'm thinking of importing a second-hand car from the UK into France.
Second-hand cars are surprisingly expensive in France.

I have a good idea of the registration end of things here in France. So that is not really a concern for me.

I really want to know what are the technicalities of buying a second-hand car in the UK without a UK address?

jayok · 21-11-2005 12:06pm

really want to know what are the technicalities of buying a second-hand car in the UK without a UK address?

Well apart from the need to have ensured that the car is mechanically sound and the fact it is a RHD model there are no difficulties really.

Whether in Ireland or France the sale of a car to a non-resident is viewed the same by the UK DVLA. You simply pay your money and you have your V5 certificate. You can modify your address for France on this and submit it to the DVLA. Within a month you will then get a certificate of export this is all the legal requirements from the UK's perspective.

The only thing is I don't know about the French reg system....

Hagar · 21-11-2005 1:00pm

Thanks for that Jayok. I'm specifically looking for LHD cars in the UK as they are worth less there

. They are scarce enough to find but I'm not in a big hurry so I can wait until something suitable turns up.

wanwarlock · 21-11-2005 7:15pm

ambro25 wrote:

Aside from
_ IE Road Tax (depends on engine size),
_ IE insurance (not that much of a difference if you're not a young driver + you've got good NCB + you go for TPFT instead of fully-comp)
_ and NCT/MOT (€50-odd),

it shouldn't cost you anything (but time) to put it on IE plates. No VRT applicable as you've owned car more than 6 months before importing + considering car & value, if you do your maths right, I don't think you'd save that much compared to (i) a yearly trip up North + (ii) risk of impounding.

thanks ambro25. hope i can get a few hours off work to sort this out.

michaelanthony · 30-11-2005 12:16pm

Regarding the first post, it says that you pay the VRT, the get a certificate in the post a few days after. Woth this you go the the motor tax office and tax the car for the first time. I paid my VRT and didn't get anything in the post .I rang the VRT office and was told that I should take the car to the tax office, tax it and then I should receive the registration docs in the post. I'm getting it taxed today. Can anyone verify this?

jayok · 30-11-2005 12:28pm

paid my VRT and didn't get anything in the post .I rang the VRT office and was told that I should take the car to the tax office, tax it and then I should receive the registration docs in the post. I'm getting it taxed today. Can anyone verify this?

You won't get your reg documents after the VRT as they changed the system a short while ago (about 1.5 years). Bascially you should have got an RF-100A form from them that is stamped - use this to tax the car. Once the car is taxed you will receive the reg docs in the post 2 weeks later.

michaelanthony · 30-11-2005 3:25pm

Cheers. Just got it taxed and they said they'd post the cert out.

brophy · 08-12-2005 12:17am

Ok then here is what i am thinking of doing with a m8 of mine!

I want to get a car so i will go and source one(i live in dublin) either up the north or over in england.

When i decided on what i am goin to get, probally a 318ci i am goin to get him to purchase it. So the car will be in his name.

He has a house down here in the Republic so can he bring that car into the south under the VRT exemption. Does he get the southern plates put on then?

If he does can i just go as a named driver on the car so in theory i will be driving the car i bought but it's in his name. So in 12 months time insurance is up and the car can be sold on and he can just change the ownership into my name.

So i have saved on the VRT?

Is it possible for me to do this?????

Bluehair · 08-12-2005 10:28am

brophy wrote:

Is it possible for me to do this?????

One problem is that even if your mate can meet the requirements(remember he must be living and working in the UK for 12 months minimum and own the car there for 6 months minimum before bringing it back) he will also have to prove he is moving back permanently.

I know someone who attempted something similar. A quick phone call to his employer threw a major spanner in the works apparently. I don't think he got in trouble over it but he definately didn't get the car in vrt free.

cardude · 09-12-2005 11:56am

Just to clrarify as I am going to the North tomorrow for a car - the dealer will normally send the V5C cert to Swansea and I get some sort of cert from them with which I can pay the vrt due??

In the unlikely event of getting the cert, can I go straight to my helpful vrt man and pay the amount there and then???

Also, is the online indicator usually correct? I cant get the exact model of the car I'm looking at but its pretty close (its called a Laguna SE as opossed to the Laguna RT Sport listed on the site).

Thanks for the help,

Robertr · 09-12-2005 12:30pm

I've had this problem a few times where the seller of the car thinks that they have to send the V5 to the DVLA. This is not true. The DVLA will just send it back to you saying that they cannot process it for poeple living outside the UK. Also, it will delay you for a few weeks in registering your car as you need this. Since you are required to register within 24 hours of bringing it into the country you would have to keep the car off the road until you get it.

Not sure about the site. There are so many options you really have to make sure that you have selected everything correctly. If you still can't find it then give them a call. It will be different.

Matt Simis · 28-12-2005 12:19pm

How useful is the VRT Online Enquiry checker (https://www.ros.ie/VRTEnquiryServlet/showVRT) anyhow? It shows VW Beetles as worth somewhat less than they tend to get 2nd hand, which is of course a good thing. Do the VRO use the same baseline values as the online system?

Matt

quarryman · 28-12-2005 12:43pm

yes

Tipsy Mac · 29-12-2005 11:44am

How do you all manage insurance for the drive back to Ireland? Will your Irish insurance company transfer your policy over for the temporary change of car until you get it back to Ireland and re registered?

quarryman · 30-12-2005 10:26pm

yes.

these are easy. next!

Tipsy Mac · 01-01-2006 2:10pm

quarryman wrote:

yes.

these are easy. next!

That's great, I think I will be heading over in the next few months to get myself a nice bargain.

Soupi · 03-01-2006 3:21pm

this thread is by far the most helpful i've ever read. i drive a 94 honda civic at the moment and will be going over to england within the next 3-4 weeks to get a 01-02 civic and all the questions i had (i think) have been answered.

i'll post up any questons i think of, thanks lads

spockety · 05-01-2006 4:21pm

Just following up with a link that someone else had posted elsewhere on the board.

I think I'm gonna give these guys a browse at some stage:

www.cargiant.co.uk

hit_the_decK · 06-01-2006 2:45pm

im thinking of bringing in a comercial vechicle.
id like to know if anyone has experience of this. what to look for .
willing to spend 5k stg..approx.

odonnell · 07-01-2006 11:12pm

Guys, this is some thread - well done to yous. Now i have a fairly bothersom query for someone to have a crack at if at all possible. Unfortunately the details are hard and fast and i dont have a lot of room for manouever with it so here goes.

Im moving to Dub in Feb. I have a car, still under finance - but intend to hand it back at the half way stage in 12 months time (you can do this in Scottish Law...termination of agreement).
I cannot change the plates, and technically am not supposed to take the far outside the UK (but wholl know eh?). Does anyone know what i need to do to bring my car over for the 12 months?

- I cant change the plates - so how do i pay road tax?
- Will anyone insure me from Dublin with UK plates and still registered in UK?
- Who?

Thanks guys! If yous could help id be completely flabbergasted. Ive been hitting walls with this one for weeks now, i think all i need is someone to insure me.

Ed

jimmycrackcorm · 09-01-2006 4:01pm

odonnell wrote:

Im moving to Dub in Feb. I have a car, still under finance - but intend to hand it back at the half way stage in 12 months time (you can do this in Scottish Law...termination of agreement). Ed

wouldn't you be better to take it in VRT free, and sell it after 12 months, pay back the finance co. and pocket the profit?

Irish Insurance companies should allow you to insure non-irish registrations - I and my brothers have sucessfully insured northern registered cars.

5leander5 · 10-01-2006 11:28pm

Hi,

Quick question. On the ferry trip from UK to Ireland, if you book online, does the ferry company stamp your printout or give you some type of confirmation docket? If I book online, can I use this printed confirmation number to give to the VRO as proof of vehicle entry? I am importing a used car. I have driven from Ireland to UK before using an online confirmation number, and I never received any ticket or docket. I am wondering if things are diferent if you are coming the other way?

Thanks.

synchro · 12-01-2006 8:52pm

I'm wondering which is it, is it the irish book value or the price I paid for in the Uk before or after VAT?
THANKS

HotRodDub · 13-01-2006 10:24am

The Irish book price unfortunately, so if you picked up a car outside the country for a bargain, the VRT will be the same as if you bought the car for twice the price.

sprite0 · 15-01-2006 3:15pm

Just thought Id let you know how I have had almost free motoring for the last few years. Last February I bought a Ford Mondeo Zetec TDci (130bhp) in the UK. Car was 6 months old with 10.5k on clock. Also had 2 1/2 years warranty remaining which is valid in Ireland. Cost at the time was 15200 Euro. VRT cost me a further 6800 Euro. Total cost was 22000 Euro. The car is still worth close to 22000. Have been offered 24000 on trade in. I sell every year for roughly the same amount as I paid originally. There are numerous reputable car supermarkets in the UK and most of them are used to dealing with Irish buyers. The best bargaing are the popular fleet cars e.g. Mondeo or Vectra but you can make savings on lots of others. Workmate has just picked up a 02 Reg Merc C200 Kompressor A/T Elegance with all the extras for 22500 Euro including VRT.:D

vodka-babe · 15-01-2006 7:29pm

Hi there

I have a question if someone can help me.

I am a UK resident and I am moving to Ireland Permanently thanks to an Irish man !!!. I had a quick read through all the threads and somewhere someone mentioned that if you are a resident of the UK for more then 10 years then you don't have to pay VRT on Cars is this true ??

The thing is I’ve just bought a second hand car 3 months ago here in the UK but I’m planning on moving over to Ireland next month.

Because the car is registered for less then 6 months with me here will I have to pay VRT or does the fact that I’m a full UK resident for more then 10 years over-ride this !! Or can I come over on a 3 month holiday

and then register the car to get away with paying the VRT . I take it that being a UK resident means they won't look into it as much Will they ??

Also if I’m buying a another second hand car in a few years . Will I also get away with paying VRT . Due to the fact I’ll have a UK bank account and a UK address. Or do I lose all these advantages as soon as I register to work in Ireland and/or transfer my licence to an Irish one (infact do I need to do this or is the UK licence good enough)

Any help is appreciated as it's all a bit confusing to me

Thanks alot

macplaxton · 16-01-2006 12:07am

Another 2 questions,

I live in the UK and have a car I'm planning to bring over when I move to Dublin in May or June. I've owned it over 6mths, but at this moment in time it is not registered in my name (*Registered keeper is not necessarily the legal owner - as the thing says on the V5C). Would the Revenue be hell bent on charging me €50 VRT (classic car) or would a separate receipt indicating that I OWNED the car over six months suffice? (Or should I just get the name changed pronto and postpone bringing it in for 6 months?, €50 is a lot of money for a tightwad like me)

I also have a Reliant 3 wheeler. Is it a car, or a motorbike, or a tricycle as far as the tax and insurance goes? Or would it be just a complete nightmare to import?

Cheers,
Rich

yop · 16-01-2006 11:00am

SpriteO - Where did you buy would you mind me asking? Seems like an excellent price

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

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