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

Robertr · 2004-07-26 21:05:36

For those looking to save a few quid here is my difinitive guide to importing cars from the UK based on my own experiences. Firstly here is the best information you can get: Revenue.ie - VRT When you want to get a car from the UK there are a few rules to follow: (1) You will have to pay VRT on any car coming into Ireland…

Comments

#52 08-01-2005 9:13pm

Seth Brundle

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Mentioned in another thread - Ireland retains the details of offences by foreign cars and will apply all the points onto those licences when there is shared points info accross Europe

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#53 08-01-2005 9:22pm

mad_martian

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yeah sorry just saw thread there - can't wait!!! I am just hoping to muddy the waters....comitted offence in company car (irish reg) - gave them NI licence details and paid fine using UK credit card as my Irish residency is "temporary" - but they'll get me in the end one way or t'other.

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#54 10-01-2005 10:49pm

Silvera

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Robertr,

Good info in your original post.

But why not buy from a 'private buyer' ?
Surely this is the best place to get a bargain (if you check the car carefully ofcourse!) ?

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#55 11-01-2005 9:18am

ambro25

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Re. private buy in UK instead of dealer (Silvera) -

You can get AA/RAC inspection & HPI check (over the mobile phone) on a private buy just the same as at a dealer. It's just a matter of timing logistics well.

Offer a small (I mean small, e.g. £50 - enough to cover his re-advertising costs) non-refundable deposit to the seller to 'secure' the car while you arrange AA/RAC from afar - if the guy's legit, there shouldn't be any problems whatsoever.

The RAC inspection 'on the roadside' (i.e. at the private seller's place) is just as good as at any garage, and the post-purchase / post-inspection RAC warranty that attaches to the car is just as valid.

Had RAC inspection done on last 3 cars (2 of which were private buys) in UK, HPI check done over the mobile for the last one (Scooby, have to be careful with these ).

I'vge no doubt buying from a UK dealer must feel 'safer' - however, what happens if there's a prob with the car once repatriated, during the warranty period? ship it back to the UK dealer? what if it can't move? So, IMHO, for people looking to import UK cars, private is just as valid as dealer - especially for cheapos (i.e. 5+ yrs old cars).

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#56 29-01-2005 3:26pm

Gatster

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You wouldn't be able to sell the car in Ireland for 12 months after you re-register it. You might be better off selling in the UK rather than waiting a year.

Where does it state this in the VRT stuff on revenue.ie? If RobertR is keeping cars for a few months then selling them, I'm presuming this isn't a fact. I am going to buy a car in the UK as 'stop-gap' until I can get what I want over here (probably about 3-4 months) and then sell it.

I don't see how, when you've paid VRT and everything, that the government can dicate what you do with your property? So what I'm asking is whether this is definitely the case?

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#57 29-01-2005 8:31pm

Seth Brundle

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Gatster wrote:

Where does it state this in the VRT stuff on revenue.ie? If RobertR is keeping cars for a few months then selling them, I'm presuming this isn't a fact. I am going to buy a car in the UK as 'stop-gap' until I can get what I want over here (probably about 3-4 months) and then sell it.

I don't see how, when you've paid VRT and everything, that the government can dicate what you do with your property? So what I'm asking is whether this is definitely the case?

see www.oasis.gov.ie/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/importing_car_into_ireland.html

Government rip off wrote:

NOTE: If you are moving to Ireland and are among those exempt from paying VRT you cannot sell your vehicle for more than 12 months after the vehicle is registered.

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#58 29-01-2005 9:42pm

Gatster

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Cheers. Didn't think it was true, or more accurately doesn't apply to what I'm doing, seeing as I live here and will have paid the VRT...

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#59 12-02-2005 9:14pm

ondafly

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What actually happens when you drive off the ferry in Dublin, with your new pride and joy ? Do you have to register the car there and then with customs ? and then pay the VRT the following day ?

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#60 13-02-2005 2:15am

Ruatha

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No, I think you are "obliged" to register the car ASAP, but plenty of people put it off as long as possible.
If you have a UK address and UK licence you can get away with driving a UK car in Ireland until you're busted and told to go and pay the VRT! I'll be bringing a car over this Summer - I haven't bought it yet. I've been living in the UK for four years now and I want to bring a decent car back that hasn't cost me the earth. I'll drive it on UK plates for as long as I can get away with it, and hopefully after 6 months I can register it without paying the dreaded VRT since I'll have owned it long enough. I plan to keep a bank account and permanent address in the UK anyway, so hopefully I can beat the system!!

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#61 13-02-2005 12:57pm

Seth Brundle

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@ Ruatha - having a UK address and bank account is not enough. Is there much activity on the bank account? Where are your mobile phone bills going to & where are the calls made? What about utility bills?
The revenue will take a lot of persuasion and are not easily beaten!

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#62 13-02-2005 2:40pm

Our man in Havana

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Just found this online https://www.ros.ie/VRTEnquiryServlet/showVRT handy tool indeed.

Also handy for valuing cars aswell.

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#63 13-02-2005 2:49pm

Seth Brundle

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Just found it? It has been posted in several threads here over the last few months (including in a post in this thread to which you replied! - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=2241301&postcount=44).

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#64 13-02-2005 2:53pm

Our man in Havana

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LOL! my bad sorry

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#65 13-02-2005 2:55pm

Seth Brundle

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Bond-007 wrote:

LOL! may bad sorry

You are losing it Brian - take a holiday!

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#66 13-02-2005 3:00pm

Our man in Havana

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kbannon wrote:

You are losing it Brian - take a holiday!

Brian?

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#67 13-02-2005 3:06pm

Seth Brundle

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Bond-007 wrote:

Brian?

LOL - Jaysus, Im losing it myself!

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#68 13-02-2005 5:02pm

lomb

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Ruatha wrote:

No, I think you are "obliged" to register the car ASAP, but plenty of people put it off as long as possible.
If you have a UK address and UK licence you can get away with driving a UK car in Ireland until you're busted and told to go and pay the VRT! I'll be bringing a car over this Summer - I haven't bought it yet. I've been living in the UK for four years now and I want to bring a decent car back that hasn't cost me the earth. I'll drive it on UK plates for as long as I can get away with it, and hopefully after 6 months I can register it without paying the dreaded VRT since I'll have owned it long enough. I plan to keep a bank account and permanent address in the UK anyway, so hopefully I can beat the system!!

ul b grand, u have up to a year to reg it here. best to reg it when u come back for safety sake. i believe they ask a lot of questions. youl need tax returns, utility bills, council tax stubs, and bank accounts with account spending details etc.

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#69 14-02-2005 11:23pm

Ruatha

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@ Ruatha - having a UK address and bank account is not enough. Is there much activity on the bank account? Where are your mobile phone bills going to & where are the calls made? What about utility bills?

Well if I do get charged, I won't be taking it lightly. We're all members of the EU - a supposed "community". It's ridiculous that anyone should have to pay to take a car from one member country to another :mad:
What do you think they would do if people refused to pay and threatened to take it to the European Courts??? If enough people took a stand something would have to give!

R*

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#70 15-02-2005 12:42am

Seth Brundle

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Ruatha wrote:

Well if I do get charged, I won't be taking it lightly. We're all members of the EU - a supposed "community". It's ridiculous that anyone should have to pay to take a car from one member country to another :mad:
What do you think they would do if people refused to pay and threatened to take it to the European Courts??? If enough people took a stand something would have to give!

R*

Irrelevant issue as far as protesting to the EU is concerned as each country is allowed decide their own tax rates. Ireland has opted for a high rate of tax on vehicles and a low corporation tax.
As for people taking a stand, everyone in this country was giving out about FF & the PDs before the last general election and look who they voted for instead!

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#71 15-02-2005 8:10pm

Ruatha

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Once you have imported a car into the country, you not supposed to sell it for a year right?

Does anyone know if this means that ownership of the car cannot be changed too, even if the car is not sold, but just changes hands?? For example a mother giving the car to her daughter.

R*

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#72 15-02-2005 8:42pm

Our man in Havana

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Ruatha wrote:

Once you have imported a car into the country, you not supposed to sell it for a year right?

Does anyone know if this means that ownership of the car cannot be changed too, even if the car is not sold, but just changes hands?? For example a mother giving the car to her daughter.

R*

you can't i'm afraid

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#73 15-02-2005 9:06pm

Gatster

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You can only not sell the vehicle for 12 months if you have claimed exemption on the VRT. Earlier in this thread someone else mentions about keeping cars for a few moths after importing then selling on...

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/importing_car_into_ireland.html[/URL]

Quote from the above site:
"NOTE: If you are moving to Ireland and are among those exempt from paying VRT you cannot sell your vehicle for more than 12 months after the vehicle is registered.

If you are required to pay VRT, then you can sell your vehicle here in Ireland when you wish, once it has been registered. Further information is available from your local VRO."

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#74 15-02-2005 10:38pm

Ruatha

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"NOTE: If you are moving to Ireland and are among those exempt from paying VRT you cannot sell your vehicle for more than 12 months after the vehicle is registered.

Ok, but what if you didn't want to sell it, but were simply giving it to someone - a family member for example? Would a change of ownership be allowed in this instance?

R*

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#75 15-02-2005 10:44pm

Our man in Havana

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nope, sorry.

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#76 15-02-2005 10:50pm

Ruatha

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nope, sorry

Why not, no-one is profiting from it and I thought that was why they didn't want people selling fresh imports?

R*

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#77 16-02-2005 12:27am

Seth Brundle

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Ruatha wrote:

Why not, no-one is profiting from it and I thought that was why they didn't want people selling fresh imports?

R*

Why not? Because the revenue aren't stupid!

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#78 16-02-2005 9:36am

ambro25

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Well, I'm going through all this at the moment.

I've got two UK cars, 1 of which I've owned for more than 6 months in UK. Now moved residence and wanting to IE-reg'it that one first without paying VRT. I've filed the relevant forms and copies of various bills etc. at VRO.
I'll let you all know how it goes from 'authority', as and when Tallaght VRO decides to get their thumb out of their *rse and follow up on the application (it's been 4 weeks already!).

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#79 17-02-2005 3:41pm

Ruatha

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Well, I'm going through all this at the moment.

Please keep us informed!!

R*

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#80 01-03-2005 7:26pm

Robertr

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Getting a few questions from people who want to have a go at making some money selling imported cars. Here are a few tips I would suggest:

- I always compare the price to the lowest price on I can find in Ireland to see if you can make any money.
- Make sure that you include a budget for travel and expenses plus the advertising cost when you are calculating any potential profit
- GET AN INSPECTION DONE! I won't even go into the problems this can cause.
- Try to get low mileage, if someone has to choose between a new car with high mileage and an older one with low mileage they will nearly always go for the low mileage car as that is really what effects the age of the car. Not the amount of time since it was built.
- Do your research, if there are loads of cars of the same type for sale I would not bother with it. If there are only a few it can mean two things, either the car is in demand or there are not many around because not many were bought new.
- DON'T BE GREEDY - this is the biggest mistake most people make. If you think that you might sell the car and make €5,000 profit then settle for €2,000 and sell it quick! Better to sell three cars in a month and make €2,000 each then sell one and make €5,000.
- Get a Dublin reg. People in Dublin are strange about having a D reg. I'm not sure why. You don't want to eliminate that much of the market straight away. When registering the car just put an address of someone you know in Dublin. They will send the registration to that address. Then just do a change of address to your own if you are holding on to the car for a while.

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#81 02-03-2005 9:29pm

kadman

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Hi guys,

I'd be interested on your advice for the following,
If I bring in a car from the UK or from the north, NI, not the north pole,
and scrap it for the engine and gearbox, am I liable for vrt on it.

Thanks
kadman

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#82 02-03-2005 10:14pm

Robertr

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No. VRT is not an import tax. It is a tax that you have to pay to register your car to drive on Irish roads (get and Irish Reg).

If you are only using the Engine and gearbox then you won't need to register the car and no VRT is payable.

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#83 02-03-2005 10:23pm

RicardoSmith

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Robertr wrote:

No. VRT is not an import tax. It is a tax that you have to pay to register your car to drive on Irish roads (get and Irish Reg).

If you are only using the Engine and gearbox then you won't need to register the car and no VRT is payable.

There might be some other form of tax though?

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#84 02-03-2005 10:32pm

kadman

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RicardoSmith wrote:

There might be some other form of tax though?

What other tax. It would be a 7 year old car, not newer than that.

kadman

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#85 02-03-2005 10:54pm

RicardoSmith

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kadman wrote:

What other tax. It would be a 7 year old car, not newer than that.

kadman

You're importing 2nd hand parts.

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#86 02-03-2005 11:10pm

kadman

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No choice...you try getting a replacement engine , and gearbox for a 1.6.ie tempra...

Yeah I know....Fiat..I've heard all the gags before so spare me ..please.
Time does not allow me to repair my own, quicker to do a swap.

I'm restoring my beetle as well at the same time, so I am up to my rrrr's.

I'll take a home grown tempra then if you have one

kadman

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#87 03-03-2005 8:07am

Robertr

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No other taxes once it is from inside the EU.

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#88 03-03-2005 9:36am

kadman

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Music to my ears. Robertr.

Thanks guys for taking the time to post.
kadman

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#89 04-03-2005 3:12pm

ambro25

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Finally got meeting at VRO re. the UK Maz' -> an IE Maz' (hopefully) without paying VRT. Wednesday AM next week, so stay tuned

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#90 09-03-2005 1:22pm

ambro25

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Job done.

Got my RF100 and no VRT paid.

The VRT exemption is not a myth, it does work - but you have to give a lot of evidence (they nearly asked for my blood type... nearly! ).

Just waiting for statistical code from Rosslare now to get an IE registration number (I told you mine was the only MX-5 Berkeley in the Republic!). Then off to get my plates, road tax and sort the NCT out.

Insurance was obtained through Tesco, about €1000 fully-comp' and given a month to provide all official IE details (interestingly, apparently very few IE insurers do convertibles. But that's for the small story).

So that's that. For the thread's purpose, therefore:
1) be good with your paperwork at home, archive everything (bills, bank statements, P60s - virtually anything that shows you were o/seas over 6 months prior to coming over)
2) obviously, all paperwork for the car since bought, including the V5 and preferably the dated receipt of purchase in the UK as well as old UK insurance certificate
3) fill in your IE forms (RF100 and the transfer of residence one, C&E 1077 rev 2)
4) call a VRO and get a 'case officer'
5) mail that to him/her with photocopies of all the 'evidence'
6) wait for the appointment
7) attend the appointment with any more evidence if they have required it when booking the appointment
8) done.

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#91 09-03-2005 1:26pm

magpie

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9) Flog your newly legal convertible and retire on the proceeds

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#92 09-03-2005 2:18pm

Our man in Havana

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magpie wrote:

9) Flog your newly legal convertible and retire on the proceeds

Can't do that for 12 months!:(

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#93 09-03-2005 4:55pm

ambro25

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No question of floggin'it...it's family

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#94 14-03-2005 9:18pm

MustangCobra

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I brought in a 1988 Mustang from the UK,
but when I ring the custom people,
they tell me to ring back.
I presume they don't know what the value is?

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#95 15-03-2005 9:57am

ambro25

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No, I'd imagine it's because they don't have a statistical code for it yet (if it's a one-off in the Republic). Don't bother with customs, do the VRO (VRT) thing first.

Went down to the NCT yesterday to try & see what I need 2 do re. Tax & NCT, since the VRO didn't tell me squat or hasn't forwarded any docs yet (plus, as I was getting antsy re. Mike65's post about checkpoints everywhere and I don't want to put IE plates on if I can't put the Insurance/NCT/Tax stickers out front at the same time - but 3-days rules re. plates).

Guess what? The MX-5 was still not 'in the system' - so I can't pay Road Tax because I don't have a NCT 'PIN' and the Maz' VIN isn't 'in the system', and I could have been waiting weeks, for all I know, before getting my NCT notice.

Done and sorted (hopefully), had the NCT guys manually put the car in with details from the RF100, so should be legit by end of week.

In other words: take the initiative all the way, else it's gonna take you weeks before driving your 'Tang about.

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#96 16-03-2005 9:45am

Ruatha

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Hi Folks,

Sorry to change the topic a bit, but I have a question about the registration number on my UK car.
In the UK the DVLA (motoring authority) are selling old Irish plates as cheap, dateless, private registrations for UK drivers. An example would be BEZ 5180
It just so happens that the car I bought last week (with the intention of importing to Ireland in the Summer) has one of these old Irish registration numbers.
So my question is, will I be able to keep the number since it is actually an Irish one?
I hope I can, it's nice to keep people guessing what year my car is

Thanks,

Ruatha.

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#97 16-03-2005 4:39pm

Interceptor

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Ruatha wrote:

In the UK the DVLA (motoring authority) are selling old Irish plates as cheap, dateless, private registrations for UK drivers. An example would be BEZ 5180
So my question is, will I be able to keep the number since it is actually an Irish one?

Thats a northern irish plate - the DVLA describe them as 'Irish' when they are anything but. You won't be able to keep this when you transfer it over.

'c

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#98 16-03-2005 7:23pm

Ruatha

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The cheeky gits!
Oh well, a boring old plate it will be then

Cheers,

R.

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#99 20-03-2005 11:58am

kadman

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Hi guys, need the benefit of your wisdom again.

I need to bring a car from London, to Dublin. Can anybody reccommend a collection or car delivery company to do this for me . as I am unable to collect it myself at the moment, and the car is a non runner, so needs to be transported.

If you have had a car delivered from England I would be interested in your advice.

Thanks

kadman

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#100 21-03-2005 5:02pm

CJhaughey

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I want to buy an offroad scrambler from Wales , Rang the revenue to clarify and they told me that VRT was applicable even to offroad vehicles , I told em that there was no way it was going to be registered. Deaf Ears.
unreal ,Vehicle registration tax for an unregistered vehicle.
:mad:

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#101 21-03-2005 6:31pm

Our man in Havana

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Just bring it in, if its not gonna be registered, who needs to know.

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