Driving a Car with UK plates

tech

Ok Im thinking of bringing in a car from the UK Audi A4 2.0 TDI Quatto or Saab 93 Diesel, Im just wondering is there anyway in not paying the duty on this or how long can I escape not paying the duty, I will only be using the car @ weekends and it will be garaged all week, so it wont been seem much on the roads.. I have priced paying duty on a Saab 93 THE VRT is about 9000k just to change the plate to a Irish one, I reckon the car would drive perfectly on a UK plate for that price

eth0_

How are you going to insure it? Most insurers will only insure you on a UK plate for 30 days, enough time to register it in Ireland.

If you can't afford it, don't buy it.

tech

yes I plan to ensure this car , is there a way I can use an english compant to ensure this car even tough it will remain in Ireland

eth0_

No. You have to be resident in the UK to have a UK insurance policy. I know Quinn will insure you on UK plates for 30 days after purchase to facilitate people importing cars, but if you don't send them a copy of the VRT certificate within 30 days your insurance is void.

If you try and cheat the system and you have a crash, you will be F*CKED. You could end up in jail for insurance fraud alone.

As a matter of interest, how old are you?
Insurance on an Audi Quattro is going to be mega money if you're under 25. It sounds like you haven't thought this through at all.

Again, don't buy a car you can't legally afford to own or drive.

PowerHouseDan

How long do you have to be a res in the Uk before you dont have to pay the vrt

tech

Im 26 this is only a diesel 4x4 A4, I know friends driving cars over here for over 2 years on UK plates, the like of Honda Type R Civics and 325i BMW's

SoBe

i wonder if you do try to do this will you be posting back when customs seize the car and take it off you?

remember too if the car is under 6 months old you will also have to pay vat

tech

i know but I think its crazt to just give 10k to the Revenue just to change the plates,, dont ye ?

eth0_

PowerHouseDan wrote:

How long do you have to be a res in the Uk before you dont have to pay the vrt

You have to be resident in the UK and the registered owner of the vehicle for 6 months before you can bring it into Ireland without having to pay VRT.

PowerHouseDan

Job, i am moving to england for 3 years next year will invest in a nice Car for myself..

eth0_

tech wrote:

i know but I think its crazt to just give 10k to the Revenue just to change the plates,, dont ye ?

Yes it is crazy money but IT'S THE LAW!

You're a very immature 26 year old if you think you have the right to drive a car illegally just so you can save ten grand.

Your friends who are driving here for two years on UK plates aren't insured.

5500

eth0_ wrote:

Your friends who are driving here for two years on UK plates aren't insured.

There also extremly lucky to still have there cars,Vrt has to be paid by the next working day so i dunno how there getting away with it for that long without having the car seized.

kc66

Iv been driving an English reg car since early September. I am in the process of getting it registered here. My insurance company has me covered fully. I reckon you could drive a car here for a long time before getting caught unless you are very unlucky. I dont condone this but how could the government implement an efficient system to stop it? I dont think they can.

eth0_

kc66 wrote:

Iv been driving an English reg car since early September. I am in the process of getting it registered here. My insurance company has me covered fully. .

Just because they haven't come after you looking for your new certificate of ownership doesn't mean you're 'covered fully'.

Lots of insurers cover learner drivers without having a clause to say they must be accompanied by a qualified driver at all times (as is the law), but will they stand by that if you write off your car and/or kill someone?

kc66

eth0_ wrote:

Just because they haven't come after you looking for your new certificate of ownership doesn't mean you're 'covered fully'.

I double checked and I am covered. Maybe its because they have been informed I am in the process of importing the car?
You cant compare learner drivers to this because as far as Im aware there is no law stating that they will cover you for 30 days and no longer under british plates. That is just the policy the insurance companies hold. The learner drivers issue is law.

mike65

Sigh...why do some poeple think the laws apply to everyone else except them?

Mike.

kc66

I dont understand? I am getting the car imported. I am paying the VRT. It is the system the gov has in place that is slowing things down in this case. I need to drive to get to work (80 miles per day) and pay my taxes every month. So what do you mean?

tech

Hi Just wondering what kind of Car did you import, if you dont mind me asking
and do you believe you mad a good enough saving?

kc66

Its only a 1991 E30 BMW so VRT is cheap. I bought it for 1/3 the price they are being sold for here. Its like new with less than 100,000 miles and FSH. Got a good bargain though

tech

Nice 1 I was checking out the Duty your have to pay on some cars and its crazy considering all your doing is changing the plates, I still reckon they drive every bit as good on the Uk Plates

eth0_

kc66 wrote:

I dont understand? I am getting the car imported. I am paying the VRT.

Nearly four months since you bought it and you haven't bothered or can't afford to register the car in Ireland?

Please. You are breaking the law.
And don't bleat on about 'the system', that's bullsh*t. You can go to the motor tax office the day you buy your car and get all the paperwork done, I know several people who've done this after buying a car up North.

"You must register your car and pay VRT by the end of the next working day following its arrival into Ireland.

Any delay in registering your vehicle or paying Vehicle Registration Tax will make you liable to substantial penalties - including forfeiture of your vehicle and prosecution.

You must display the registration number within three days. Failure to display the new registration number is an offence and you can be fined by An Garda Siochana (the Irish police force)"

mike65

kc66 wrote:

I dont understand? I am getting the car imported. I am paying the VRT. It is the system the gov has in place that is slowing things down in this case. I need to drive to get to work (80 miles per day) and pay my taxes every month. So what do you mean?

Sorry, I was refering to tech.

Mike.

kc66

Its a long story. The latest hold up is with the DVLA in Swansea. Waiting on them 3 weeks now and they tell me it will be at least another week.

kc66

mike65 wrote:

Sorry, I was refering to tech.

Mike.

Oh sorry. I agree with you tbh

kc66

eth0_ wrote:

Nearly four months since you bought it and you haven't bothered or can't afford to register the car in Ireland?

Please. You are breaking the law.
And don't bleat on about 'the system', that's bullsh*t. You can go to the motor tax office the day you buy your car and get all the paperwork done, I know several people who've done this after buying a car up North.

"You must register your car and pay VRT by the end of the next working day following its arrival into Ireland.

Any delay in registering your vehicle or paying Vehicle Registration Tax will make you liable to substantial penalties - including forfeiture of your vehicle and prosecution.

You must display the registration number within three days. Failure to display the new registration number is an offence and you can be fined by An Garda Siochana (the Irish police force)"

I know all this but I have no choice but to drive it. I cant afford another car. The last owner lost the log book- the delay is getting a new one. Also I didn't know the system in the beginning and the dope in the VROffice didn't seem to know much more when I visited them twice. Got no reply from emails. Had to do my own research. Anyway Im not going to go on about it. Im trying to get it sorted. Hopefully will have Irish plates soon. Enough said.
Sorry tech for sorta hijacking ur thread.
Edit: You cant go straight to the tax office before getting sorted in the VRO

69 mustang

mike65 wrote:

Sigh...why do some poeple think the laws apply to everyone else except them?
Mike.

I guess its an Irish thing that built up after people found out the people who implement and enforce the laws evade them.

Its not what you know but how high up the guy is that you know who will sort it for you;)

Cucullan

Tech I have to pay over €500 a year to tax my 2l car, what makes you so special that you think you don't have to pay the vrt so won't be paying road tax either?

BrianD

tech wrote:

Nice 1 I was checking out the Duty your have to pay on some cars and its crazy considering all your doing is changing the plates, I still reckon they drive every bit as good on the Uk Plates

You are not just changing the plates, you are importing it into the country and registering here. Which bit do you not understand. I have never read so much rubbish - I'll only be driving it at the weekends. Yes they'll be bringing in a special 'sunday driver' tax class next for you. The law applies to everyone, you are no different.

SoBe

jesus lads no need to string the guy up.i live here and have brought a few cars in from the north before they called it vrt.cant remember what it was called then but when the eu told the irish goverment it was illegal they brought out this vrt rubbish.so much for having free trade in the euro zone.

we all pay taxes in some form or another but in all honesty the motorist is getting shafted here right left and center.you buy a car you pay vat you pay vrt you pay road tax and after paying all that they charge 70 % tax on petrol,its a pure joke what us irish motorists pay.the goverment seems to think that having a car is a luxury rather than the fact that nowadays a car is a nesesity (sry bout the spellin,mabey too much beer...lol)

/end of rant

/me goes to pack my bags and head for the states

eth0_

I think we're perfectly entitled to our opinions on this guy, fli. He seems to think he's above the law.

toad

Whats the situation for a dual passport holder regarding VRT? For example say I hold an Irish passport and a british one and I live in Ireland, if I buy a car in the UK and present myself to the VRT offices with my UK passport would I still need to prove I had been living there for 6 months to avoid VRT?

shabbyroad

you can have 5 passports... it won't make any difference.

when I brought a car back from the USA I had to prove my residency in the US before they would allow me bypass the VRT.

SoBe

afaik you will have to prove you had lived there for the past 6 months while owning the car

ps. i know eth0_

BrianD

That is correct. You have to prove that you owned the car for at least six months before moving to Ireland.

The only big problem with the VRT is that if we remove it the tax is going to have to come from somewhere else.

Mac 3

I often wondered how long you could drive a car here before paying the duty.

A mate of mine brought in a car left it a few weeks, had every intention of paying the duty, just let it go a few weeks. He had planned to clear the car on wednesday, tuesday he was having a hands free kit fitted and the next thing there was a man asking about the car. For a finish, this man was from Customs and excise and to cut a long story short, the cops were called and the car was seized on the spot. To get it back, fine, impound charges, VRT and then tax the thing for road use.

Dont even try the old "I didn't know" thing if you have brought in something before, they can find these things out and they take a dimmer view of things if youve imported before, bacause they know you know the score..

Bottom line, the law is there and if you are driving round on english plates or whetever, it's only luck that keeps you from getting caught. These guys are out there and they do perform spot checks..

Mac

Matt Simis

kc66 wrote:

Its a long story. The latest hold up is with the DVLA in Swansea. Waiting on them 3 weeks now and they tell me it will be at least another week.

When importing a car, what exactly do the DVLA have to do and what are they holding up? DVLA arent mentioned in Robertrs "18 point" guide to importing..


Matt

Cynos Tac

My Mate is from the north lives down here but has a skyline with english plates just uses his mothers address in Derry he hasn't had any problems at all and he's been doing this for the last 6yrs also he doesnt have to fall into the Rip-Off that is irish insurance category,another plus is penalty points dont effect him,Yet

lomb

i think if u have a northern accent/ drivers license and have a genuine connection to the uk, the only way they can do u, is if they follow u around. as long as the car returns once every 6 months even if its only for one full day then legally u can sue them for false impounding of your car and legal costs/ incidental expenses. i think legal residence/ordinary residence is needed there and if this can be proved they are screwed and heads roll, so customs/cops leave people like this alone, and intimidate easily spotted scammers.

if u study residence, there are 3 forms of it- domicile, ordinarly resident, and resident.
one can be ordinarily resident even if u havent been there for 3 years. domicile can exist as long as u intend to return to country of origin or connected country (eg ownership of a residence, or even grave plot) for up to 16-18 years of non residence.
residence is described as something like 180 days in any tax year.
obviously a cop isnt going to know his domicile from his residence(a very complex legal area) and if a license and accent is flashed and he has some story hel get away with it.

i know a guy driving a british car here for the last 5 years and he has now no connection for 5 years with the uk other than his relations address. but he has a uk driving license, and a foreign accent.
he gets stopped all the time but they cant do jack about it.

Cynos Tac

thats the thing he has the accent and a uk full licence so der is sweet f*ck all they can do about it but it can be hard for them to prove that you dont live somewhere especially when technically its a different country,i was in derry myself over xmas i dont hav a full licence(ur supposed to if your driving in the north and your from the south) but if the coppers had of stopped me i would have been given ten days to produce my licence of course i wouldn't be there at that stage so der is not much they can do about it

murphaph

Cynos Tac wrote:

i was in derry myself over xmas i dont hav a full licence(ur supposed to if your driving in the north and your from the south) but if the coppers had of stopped me i would have been given ten days to produce my licence of course i wouldn't be there at that stage so der is not much they can do about it

....and I'm guessing you weren't accompanied by a fully qualified (with an Irish licence) driver in the south so were breaking multiple laws in multiple countries on the same day-well done :rolleyes:

Cynos Tac

Thanks,wasn't really looking for compliments though, it was only when i got there that i realised and i suppose i got my come upons cos on the way home my car overheated,which has led tothe head gasket being on its way out the engine bearing is on its way out and i have to stop every 3/4 of an hour to put water ino the rad, so now i have to try and find a decent engine to put into it

tech

You d get a good deal on a second hand engine up north

shabbyroad

lomb wrote:

i think if u have a northern accent/ drivers license and have a genuine connection to the uk, the only way they can do u, is if they follow u around.

They do follow people around. I know of two people who were done having thought they were getting away with it.
It's a matter of whether you think the risk of getting caught is worth it.

lomb wrote:

if u study residence, there are 3 forms of it- domicile, ordinarly resident, and resident.
one can be ordinarily resident even if u havent been there for 3 years. domicile can exist as long as u intend to return to country of origin or connected country (eg ownership of a residence, or even grave plot) for up to 16-18 years of non residence.
residence is described as something like 180 days in any tax year.
obviously a cop isnt going to know his domicile from his residence(a very complex legal area) and if a license and accent is flashed and he has some story hel get away with it.

i know a guy driving a british car here for the last 5 years and he has now no connection for 5 years with the uk other than his relations address. but he has a uk driving license, and a foreign accent.
he gets stopped all the time but they cant do jack about it.

All well and good until he pisses someone off and they report him and his car. And if you think a Garda or a member of the Revenue/Customs don't know the laws of domicile then you're being naive :-)

Cynos Tac wrote:

thats the thing he has the accent and a uk full licence so der is sweet f*ck all they can do about it but it can be hard for them to prove that you dont live somewhere especially when technically its a different country,i was in derry myself over xmas i dont hav a full licence(ur supposed to if your driving in the north and your from the south) but if the coppers had of stopped me i would have been given ten days to produce my licence of course i wouldn't be there at that stage so der is not much they can do about it

It's not that hard for them to do it at all. Both of the chaps I know who were caught out thought they were getting away with it. When they were stopped there was no question of producing anything later. The car was siezed there and then.

kc66

Matt Simis wrote:

When importing a car, what exactly do the DVLA have to do and what are they holding up? DVLA arent mentioned in Robertrs "18 point" guide to importing..


Matt

In a normal case- nothing. Previous owner in this case lost the log book. Have to apply to the DVLA for a certificate of permanent export if you dont have the V5. The hold up is the security check according to them.

Richard

toad wrote:

Whats the situation for a dual passport holder regarding VRT? For example say I hold an Irish passport and a british one and I live in Ireland, if I buy a car in the UK and present myself to the VRT offices with my UK passport would I still need to prove I had been living there for 6 months to avoid VRT?

I once owned a car registered in Northern Ireland which I took with me to the South a week after I bought it.

Although I initially got it insured in the South, i had great difficulty taxing it in NI and I eventually had to re-register it. Although I had owned it for over six months before i re-registered it, I still didn't get out of paying the VRT. Even if I had owned it 6 months before moving to the South, I presume I would have had to have proved that I'd never taken it across the border, which would have been difficult.

Some people who are from NI move to the South without changing their plates or telling their insurance company. If they then have an accident they could be in big trouble. So don;t risk doing something similar.

Richard

tech wrote:

You d get a good deal on a second hand engine up north

I'm guessing this is a joke? VRT still applies!

Gatster

Hibernian will insure UK plate cars for a full year at an Irish address and you are definitely fully covered.

Iv been driving an English reg car since early September. I am in the process of getting it registered here. My insurance company has me covered fully

If anyone gets away with this, fair play.

Litcagral

Richard wrote:

Some people who are from NI move to the South without changing their plates or telling their insurance company. If they then have an accident they could be in big trouble. So don;t risk doing something similar.

Insurance Policies usually cover the island of Ireland. Otherwise a driver making regular trips to Donegal or into NI would have a lot of hassle to go through each time they travelled.

IrishRover

Richard wrote:

tech wrote:

You d get a good deal on a second hand engine up north

I'm guessing this is a joke? VRT still applies!

On an engine? Have you paid VRT on an imported engine? I haven't.

Richard

Litcagral wrote:

Insurance Policies usually cover the island of Ireland. Otherwise a driver making regular trips to Donegal or into NI would have a lot of hassle to go through each time they travelled.

True - they will also cover travel to Great Britain and further afield - but you need to be insured at the address where you are resident. And you cannot be resident in Northern Ireland if you don't spend more than half the week there. The same applies vice versa.

But if you are normally resident in ROI and have a car registered, taxed and insured in NI, then the insurance is invalid. The same is true between NI and Great Britain. Travelling between any of these places is covered, including holidays. But if you don't normally reside at the address where you are insured, then your insurance is invalid.

The phrase normally reside is open to interpretation, but someone driving to work in Athlone in a car registered in Belfast could get themselves into trouble. I know of people in that very scenario who got into trouble with the motor tax authorities in Co Westmeath who sat waiting for ''yellow plate'' drivers to turn up for work.

Richard

IrishRover wrote:

On an engine? Have you paid VRT on an imported engine? I haven't.

Sorry, I thought you meant 'car'. My mistake!