Importing a 29 and a half year old car?

quenching

I have my eye on a car in the UK that won't be 30 years old until November. I've no real need for it until then anyway and rather than pay €720 instead of €50 to register it here I though I'd hold off doing so until November.

I want to keep everything above board and legal, but can I bring it here next week and park it in my driveway until November as long as I don't use it on public roads, then register it, or would I be better getting a friend in the UK to register it in their name, and then import it officially in November. If its registered to the UK owner can it still live in my garden until November and remain legal - can't see anything wrong with this myself as I won't own it and it won't be used here until ownership is transferred.

Feel free to pick holes in my plan!

245

What is it? (much more important than technicalities!)

Stephen

Strictly speaking you are supposed to VRT the car within 1 working day of importing it. VRT don't care if its on the road or in your garden, once its owned by an Irish resident they want their money. You can avoid paying motor tax by keeping the car off the road but not VRT.

niceirishfella

Well, you're asking for advice that is essentially law breaking activity.
That is ;
Avoiding paying VRT (tax evasion) etc.
The law is the law (as mad ass as it is) - you know the score - its up to you really.

quenching

245 wrote: »

What is it? (much more important than technicalities!)

A nicely restored blue Volvo 244DL . Not sure if a deal can be made but we'll see.

niceirishfella wrote: »

Well, you're asking for advice that is essentially law breaking activity.
That is ;
Avoiding paying VRT (tax evasion) etc.
The law is the law (as mad ass as it is) - you know the score - its up to you really.

And just to be clear to all, I'm not asking for advice on any illegal tax evasion, I'm specifically asking how to do it legally! I don't need the car immediately and have no intention of using it until after its 30 years old so see no point in paying the VRT to leave it sit unused over the summer. It would be in the name of a permanent UK resident, but parked on private property here, or do I have to leave it in the UK until November?

245

I think that the exact interpretation of the law would oblige you to pay VRT within 24 hours of importing the car. As long as you could do that without driving the car on Irish roads you wouldn't be obliged to tax or NCT it. In my experience, most VRT offices aren't very interested in cars over a certain age or under a certain value so they probably wouldn't insist on seeing the car which would make things a bit easier for you.

There are some philosphical issues around this that are probably more suited to debate with oneself and are unlikely to be resolved in a public forum but the exact observance of the law would, I think, see you paying the VRT if you were to import before the car turns 30.

245

quenching wrote: »

A nicely restored blue Volvo 244DL . Not sure if a deal can be made but we'll see.

With any luck it'll all work out and it'll be as good as you hope. Its been a long and patient search - a more disciplined one than I would have managed.

quenching

Maybe the best thing to do is for me to ring the VRT office and ask them! I'll do it tomorrow and post back what they say.....

Forgot to say 245, the seller has more blue paint for the roof if I don't like the silver.

corktina

loads of people would wait the few months and almost all of them would get away with it....theres gazillions of classics ,lots of them younger than yours , running around on UK plates....

bugsntinas

we have a car that we've had here for about 2 years on uk plates.it's not been on the road for about 1 3/4 years.she's 30 in december so i'll register her then if i can afford it.before anyone says i'm not trying to break the law just can't afford to pay up yet.

galwaytt

where'd you get a figure of Eur 720 ? That sounds high - it's not a Ferrari you're importing..........

quenching

galwaytt wrote: »

where'd you get a figure of Eur 720 ? That sounds high - it's not a Ferrari you're importing..........

€720 is the minimum VRT payable, regardless of the value of the car, think it changed last year.

Saab Ed

quenching wrote: »

€720 is the minimum VRT payable, regardless of the value of the car, think it changed last year.

A friend of mine said the same thing the other day...is this true?

quenching

If the car is in the highest emissions bracket (or you can't prove a lower one) then yes, most 30 year old cars wouldn't have proof of a lower figure.

CO2/km VRT Rates Minimum VRT
0 - 120g 14% of OMSP €280
121 - 140g 16% of OMSP €320
141 - 155g 20% of OMSP €400
156 - 170g 24% of OMSP €480
171 - 190g 28% of OMSP €560
191 - 225g 32% of OMSP €640
226g and over 36% of OMSP €720

stifz

Hold off and pay 50 as vintage..

bugsntinas

i'd hold off if i was you.the government are getting too much from us in taxes now anyway.

carchaeologist

bugsntinas wrote: »

i'd hold off if i was you.the government are getting too much from us in taxes now anyway.

+1.. F**k them tbh.