VRT shell

goz83

Hi guys.

A friend of mine has a written off mustang, category A. its the 2010 model. I have been considering getting one for a couple of years, but vrt (and road tax) is a big put off. The interior of the car is perfect and top grade. Engine is also perfect. The rear end is destroyed and chassis bent. He paid a few hundred to keep the car from going to a salvage yard and plans to sell the bits off himself.

Now my question is this. If I were to buy a mustang without interior and without engine (or simply excluded these from the sale) from the usa; what is the vrt position? Would I save much? It would cost me about 2k to buy the engine and interior here, but I wouldn't need to tell revenue this I assume? Basically, I would be importing a little more than a shell on wheels, after hopefully doing a deal with someone state side. I don't want to end up paying a big vrt bill, so opinions here would be great. I love the interior in the friends car, so I would probably have bought that anyway, but this could be an opportunity to save a fortune on vrt. I would only be declaring the value of what I am importing, which wouldn't be much, considering the parts missing (engine & most of the interior). Has anyone done this for a newer car? I have heard of older models being imported from uk, or usa as shells and little vrt was due.

corktina

If its a 2010 would you not be able to just buy a new shell.?

As it is not a vehicle, merely a spare part, it would not attract VRT at all I imagine

Cuddlesworth

corktina wrote: »

As it is not a vehicle, merely a spare part, it would not attract VRT at all I imagine

He would eventually have to register a vehicle to drive it. So its either a crash repair on the current chassis with a engineers report(which I assume was a write off) or a new chassis with full VRT and inport dutys to be paid on the value of a new Mustang.

lifer_sean

@Op, car has to start and move to be VRT'ed. Can't VRT a non-runner. That info is from a VRT inspector. AFAIK, they will not reduce VRT based on condition, I think you would have to pay full amount and appeal, but you would need to check that bit out. Otherwise what is to stop us all from stripping a car before VRT'ing to get a better rate, and then rebuilding it the week after ?

@cuddlesworth, I think the OP is planning to clear the car from the US, and using the catA car as the donor for the parts to rebuild the stripped/imported US car.

As regards VRT'ing the CatA car, that loophole is now closed I believe. You must have V5 or export cert to VRT any vehicle, and you can't get either document for a CatA.

goz83

Yes, I would be clearing out the car in the usa, possibly buying one with minor damage if suitable. I could keep the engine in the state car, but wanted to remove as much as possible to help reduce vrt. i read somewhere once that the cost of repair was written off the vrt bill, to bring the car to a usable condition (not including mods).

S Line

I don’t think you are going to get a mustang on the cheap combining your mates wrecked car and imported spare parts. I would assume your buddies’ car is some hi-spec V8 Shelby/ GT500/Eleanor style car??

One possible solution would may to import a poverty spec V6 model from UK VRT that and fit the sexy parts from your mates car.

An example below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120940047430&clk_rvr_id=361014650678&item=120940047430&lgeo=1&vectorid=229508

goz83

His was one of those built to spec and has all the best in it. Its a manky yellow one though.

I was having a look online and spotted two gt500 models of the same year build, going cheap. One had the glass roof, which I think is great. One had a broken drivers seat (maybe a big guy owns it) to knock the price down a good bit. I suppose I should also keep in mind the cost of shipping from the west side of the states.

I wanted to keep the mechanical stuff the same, because getting a standard v6 model would probably cause more trouble when upgrading the engine and changing log books and insurance to a gt500.

Thanks so far for the info, it's helpful.

Although I would love a 67 eleanor, I wouldn't have the cash

mickdw

Importing the shell would save on import duty and vat as I figure they would be based on invoice value of the shell being imported.vrt is based on open market selling price of a reasonable example of a complete car as decided by revenue and won't as such be reduced for damage or partial car.

corktina

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

He would eventually have to register a vehicle to drive it. So its either a crash repair on the current chassis with a engineers report(which I assume was a write off) or a new chassis with full VRT and inport dutys to be paid on the value of a new Mustang.

no he wouldnt...he uses the shell to rebuild the existing CAt A car and uses that ID...thats perfectly kosher as far as I know. Theres no VRT on a bodyshell, its just a spare part.

Ask FORD ....

goz83

corktina wrote: »

no he wouldnt...he uses the shell to rebuild the existing CAt A car and uses that ID...thats perfectly kosher as far as I know. Theres no VRT on a bodyshell, its just a spare part.

Ask FORD ....

So it's ok to use the vin of the damaged car and put this on the new "shell"? All I would be doing is swapping the seats around if I chose the right car in that case. Is there no minimum amount of the original car that needs to be kept? Would seem like a shame for it to still be classed as a write off if it was done this way.

Big Nasty

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=11448

Top Dog

I'm sure this has been covered before on here before where a guy bought a 3dr Sierra Cosworth shell in the UK. He had been told he'd be charged €X (think it was around 8k) amount of VRT on it, but once he'd rebuilt the car and produced it to get Irish plates the original quote was denied and Revenue demanded over double from him.

Yes, a shell is technically just a part (ok a pretty big one) but you don't VRT a shell - you VRT a car - and your VRT rate will be based on the entire car.

Will see if I can find the particular thread that I've referred to.

Top Dog

Oh so close.

It happened a year ago.
It was a '92 Escort Cosworth.
Initial VRT quote was €5,900
Amount demanded when project was completed was €14,400

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056266184

goz83

So, in summary. The only way to avoid vrt (tax avoidance, not tax evasion) is to use the chassis of an irish reg'd vehicle and everything else can be replaced. I imagine it wouldn't be too easy to do that for a mustang here, as they are not in plentiful supply. Maybe I would be better off getting a custom build from ford. Would love to be able to get a right hand drive one though. Seen one advertised on donedeal the other day. convertible.

Big Nasty

goz83 wrote: »

So, in summary. The only way to avoid vrt (tax avoidance, not tax evasion) is to use the chassis of an irish reg'd vehicle and everything else can be replaced. I imagine it wouldn't be too easy to do that for a mustang here, as they are not in plentiful supply. Maybe I would be better off getting a custom build from ford. Would love to be able to get a right hand drive one though. Seen one advertised on donedeal the other day. convertible.

Or buy an old one and not have to worry about VRT OR depreciation OR Motor Tax. Also it being a left-hooker is part of the experience.

corktina

Top Dog wrote: »

I'm sure this has been covered before on here before where a guy bought a 3dr Sierra Cosworth shell in the UK. He had been told he'd be charged €X (think it was around 8k) amount of VRT on it, but once he'd rebuilt the car and produced it to get Irish plates the original quote was denied and Revenue demanded over double from him.

Yes, a shell is technically just a part (ok a pretty big one) but you don't VRT a shell - you VRT a car - and your VRT rate will be based on the entire car.

Will see if I can find the particular thread that I've referred to.

yeah but was that a NEW shell? A used shell would be a whole different matter. If the car rebuilt into a new shell already is Irish Reg then it would not attract VRT.

However, if it is offically a Cat A write off (thinking about it) I don't think the car is allowed back on the road and has to be scrapped.

goz83

Correct. A cat A is a scrap job and even if it were repaired to a road worthy standard, it still can't be put on the road. The best it can hope for is track use, or breaking for parts.

galwaytt

goz83 wrote: »

Correct. A cat A is a scrap job and even if it were repaired to a road worthy standard, it still can't be put on the road. The best it can hope for is track use, or breaking for parts.

When you go to pay VRT it will be based on the OMSP of the finished car. It doesn't matter what Cat, what you do now as its the result that will be taxed.

Oh, and won't you end up with a €2200 per annum tax car, anyway ?