Importing a classic car question

NBT184 · 29-05-2013 10:35pm #1

Ok I have a question. Wife and I are think of purchasing a late 60s classic American muscle car but we can not find out what any info on road tax rates, etc for them. For example we are looking at a 69 Chevy Chevelle with a 396ci (approx 6 liter) engine. So will the road tax be based on the year or when we first buy it?????

thanks

Tony

Kenny Logins · 29-05-2013 10:38pm

Motor tax will be €58 pa. Based on date of first registration (ever).

Where are you buying? Easier to budget buying one that's already in Europe with VAT, shipping and duty etc. paid already IMHO.

NBT184 · 29-05-2013 11:03pm

Vat is the other question I am trying to find out. I know when we moved back here I did not have to VAT on any of my vehicles.

Kenny Logins · 30-05-2013 9:16am

There are three charges AFAIK -

VRT (vehicle reg tax) - on a car over 30 years old it's a flat rate of €200

VAT - 21% on the total (including shipping etc.)

Duty - not sure about this...

Have you tried Paul @ http://www.classiccarsireland.eu/ for a car that may be in Europe already?

mgbgt1978 · 30-05-2013 11:52am

Usually seems to work out much cheaper to buy an American muscle Car in the UK (or here) than importing from the States yourself.
Not my choice of transport, but there surely must be a couple of UK Dealers who would have a few at least.

homingbird · 30-05-2013 9:10pm

Another solution is to import it into a eu country where you have relations put it in their name then yours & bring it home.

Kenny Logins · 30-05-2013 9:12pm

homingbird wrote: »

Another solution is to import it into a eu country where you have relations put it in their name then yours & bring it home.

Why? Still have to pay the VAT...

UK is a lower rate, and that's where I paid mine when I imported.

homingbird · 30-05-2013 9:17pm

Their must be a way around the vat . Maybe if it stays in their name for awhile or they import it for you. The big plus about the usa car is you dont get the rust & body filler you do from a car in the uk that has been on the salt roads.

Kenny Logins · 30-05-2013 9:26pm

homingbird wrote: »

Their must be a way around the vat . Maybe if it stays in their name for awhile or they import it for you. The big plus about the usa car is you dont get the rust & body filler you do from a car in the uk that has been on the salt roads.

There is way around the VAT - buy a car that's already in Europe. Let somebody else take the hit.

Dades · 31-05-2013 2:32pm

OP, just factor in 21% VAT into the cost of importing from outside the EU. Forget trying to get around it.
Use that figure to see if it's still worthwhile.

Best of luck with it! I brought a car in from Canada and it was traumatic but exciting.

hi5 · 31-05-2013 4:40pm

23% now, 20% if you pay at a uk port.
Some cars, if they have historical significance can get away with 5% in the UK, you would need to talk to some of the UK importers.

macplaxton · 31-05-2013 8:21pm

hi5 wrote: »

if they have historical significance can get away with 5% in the UK

That "IF" is best backed up with a Binding Tariff wotsit with HMRC. Always get a BTI before importing.

Supposed to be a pan-Euro thing, but if you look up "classic car" on the EU BTI database under Ireland (linked on the Revenue page below)

http://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/businesses/importing/binding-tariff-information.html

(direct link: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/ebti/ebti_consultation.jsp?Lang=en) there are zero entries for Ireland. However, same keywords and UK and you'll find 265 entries.:rolleyes:

Importing a classic car question

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