Bringing UK car to Ireland

Lockstep

Hi all,
My partner is moving from the UK to Ireland for work and we're unsure of what the rules are with bringing over a UK car.
She's owned it for just under a year, just wondering about the following:

*Does she need to pay VRT?
*Does she need to pay VAT on the car?
*How much would it cost to register a car in Ireland?
*Can she use her existing UK insurance in Ireland?
*Can she use her existing UK numberplates or would she need to get Irish ones?
*How long can she use her UK license for? Would she need to swap it for an Irish one?

colm_mcm

Citizens info has all the details of the vrt exemption
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/importing_car_into_ireland.html

*unlikely
*no
* €0 if she qualifies for exemption
* Not if she's changing to residency in Ireland/reregging the car
* will be assigned an Irish number
* don't know tbh

T.Sparkie

The VRT website will give you all of the details but by the looks of it, your partner will not be liable for VRT if he/she has proof that she was 1. A resident abroad for more than 12 months and 2. In possession/use of the vehicle in the UK for more than 6 months.

VAT will not apply as she hasn't purchased the car over here.

She will need to register the car over here through the VRT office, when the car is registered over here it will be given an Irish numberplate.

The insurance company will not insure a car abroad if it is based permanently in that country and she is no longer resident in the UK so yes she will need to get insurance over here.

No need to swap licences, any European licence can be used here if its a full licence and not a provisional.

CiniO

Lockstep wrote: »

Hi all,
My partner is moving from the UK to Ireland for work and we're unsure of what the rules are with bringing over a UK car.

Main question here is how long is she coming in for.
Is her work contract permanent or for certain period of time?

She's owned it for just under a year, just wondering about the following:

*Does she need to pay VRT?

No, but she will have to be able to prove that she owned and used the car in the UK in 6 months period directly before she moved.
Usually V5C registration cert in her name, + insurance from UK + maybe some receipts for fuel in UK + some utility bills should be plenty

*Does she need to pay VAT on the car?

No, VAT was already paid on a car in UK, and there is no double VAT taxation within EU.

*How much would it cost to register a car in Ireland?

To register itself considering she will be exemped from VRT - nothing.
But she will have to buy a set of Irish number plates (€20) + tax a vehicle for minimum 3 months (price might vary between €120 and €2500 per year), if vehicle is over 4 years old do a roadworthiness test (NCT) - cost €55 and insure the car with Irish insurer.

*Can she use her existing UK insurance in Ireland?

She can as long as car is still being driven on UK plates as vehicle registered in UK.
Normally she has 28 days to do VRT assesment and register in Ireland, but considering she is just moving here, her residency status might be uncertain, and therefore she could probably get away without registering in Ireland so soon.
But considering she will be exempted from paying VRT, there's hardly any point in delaying the process, especially that most likely UK insurer will limit period of time during which all extra cover (like fire, theft, own car damage, windscreen etc) will apply when abroad, so after 30 days or so, she might be left with only third party cover.

*Can she use her existing UK numberplates or would she need to get Irish ones?

She can use UK plates until she registers the car in Ireland - as above.
Once it's registered, she had 3 day to display new Irish plates.

*How long can she use her UK license for? Would she need to swap it for an Irish one?

She can use her UK licence for as long as it's valid, but no more than 10 years from moment she moves here.
However latter condition very often might not be enforced.

savagethegoat

Her license will become invalid as soon as she moves house as it is a requirement in the UK to have your up to date address shown. (imo)

CiniO

savagethegoat wrote: »

Her license will become invalid as soon as she moves house as it is a requirement in the UK to have your up to date address shown. (imo)

Might be a requirement in UK, but I don't believe a consequence of not fulfilling this requirement, is licence becoming invalid.
When abroad (in Ireland) fact that her address on UK licence will not be up to date, is completely irrelevant.