Exporting car to the UK

tomt730

Looking for advice from anyone in the know.
I have moved to the UK about 3 months ago. My car insurance covers me for 92 days which is fast approaching. I have two options:
1. Bring my car back to Ireland and try and sell it within a week - Will have to book time off work.
2. Try and claim VRT back on an export, then go through the process of getting UK plates.
I'm not entirely sure if I can claim VRT back as it is an Irish registered car only. (Not brought from the UK) and I do need a car for work so I would have to buy a new car asap if I sold my own back in Ireland. 
Would appreciate to hear other peoples thoughts around this.

CiniO

What car is it? How much the car is worth?

Your 92 days limit on cover abroad, applies only to fire, theft, own car damage, windscreen, etc...
Your legally required third party cover, will be still valid after 92 days, so you can still drive legally, however without any own car protection.


To avail of VRT export refund, you'd need to present a car to NCT centre for export inspection, so if car is already in UK, this can't be done without returning the car to Ireland - hency my question about value of the car.

Isambard

i kind of doubt the policy would continue to be valid for use by someone if their permanent address was now in the UK. I beleive the cover would only continue if you were using the car abroad (ie if you live here) and if you live there you aren't abroad....

tomt730

My car is a VW Scirocco - 2014 1.4 TSI. Its a long drive back 7+ hours in total and then another 7+ hours back but I think it would be worth it to get the vrt refund.
Should I get the MOT done and out of the way now so that I can apply for the UK plates and cover myself on UK insurance with the VIN Number?

CiniO

tomt730 wrote: »

My car is a VW Scirocco - 2014 1.4 TSI. Its a long drive back 7+ hours in total and then another 7+ hours back but I think it would be worth it to get the vrt refund.
Should I get the MOT done and out of the way now so that I can apply for the UK plates and cover myself on UK insurance with the VIN Number?

In that case you're better of driving it back to Ireland for VRT export examination.
You need to prebook it on NCT website (make sure you indicate that you are booking export examination).
Car will still need to be on Irish plates, and must have valid NCT. Insurance and tax are not relevant for export examination.

Here's some FAQ about that:
https://www.ncts.ie/1201

There's more info on revenue website.


Don't apply for UK plates before you do export examination in Ireland.
Once VRT examination done, and registered in UK, you will have to forward proof that it was registered in UK (f.e. copy of V5C) to revenue in Ireland, and then they'll process VRT repayment. It's a fairly long process and might take couple months.


According to VRT calculator, you might be due repayment of more than €3500 so it might be worth it.
Remember however that VRT refund is based on fact that VRT was initially paid, so if car was exempt from VRT in the first place, then there won't be refund (f.e first registered to disabled's person name or imported from abroad as transfer of residence, etc).

tomt730

CiniO - Thanks so much for all this information!! You have done your good deed for the day!