Importing a car from Ireland to the UK.

coolbeans

I'm currently residing in the UK and will do so for a few more years. I've always wanted to get something in luxobarge territory or at least something interesting but I've noticed that all the the older cars here are eaten with rust.
As similar cars in Ireland are cheap and likely less corroded due to less salt in the roads than in England I figure importing from Ireland makes sense. Thing is, I just don't know the procedure.
For example, If I decided to buy how would I get it to the UK by driving it legally? Is it very complex to do it? If anyone has any experience I'd like to hear from you.

Belfast

coolbeans wrote: »

I'm currently residing in the UK and will do so for a few more years. I've always wanted to get something in luxobarge territory or at least something interesting but I've noticed that all the the older cars here are eaten with rust.
As similar cars in Ireland are cheap and likely less corroded due to less salt in the roads than in England I figure importing from Ireland makes sense. Thing is, I just don't know the procedure.
For example, If I decided to buy how would I get it to the UK by driving it legally? Is it very complex to do it? If anyone has any experience I'd like to hear from you.

Bad plan
Cars are a lot more expensive in Ireland than the UK and have lower spec and are not as well looked after compared to British cars.

A lot of people in Ireland import cars from the UK because the are much cheaper and better quality and spec.

Car buyers can save up to €9,500 by shopping in UK
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/car-buyers-can-save-up-to-9-500-by-shopping-up-north-1.3161704

bazz26

OP is not buying a run of the mill econobox though. Luxobarges are alot cheaper to buy over here due to the crippling motor tax compared to the UK.

Belfast

coolbeans wrote: »

I'm currently residing in the UK and will do so for a few more years. I've always wanted to get something in luxobarge territory or at least something interesting but I've noticed that all the the older cars here are eaten with rust.
As similar cars in Ireland are cheap and likely less corroded due to less salt in the roads than in England I figure importing from Ireland makes sense. Thing is, I just don't know the procedure.
For example, If I decided to buy how would I get it to the UK by driving it legally? Is it very complex to do it? If anyone has any experience I'd like to hear from you.

What age of car ?

Export Repayment Scheme
https://www.revenue.ie/en/importing-vehicles-duty-free-allowances/guide-to-vrt/export-repayment-scheme/export-process.aspx

Export Frequently Asked Questions
https://www.ncts.ie/1201


Irish exporting supercars availing of VRT rebates
Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche buyers taking advantage of VRT repayment scheme

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/irish-exporting-supercars-availing-of-vrt-rebates-1.2323152

R.O.R

Whatever you buy, make sure it's old enough to have dual MPH/KMH clocks rather than just the KMH only clocks.

To get registered in the UK it has to have MPH permanently showing on the speedo.

Belfast

R.O.R wrote: »

Whatever you buy, make sure it's old enough to have dual MPH/KMH clocks rather than just the KMH only clocks.

To get registered in the UK it has to have MPH permanently showing on the speedo.

you can get a replacement one from the link below

http://www.lockwoodinternational.co.uk/dials-for-imported-vehicles.html

or
https://www.kmh-mph.co.uk/

bazz26

It may not be as easy or cheap as just replacing a speedo dial on a luxobarge from the early 2000s. They were high tech at the time so may require more work than just a google search solution.

coolbeans

Thanks for the replies guys, nothing to really put me off there and the idea still seems attractive. When were the clocks changed in the Republic from MPH to KPH?

coolbeans

Belfast wrote: »

Bad plan
Cars are a lot more expensive in Ireland than the UK and have lower spec and are not as well looked after compared to British cars.

A lot of people in Ireland import cars from the UK because the are much cheaper and better quality and spec.

Car buyers can save up to €9,500 by shopping in UK
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/car-buyers-can-save-up-to-9-500-by-shopping-up-north-1.3161704

Don't agree with that at all. While a UK car may have a better history that's no good if it's eaten with rot. Furthermore, as other posters have said luxobarges are very cheap in Ireland due to the tax situation which isn't a problem, for now, in the UK. This is the sweet spot I'm aiming for. In an ideal world I'd love an Irish SL320 1998, or similar. Hard to find one not corroded though.

Belfast

coolbeans wrote: »

Don't agree with that at all. While a UK car may have a better history that's no good if it's eaten with rot. Furthermore, as other posters have said luxobarges are very cheap in Ireland due to the tax situation which isn't a problem, for now, in the UK. This is the sweet spot I'm aiming for. In an ideal world I'd love an Irish SL320 1998, or similar. Hard to find one not corroded though.

Looks like there are a lot of cars with big engines in ireland that are hard to give away due to high road tax.

https://www.carsireland.ie/search-results.php?make_id[]=53&model_id[]=&max_odo=100000&odo_type=m&fuel_type_id=1&min_engine_id=12&min_year=1990&max_year=2003&orderby=7

I wonder how many are second hand imports form the UK?

Belfast

coolbeans wrote: »

Don't agree with that at all. While a UK car may have a better history that's no good if it's eaten with rot. Furthermore, as other posters have said luxobarges are very cheap in Ireland due to the tax situation which isn't a problem, for now, in the UK. This is the sweet spot I'm aiming for. In an ideal world I'd love an Irish SL320 1998, or similar. Hard to find one not corroded though.

road tax is very high in Ireland compared to UK especially for large engines

road tax before 2008
engine
0 - 1000 €199.00
1001 - 1100 €299.00
1101 - 1200 €330.00
1201 - 1300 €358.00
1301 - 1400 €385.00
1401 - 1500 €413.00
1501 - 1600 €514.00
1601 - 1700 €544.00
1701 - 1800 €636.00
1801 - 1900 €673.00
1901 - 2000 €710.00
2001 - 2100 €906.00
2101 - 2200 €951.00
2201 - 2300 €994.00
2301 - 2400 €1,034.00
2401 - 2500 €1,080.00
2501 - 2600 €1,294.00
2601 - 2700 €1,345.00
2701 - 2800 €1,391.00
2801 - 2900 €1,443.00
2901 - 3000 €1,494.00
3001 - 15000 €1,809.00

from 2008

Co2 Emissions Output 12 Months Tax
0 - 1 €120.00
01 - 80 €170.00
81 - 100 €180.00
101 - 110 €190.00
111 - 120 €200.00
121 - 130 €270.00
131 - 140 €280.00
141 - 155 €390.00
156 - 170 €570.00
171 - 190 €750.00
191 - 225 €1,200.00
226 - 999 €2,350.00
https://www.carzone.ie/news/motoringadvice/Motor-and-Road-Tax-Prices-Ireland-2017-1437.html

R.O.R

coolbeans wrote: »

When were the clocks changed in the Republic from MPH to KPH?

I think by the start of 2005 all new cars sold in Ireland had to have KM/h as the main units. There were probably a few snuck through and there will be some going back to early '04 with KM/h only clocks.

Belfast

3.0 petrols cars like this one are hard to sell here.

Jaguar XF V6 NEW NCT €5,250



Make Jaguar
Model XF
Year 2008
Mileage 100,000 mi
Fuel Type Petrol
Transmission Automatic
Body Type Saloon
Engine Size 3.0 litre
Road Tax €1,494
NCT Expiry Mar 2018
Previous Owners 5
Country of Reg. Ireland
Colour Gold
Doors 4
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/jaguar-xf-v6-new-nct/18165220

commited

OP, this is a great plan. IIRC you can register a car with kmh clocks in the UK once it is over 10 years old.
Therefore I would aim to either find something nice that has mega tax pre-2008 in Ireland or find something that is worth converting.

jucko

i have a mercedes sl for sale.one owner . FMBSH. new NCT.
its a 2005 sl370.
looking €7000.
vrt rebate is 3433.
CAR WILL COST YOU 3567!
road tax here 1809, in UK £300 OR LESS.
im not a dealer btw.
hows about that

jucko

Four brand new Michelin super sports on it too (1000 euro)