VRT query

holly456

Hi All,

Unfortunately I’m currently embroiled in a very acrimonious divorce.

One aspect of the dispute relates to the ownership of one of our cars which has since been sold.

The car was purchased in Belfast in 2010, were we had a home at the time. The car was bought and registered in my name in NI and I drove the car up until and after it was imported in 2012. At the time of our separation in September 2014, my husband decided he preferred it to his own and took it while I was away on holiday with our children. This car was considerably more valuable than the car he left me with.

The car he took was subsequently used as a trade in for a new car.

Unbeknownst to me, the car was in fact imported in his name and at no point while on Southern plates was it registered in my name.

I submitted a V888 form to the DVLA in Swansea requesting all documents relating to the export. The V5C form was filled out in my name and the section pertaining to the “new keeper” was blank with a line through it.

Recently I have tried to perform further research contacting the Department of Transport in Shannon, the NCT office in city west and Revenue.

The lady I spoke with in Revenue stated categorically that if the V5C form was in my name, legally, the car should have been imported in my name.

I am unsure as to how my husband imported it into his own name. After making a data request, I was furnished with the VRT declaration which was signed by my husband.

I suspect he might have also used a VRTPD2 form, portraying the importation as if he’d actually bought the car from me (I received no cash consideration), thus registering it in his name (he would have had to provide a € figure and an invoice to do this).

I’ve referred the matter to my lawyer but was hoping someone here with a bit of knowledge of importing cars might be able to shed some light as to how my Husband might have successfully carried out the above.

I’m looking at securing compensation and damages against him should become clear that he is liable and acted fraudulently.

Many thanks in advance!

colm_mcm

I’d imagine there was no VRT paid if it was a permanent move?
Surely you would have been exempt?

holly456

Hi Colm,

We were mainly based in Dublin maintaining homes in both places. The car was purchased with a view to be driven while we were up there and as such we were liable for VRT.

colm_mcm wrote: »

I’d imagine there was no VRT paid if it was a permanent move?
Surely you would have been exempt?

colm_mcm

You really need legal advice more than anything. It’s entirely possible to register a car here with a different name on V5. They openly encourage people to produce hand written receipts showing they purchased the car.

holly456

Many thanks for the info Colm, would it be possible to register the car in another persons name without a receipt/invoice confirming the sale? I know I’m getting pernickety but it would be very helpful to know!

colm_mcm wrote: »

You really need legal advice more than anything. It’s entirely possible to register a car here with a different name on V5. They openly encourage people to produce hand written receipts showing they purchased the car.

Isambard

the name on the V5C is the "registered keeper", not necessarily the Owner.

To progress this further (with a Solicitor as said earlier) you'll need to be able to prove you bought it/ paid for it/ insured taxed and maintained it.

colm_mcm

holly456 wrote: »

Many thanks for the info Colm, would it be possible to register the car in another persons name without a receipt/invoice confirming the sale? I know I’m getting pernickety but it would be very helpful to know!

I believe the receipt is mainly to confirm the purchase date in the absence of a ferry ticket.
In the case of a NI car, there won’t be a ferry so there’s most likely a ‘receipt’

holly456

Hi There,

I have already secured proof of the above, many thanks for pointing it out all the same!

Isambard wrote: »

the name on the V5C is the "registered keeper", not necessarily the Owner.

To progress this further (with a Solicitor as said earlier) you'll need to be able to prove you bought it/ paid for it/ insured taxed and maintained it.

Isambard

best of luck with your endevours. Sounds like you have a good case.

holly456

Many thanks, much appreciated!

Isambard wrote: »

best of luck with your endevours. Sounds like you have a good case.