Buying 2018 SUV - XC60, Q5 or X3?

younggalway

Looking for some buying advice for a family member who will be changing their car in March/April time. Trying to decide between the following 3 models, each will be a 2018/auto:

1. Audi Q5 S-Line
2. BMW X3 M-Sport
3. Volvo XC60 (R-Design/Inscription)

She is leaning towards an XC60 as she has always been a fan, they also seem to be the best priced to import from UK. I will be chatting to a few local garages who source from the UK in the coming weeks to get their best and final so just wanted to see if anyone here as any owners perspective/selling perspective on any of these 3 models. Person will be buying using disabled passenger scheme (No vat/vrt in Ireland and will be sourcing VAT Q in UK) so recent brexit effects aren't a massive consideration.

So does anyone have any strong arguments for or against these 3? I don't think she would be unhappy with any of them so just want some advice to differentiate between them.

Thanks in advance

California Dreamer

younggalway wrote: »

Looking for some buying advice for a family member who will be changing their car in March/April time. Trying to decide between the following 3 models, each will be a 2018/auto:

1. Audi Q5 S-Line
2. BMW X3 M-Sport
3. Volvo XC60 (R-Design/Inscription)

She is leaning towards an XC60 as she has always been a fan, they also seem to be the best priced to import from UK. I will be chatting to a few local garages who source from the UK in the coming weeks to get their best and final so just wanted to see if anyone here as any owners perspective/selling perspective on any of these 3 models. Person will be buying using disabled passenger scheme (No vat/vrt in Ireland and will be sourcing VAT Q in UK) so recent brexit effects aren't a massive consideration.

So does anyone have any strong arguments for or against these 3? I don't think she would be unhappy with any of them so just want some advice to differentiate between them.

Thanks in advance

Is this person registered for VAT in Ireland? I would have assumed that is the only way you will get the VAT refund but even at that the Brexit thing will be a consideration.

Slasher

I bought a UK-import 2018 XC60 Inscription in 2019 and i love it. Very comfortable, well equipped, and feels very solid. No problems so far. Engine noise is a little high at low speed, but that is my only gripe with the car.


I don't know anything about the Audi or the BMW.

Casati

California Dreamer wrote: »

Is this person registered for VAT in Ireland? I would have assumed that is the only way you will get the VAT refund but even at that the Brexit thing will be a consideration.

Don’t need to be registered for VAT here - anybody can buy a vat registered car in the U.K. for export and pay VAT here when imported.

Wonder can the OP avoid paying duty as well as getting relief from VRT and Vat?

California Dreamer

Casati wrote: »

Don’t need to be registered for VAT here - anybody can buy a vat registered car in the U.K. for export and pay VAT here when imported.

Wonder can the OP avoid paying duty as well as getting relief from VRT and Vat?

I was talking about a vat qualifying car in the UK as the OP is talking about.

younggalway

California Dreamer wrote: »

Is this person registered for VAT in Ireland? I would have assumed that is the only way you will get the VAT refund but even at that the Brexit thing will be a consideration.

The car will be sourced by a dealer here so they will be vat registered and able to purchase a vat qualifying vehicle from a UK dealer

younggalway

Slasher wrote: »

I bought a UK-import 2018 XC60 Inscription in 2019 and i love it. Very comfortable, well equipped, and feels very solid. No problems so far. Engine noise is a little high at low speed, but that is my only gripe with the car.


I don't know anything about the Audi or the BMW.

Good to hear. There seems to be 6 different trim levels when you include the "X"-Pro designations do trying to work out which one makes most sense. The inscription looks well but not sure if its worth the extra in this case. She would prefer a cream interior which is another reason she is drawn to the XC60, it's just a pity you can't get the S-Line Q5 with a pale interior.

younggalway

Casati wrote: »

Don’t need to be registered for VAT here - anybody can buy a vat registered car in the U.K. for export and pay VAT here when imported.

Wonder can the OP avoid paying duty as well as getting relief from VRT and Vat?

I can't find confirmation of this anywhere online regarding the import duty. I would have assumed this would also be covered in the exemption as its taxation however they haven't published an update on the scheme since the new import rules were introduced. Might be worth giving them a call.

California Dreamer

younggalway wrote: »

The car will be sourced by a dealer here so they will be vat registered and able to purchase a vat qualifying vehicle from a UK dealer

Ehhhhhhhh I think you are operating on incorrect information. The UK is no longer part of the EU so getting a vehicle vat free would be impossible but I am open to correction. It just seems impossible. Do you have a vat free certificate?

California Dreamer

younggalway wrote: »

I can't find confirmation of this anywhere online regarding the import duty. I would have assumed this would also be covered in the exemption as its taxation however they haven't published an update on the scheme since the new import rules were introduced. Might be worth giving them a call.

I am assuming you have read this:

https://www.revenue.ie/en/importing-vehicles-duty-free-allowances/guide-to-vrt/reliefs-and-exemptions/scheme-for-persons-with-disabilities.aspx

younggalway

California Dreamer wrote: »

Ehhhhhhhh I think you are operating on incorrect information. The UK is no longer part of the EU so getting a vehicle vat free would be impossible but I am open to correction. It just seems impossible. Do you have a vat free certificate?

I don't think I am, but open to correction of course.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-goods-exported-from-the-uk-notice-703

A VAT qualifying vehicle which is being exported can be sold without the VAT as it is not intended for use in the UK, hence VAT can't apply. A dealer in Ireland importing such a vehicle would meet this criteria as far as I understand, the UK no longer being in the EU isn't really a factor in this.

younggalway

California Dreamer wrote: »

I am assuming you have read this:

https://www.revenue.ie/en/importing-vehicles-duty-free-allowances/guide-to-vrt/reliefs-and-exemptions/scheme-for-persons-with-disabilities.aspx

I have. I have helped this person with their last purchase on this scheme when buying a car from the north previously as well as a few vehicles prior to this which were bought locally.

Would love to hear from anyone else with owner's experience of any of these cars. Thanks everyone for the contributions so far.

Casati

younggalway wrote: »

I don't think I am, but open to correction of course.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-goods-exported-from-the-uk-notice-703

A VAT qualifying vehicle which is being exported can be sold without the VAT as it is not intended for use in the UK, hence VAT can't apply. A dealer in Ireland importing such a vehicle would meet this criteria as far as I understand, the UK no longer being in the EU isn't really a factor in this.

Yes that's it - U.K. dealers can sell any vat registered car for export vat free. They will need proof that the vehicle is actually exported - ferry ticket or cert from trucking company. This is open to private individuals as well as dealers

User1998

California Dreamer wrote: »

Ehhhhhhhh I think you are operating on incorrect information. The UK is no longer part of the EU so getting a vehicle vat free would be impossible but I am open to correction. It just seems impossible. Do you have a vat free certificate?

Anyone can purchase a vat qualifying vehicle from the UK vat free as long as they are exporting it

smellyoldboot

younggalway wrote: »

Looking for some buying advice for a family member who will be changing their car in March/April time. Trying to decide between the following 3 models, each will be a 2018/auto:

1. Audi Q5 S-Line
2. BMW X3 M-Sport
3. Volvo XC60 (R-Design/Inscription)

She is leaning towards an XC60 as she has always been a fan, they also seem to be the best priced to import from UK. I will be chatting to a few local garages who source from the UK in the coming weeks to get their best and final so just wanted to see if anyone here as any owners perspective/selling perspective on any of these 3 models. Person will be buying using disabled passenger scheme (No vat/vrt in Ireland and will be sourcing VAT Q in UK) so recent brexit effects aren't a massive consideration.

So does anyone have any strong arguments for or against these 3? I don't think she would be unhappy with any of them so just want some advice to differentiate between them.

Thanks in advance

The XC60 is a gorgeous thing for an SUV. The other two just smack of marquee brand stuck together an SUV type thing because that's what people want and badge whores might gland buy it anyway.lol

California Dreamer

User1998 wrote: »

Anyone can purchase a vat qualifying vehicle from the UK vat free as long as they are exporting it

Technically true but having exported 4 cars that over the past 10 years you have to be vat registered in Ireland.

A lot of UK dealers got screwed selling cars vat free which also led them to sell the cars vat included and then you claimed it back from UK revenue on production of your Irish vat number.

Casati

California Dreamer wrote: »

Technically true but having exported 4 cars that over the past 10 years you have to be vat registered in Ireland.

A lot of UK dealers got screwed selling cars vat free which also led them to sell the cars vat included and then you claimed it back from UK revenue on production of your Irish vat number.

Things have changed and U.K. is not in EU. If a dealer wants to sell you a car they have to sell it 0% vat for export. I don’t believe any mechanism exists for you to now claim vat from U.K. government after you import a vehicle

California Dreamer

Casati wrote: »

Things have changed and U.K. is not in EU. If a dealer wants to sell you a car they have to sell it 0% vat for export. I don’t believe any mechanism exists for you to now claim vat from U.K. government after you import a vehicle

Sounds a little grey to me but happy days if that is the case, would save me a bundle if I was looking to buy again but I feel that this would be a bit suspect. Nothing is ever that simple.

Can you point me to an official link that confirms that?

younggalway

Any more reviews from owners on any of these models? Or from those in the trade who may have experience with them?