Importing an electric car into ireland

Lillymcg

Was looking into buying an electric car within the next few months. Quite a few options here and in the uk. Just wondering if anyone has experience importing one from the uk? I can see that they are vrt exempt but what’s the story with vat and customs etc?

beachhead

Plenty of discussions on boards about car importing.I wouldn't imagine that just because its electric that any exceptions to the normal import rules are allowed.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058235638/importing-an-electric-car-into-ireland

UK. Vat and customs due on the total cost including shipping.

NIMAN

afaik, if you want to avoid VAT and Customs charges, you can only buy from NI, and even then it has to be a car registered there before a certain date (which I can't quite recall but I'm sure someone will fill us in).

kanuseeme

Vat and vrt will have to be paid here unless its from NI, customs maybe or maybe not, if the car is of European origin and less than 3 years old, no duty if you apply for returned goods relief. If older than 3 years old 10 % duty applies. https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/relief-from-customs-duty-and-vat/goods-reimported-into-the-european-union/index.aspx.

Cars can be bought without paying VAT in the UK,

If the car is USA or Chinese made, then the duty could be much higher 20% in the case of American cars.

k123456

STG is not cheap at the moment, so debatable whether savings to be had

I think if the EV is registered before end of 19, and from NI, no VRT, Duty Vat to be paid

There are a few threads here detailing everything

If you decide to buy from NI, can be cheaper to transfer STG purchase price using a third party transfer co, and not your bank

Gumbo

Also, the price of EV's in the UK now are on par with here or higher!

mailforkev

Mine is currently over 25% more new in the U.K. than here.

Unfortunately the good old days of importing are over.

NIMAN

Agree with the last 2 posts.

I recently bought a 2019 Leaf, and looked in the North as well to see if it would make sense to bring one over, but with the cost of exchange, it was actually costing about 2k more for similar car.

Baoithin66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118728467#Comment_118728467

Hi did you calculate what vat was payable? Is VRT payable on a pre NI registered EV ?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119016119#Comment_119016119

VRT is always payable.

VAT may not be if the car was registered in NI before the end of 2020.

Baoithin66

I thought VRT was zero on electric pre need it and on pre 21 reg if importing from NI?

NIMAN

Correct.

Well that's how I did the calculations any way.

Zero vrt.

Zero vat, that would be paid in North on the sale price.

But even then, it was still cheaper to buy here. Price of EV in North was shocking, and weren't many for sale when I was looking.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119016240#Comment_119016240

Technically there’s VRT, but there’s an allowance. A leaf for example may not attract VRT, but a Tesla Model S will.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119016240#Comment_119016240

Under the VAT rules currently in force in the UK, vehicles first registered in Great Britain and imported into Northern Ireland after 31 December 2020 are liable to:

• customs duty, if applicable
• Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT)
• VAT at import if they are subsequently imported into the State. (This VAT liability can be discharged by completing the Supplementary import declaration form.)