Working and buying a car in the North

reidygs

Hi Everyone,

I'm going to be working up in the north for the foreseeable future, possibly over a year. I'm looking to buy my first car up there as it's much cheaper, most likely a used car from a dealership. I'm wondering what the implications are if I bring it down south after I finish my contract. I appreciate any advice as I'm a complete novice to this.

Thanks

User1998

Will you still be living in Ireland?

reidygs

Hey, I'll still have my house in the south, but I'll be living Belfast full time as long as the job runs.

User1998

I think if you can prove that the car was being used up North, like insurance certificates etc that might be okay. Otherwise you would have to pay VRT late penalties from the day you bought the car which would be massive.

You’d also have to pay customs duty and VAT if the car was registered in the UK after Brexit.

And theres also Nox which is huge on pre 2015 diesels.

There is no value in importing anymore so my suggestion would be to buy whatever car you want for the year and sell before returning to the South. You will probably downgrade cars but thats life in the South compared to up North.

If you managed to get a good deal on a NI registered petrol or hybrid with low Nox, and no customs or VAT it might be worth registering down here.

reidygs

Thanks for the very helpful reply. I compared prices to used cars down south and it does seem a lot cheaper, but I understand that can all change with VRT and Nox. Is there a certain amount of time I'd have to prove I had it in the North? Work is providing accommodation so it's difficult to get a bill or lease... Would an insurance disc do?

User1998

Honestly I’m not really sure what would be acceptable as proof. I don’t think you could just show them an insurance disc to be honest. As I said I think you’d be better off selling the car as there are very few cars up there that are worth importing. With all the extra charges you would be better off selling and buying the equivalent car here. Unless its a NI reg hybrid or something with low Nox. But even then you could be stung with late fees. And I don’t know if customs would accept an invoice dated a year ago

BronsonTB

Might help OP

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/importing_car_into_ireland.html#ldd7c1

kanuseeme

Living and working in the North ok. Surely you can buy a car in Great Britain, seeing how they are in both markets,

Inform revenue here that you are moving to northern Ireland, then drive, work etc. for the year and then return.

If you were already a Northern Ireland resident, Would you not be entitled to move to the Republic with a car? As far as I can see you will be a resident in northern Ireland.

I cannot imagine that the police up there would be happy you driving around on Irish plates for a year, if your entitled, I would jump on it with maximum benefit to you.

Esel

The conditions are specific, and are applied fairly rigorously.

https://www.revenue.ie/en/importing-vehicles-duty-free-allowances/guide-to-vrt/reliefs-and-exemptions/transfer-of-residence.aspx

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119138490#Comment_119138490

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119138490#Comment_119138490

Are you on a transfer of definite duration to the north? How long will it be? 12 months would be insufficient. Do you have a family, will they reman here? will you visit them? Your usual place of residence for VRT is not based on income tax rules but on those specified in an EU directive. you may find that it never changes from ROI meaning that you would not qualfiy for TOR when you return. You would be able to have an NI/GB reg'd car but you would not be able to import it tax free.

ajarms86

Hi Lads, sorry if I'm hi-jacking a thread but I thought my question/situation was fairly relevant to this one.

I live in Louth (near enough to the NI border) and I work for a company based in both Belfast and Dublin.

Thinking about buying a car in NI and having it registered to my work address in Belfast (sugeested to me by a friend).

So the car would be mine, but its official address would in Belfast and it would affectively be a work car, mainly for commuting between the two offices.

If I where to do this and pay NI motor tax/Mot etc. Would I then be breaking the law by driving it and parking it overnight in the Republic?

TIA, Anthony.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119473500#Comment_119473500

I'm the same, have offices in ROI and NI but I don't live near the border. I would be breaking the law, so would you. I'm sure plenty living near the border do it though because a NI reg would not be an uncommon sight. You could chance it, and i wouldnt begrudge you getting away with it, but no, its not legal. You live in ROI.

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119473500#Comment_119473500

If you have an Irish driving license and live in the ROI then you would be breaking the law driving a foreign registered car in the Republic. Also how would you insure it? An ROI insurance company will only temporarily cover you on NI plates until you pay VRT and put it on ROI plates. I'd imagine a NI insurance company wouldn't cover you unless you are a NI resident. You cannot have the best of both worlds.

Being honest, Revenue and Customes have heard all of the schemes at attempting to avoid VRT so if your proceeding you need to make sure your circumstances and reasons are water thight with regards being compliant with the Revenue rules.

ajarms86

Yeah that was my follow up question, will an ROI insurance company insure an NI registered car, by the sounds of it not so much

CiniO

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119148640#Comment_119148640

Is this safe to assume, that opposite situation (person moving to Ireland for a year to work and live) but still having a house and family in home country and visiting them regularly, would not be considered resident in Ireland for VRT purposes, and therefore allowed to drive a foreign car in Ireland for up to a year ?