Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules

UK car import help

  • 05-06-2021 10:19am
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 12


    Hi All,


    I'm wondering can you help me regarding importing a car from UK. I travel to the UK every few years and really enjoy going over and getting such better selection. I usually buy used approved from bmw and get a 2 year warranty which is European wide (who knows if this is still the case but I think it should be fine)

    My question is since brexit it seems like there is alot more issues now due to VAT and custom duty on top of standard VRT. My calculations seem to be coming in around 4 -6k more expensive than buying in Ireland so I must be doing something wrong as its not like the Irish dealers are offering charity lol

    Here is my calculations:

    BMW 530e 20182 £30,000.00 = €35,000.00

    VAT @23% €35,000 x 23% €8050

    Customs duty if applicable: €3500

    VRT = €2400

    TOTAL : €48,950.00

    I take it I might be calculating something wrong here as the above price is much more expensive than just buying in Ireland

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. I understand I also need to include agent fee for the forms and also include the transportation costs

    Thanks


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 532 ✭✭✭Speedline


    Buy from Northern Ireland and you won't be liable for Vat, once the car hasn't been imported from mainland UK this year.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12 kaneIIV


    Speedline wrote: »
    Buy from Northern Ireland and you won't be liable for Vat, once the car hasn't been imported from mainland UK this year.

    Yes I'm aware of this but unfortunately there's not great selection there either. I can't imagine that all irish dealers are bringing them in via the North but maybe I'm wrong who knows

    My calculations are definitely wrong though


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,594 ✭✭✭User1998


    Your calculations are wrong. Its more like €51,000+


  • Registered Users Posts: 532 ✭✭✭Speedline


    kaneIIV wrote: »
    Yes I'm aware of this but unfortunately there's not great selection there either. I can't imagine that all irish dealers are bringing them in via the North but maybe I'm wrong who knows

    My calculations are definitely wrong though

    Then you need to find a vat qualifying car in the uk so you can import it vat free, or claim the UK vat back.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12 kaneIIV


    User1998 wrote: »
    Your calculations are wrong. Its more like €51,000+

    No chance i think I'm calculating the VAT incorrectly. How would it be 48 or 50k if the same here is 35 ?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 5,594 ✭✭✭User1998


    kaneIIV wrote: »
    No chance i think I'm calculating the VAT incorrectly. How would it be 48 or 50k if the same here is 35 ?

    €35,000 car + €500 transport = €35,500
    x 10% customs = €3,550
    = €39,050
    x 23% VAT = €9,000
    = €48,050
    + VRT
    = €50,450
    + customs broker fee, tax, nct


  • Registered Users Posts: 219 ✭✭Highlander


    kaneIIV wrote: »
    Hi All,


    I'm wondering can you help me regarding importing a car from UK. I travel to the UK every few years and really enjoy going over and getting such better selection. I usually buy used approved from bmw and get a 2 year warranty which is European wide (who knows if this is still the case but I think it should be fine)

    My question is since brexit it seems like there is alot more issues now due to VAT and custom duty on top of standard VRT. My calculations seem to be coming in around 4 -6k more expensive than buying in Ireland so I must be doing something wrong as its not like the Irish dealers are offering charity lol

    Here is my calculations:

    BMW 530e 20182 £30,000.00 = €35,000.00

    VAT @23% €35,000 x 23% €8050

    Customs duty if applicable: €3500

    VRT = €2400

    TOTAL : €48,950.00

    I take it I might be calculating something wrong here as the above price is much more expensive than just buying in Ireland

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. I understand I also need to include agent fee for the forms and also include the transportation costs

    Thanks

    You can apply for Returned Good relief if you can prove that the vehicle was expected from the EU into UK in previous 3 years.

    Vat would still be liable but you could avoid the 10% customs duty.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12 kaneIIV


    I think if a car from mainland UK has only been leased for a business etc then its VAT qualifying meaning you don't have to pay VAT on the car as it wasn't privately owned.. this would make sense as the cars I'm seeing in Ireland have very little miles


  • Registered Users Posts: 12 kaneIIV


    Speedline wrote: »
    Then you need to find a vat qualifying car in the uk so you can import it vat free, or claim the UK vat back.

    Thanks just to clarify what exactly is a VAT qualifying car ? Is this a car that hasn't been owned privately in the UK ? Ie a leased business car ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,320 ✭✭✭Buddy Bubs


    kaneIIV wrote: »
    Thanks just to clarify what exactly is a VAT qualifying car ? Is this a car that hasn't been owned privately in the UK ? Ie a leased business car ?

    https://www.beckevans.co.uk/what-is-a-vat-qualifying-car.php

    That explains it pretty well. The jig is well and truly up for importing cars like this from UK that aren't vat qualifying.
    If its not you're paying vat twice really.....vat on the value of the car when importing which already has portion of residual vat inclusive value on it from new....don't know how best to go about finding vat qualified car though, sorry.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 5,127 ✭✭✭James Bond Junior


    Go to a dealer who specialises in UK imports. M6 motors in Galway or CMC in Limerick are good options for nearly new BMW imports. They get around the VAT issue as they can export the car from the UK minus VAT that a private individual can't.


Advertisement