Importing from the UK - definitive guide (Q and A)

Hi all,

Looking at a car in the North, 2019 on UK reg and imported into the north less than 6 months ago.

Based on reading the thread, im guessing the car would be liable to VRT and VAT @23%.

Does that seem correct?

Thank you

It will also be liable for customs duty - 10% of the sales invoice price including any transport charge afaik.

If you want to avoid VAT and customs charges then the car needs have been registered in NI before 01/01/21 i.e. Brexit.

Yes, for traders only.

It will make no difference if they bring in a vat qualifying car but they can now bring in any car and if not vat qualifying, the trader can claim a rebate from uk revenue of 1/6 of the price which is similar to vat amount.

Irish vat, duty and vrt still to be paid.

I'm looking for some advice, I've imported plenty of cars from the UK over the years. The last was 3 years ago when everything was grand regarding Brexit. I'm now looking to import a car, just from NI as firstly it is the only one I can find on the island that meets my criteria and budget and secondly because going to the UK just doesn't seem to offer value.

The car was registered in Belfast in 2019 and has been a fleet vehicle since then. My question is does this mean the car is Vat Qualifying, and if it is can I bring it in and pay the VAT here. The reason I am hoping this would work is that I qualify for the Disabled Drivers scheme so have up to €16,000 rebate on VRT and VAT. The car is about €10,000 in VRT so if I could reduce the VAT by €6,000 it would make life much better.

Secondly, does anyone know of a reputable dealer or agent who can source this specific car so I can avail of the VAT discount?

Ok so it looks like the car is registered in NI.

A lot of places as part of the list of stuff required mention “exemption notification letter from Revenue”

do I need to provide this as the car will be exempt for VRT as its electric and due a rebate which covers any VRT charge or is that letter just for someone who is relocating to Ireland from UK?

I'm looking at a pre 2020 car in the north. Just before COVID I imported one and it went great and we have had no trouble. So thinking of going back to same company.

What do I have to make sure of? That it was registered in the north only?

Also I hear there is a delay in having to pay VRT. What is the delay time? I've about €12k right now so if I could spend all that how many months would I have to save to pay the VRT?

Any suggestions. Second family car but mainly the car I'll use to go up/down to Dublin few days a week for work

Car either has to have been registered from day 1 in the North or if originally from the mainland UK and imported to the North it needs to have been registered in the North prior to 01/01/21 to avoid VAT + customs charges due to Brexit.

There is no delay in having to pay VRT. You have 7 days from the date of bringing the car into the country to book a VRT appointment and 30 days in total to pay the VRT on it.

Hi,

I am currently looking at importing a vehicle from Northern Ireland.

This is 2013 Lexus which is originally a UK mainland registered car but has been in NI since 2015 when it was only 2 years old. My understanding is that if I have proof of the car being in NI since before 2021 then I am not liable to pay VAT and Customs Duty? Is this correct? If so, what documentation is needed to prove this and what is acceptable? The current owner lives just outside Belfast and has this vehicle since July 2022 therefore the V5C shows it registered to his address since that date which is not before 2021. In addition the vehicle comes with a full service history from Belfast lexus and they confirmed that the car has been visiting them yearly since 2015. The online MOT records show that the MOT have been carried out in Belfast since 2018 (the year they started recording it online). As I'm sure you are aware, they will not provide me with previous owners address due to GDPR. The current owner bought it locally near Belfast and the previous owner had the vehicle since before 2021. There is no ferry ticket or transport invoice available due to the car arriving in North nearly 10 years ago.

What else could I get or provide to prove the vehicle being in NI since before 2021 in order to not have to pay VAT and Customes Duty?

Thank you in advance.

How would you prove the car was registered in NI if it has no MOT history as it’s a 2020 registered car. Would the V5C suffice showing previous owner and registered date with NI address?

Does anyone else have any recommendations for trusted dealers in the North?

Hi All,

I'm currently looking at importing a car from NI, its 2022. I'm buying it from the dealership from which it was originally sold as new in NI, yet when I run the plates through checkcardetails.co.uk it identifies "Registration Place: Birmingham". The sales person has advised the car has been on its current plates from new. What do I require from the dealer to satisfy to revenue that it was first registered in NI, or is it even possible to do so?

The car I purchased from NI is registered there from what the dealer has told me. He said it’s been on NI plates since day one which makes sense because i can see from a history check the plates never changed and they are NI format. The Same website as the one you mention tells me it originated in Reading which I don’t understand. Maybe the vehicle is brand new and taken by truck from England to NI but it’s origin destination is different from its registration destination which would mean in my case and yours, the cars are NI from new. But the Original drop off location is England. I’m guessing this is what it is. Ill report back here after VRT appointment on Saturday.