Vintage VRT

User1998 · 14-07-2024 01:27AM #1

Hi guys, I’m well experienced in importing cars. I import 50+ per year. But vintage cars I have not much knowledge on.

Does anyone here have a link to any Revenue documents outlining the exact rules around importing vintage cars. I can’t seem to find one anywhere.

I’m trying to VRT a car that was manufactured in 1994 but was only registered in 1999 and I’m wondering if it will qualify for vintage VRT. I’m happy to do my own research if someone could provide links to documents, but if anyone could answer my question that would be equally helpful.

The V5 logbook and DVLA both state that the car was manufactured in 1994 but wasn’t registered until 1999. Thanks

kdevitt · 15-07-2024 09:30AM

Its full fat VRT unfortunately - age for VRT is calculated off first registration date of the vehicle. Rather ridiciuously, its eligible for vintage status motor tax once registered.

Section 3.4 of VRT manual section 08 for determining age, then vintage cars come under category C - where the age has to be 30 years on presentation for VRT.

w124man · 15-07-2024 12:09PM

The full updated version of the VRT manual is on revenue.ie This is from Section 8.3.4

Interesting section on high mileage Cat A cars

User1998 · 15-12-2024 05:59PM

Just incase anyone needs this in the future, I VRT’d the car for €200 since it stated on the V5 logbook that it was manufactured 30 years ago

kdevitt · 15-12-2024 07:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122959263#Comment_122959263

Worked out well for you , but they’ve clearly applied the rules incorrectly - it’s one of few things they’ve documented clearly to say registration date.

User1998 · 15-12-2024 11:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122959830#Comment_122959830

So in my instance the car was first registered in the UK in 1999. But on the front page of the V5 logbook there is a note that states “Manufactured/used overseas in 1994”. Only when a V5 has this note will they accept it. So now my Irish logbook states first registered on 01/01/1994

Two different VRT staff from two different centres confirmed that if the V5 logbook has this note then that is the date they use to determine the registration. They said that sometimes people will unknowingly purchase a car with this note on the V5 and end up with an Irish reg a few years older than they thought it would be. In my instance it worked in my favour as it made the car vintage.

kdevitt · 16-12-2024 09:07AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122960522#Comment_122960522

Ah - well thats different so. Had literally the exact same on my CRX - 1989 car that was imported from Japan to the UK and registered there in 1996.

User1998 · 16-12-2024 10:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122960998#Comment_122960998

Yeah, weirdly enough mine wasn’t an import tho which is why it baffled me a bit about the manufacturing date. Never came across it before.

kdevitt · 16-12-2024 11:12AM

One of the guys on BR had a similar issue with a Prelude recently - imported from UK, via Japan. In his case the V5 didn't have any note on the front - and the initial response was that he'd have to pay the full VRT amount based on the UK reg date. He appealed it - they eventually relented.

Wonder was your V5 a reissued one or something?

User1998 · 16-12-2024 11:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122961489#Comment_122961489

Yeah its definitely something to watch out for then as this is my first time coming across it. There was an old V5 in the glovebox that had the same note on the front page so it must have been noted from the beginning in my case.

AUSTIN50 · 30-09-2025 04:06PM

I have a 1993 Toyota parked at the house for the last 15 years but it s on uk plates but sorn.

So makes it 32 years old.

If i go to clear it now and get it onto irish plates (Send it back to uk and bring it back again here).

Is the total cost to put it on irish plates 200 euros.

its a 2.0 litre petrol so do i pay full road tax on it

Will it need NCT

Will it qualify for cheaper insurance due to its age

User1998 · 30-09-2025 05:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123864597#Comment_123864597

No. You have no proof that you imported the car pre Brexit so you will have to pay 23% VAT before you can VRT the car. There are no late penalties on vintage cars so it will be 23% of the invoice price and then €200 for VRT. Presumably you have no sales invoice either so I suggest you just make a handwritten invoice from a private seller in Northern Ireland using the actual price paid for the car

Tax is €56, NCT is required every 2 years until 40 years old. Should qualify for classic insurance

w124man · 02-10-2025 08:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123864597#Comment_123864597

Based on recent experience from an MB club member who got hung out to dry because he stored a car here for 5 years before presenting it for VRT. He tried fobbing them off but they had a record of when the car came in so they had him from the start.

They can insist that the car qualifies for full VRT based on the car being here for 15 years and you have no shipment documents and cannot prove otherwise

They can insist the VAT and Duty is due as the car has been here for 15 years and you have no shipment documents and cannot prove otherwise

They can issue fines if they see fit

They can get suspicious if a car goes back to the UK and then comes back in a short space of time.

Getting a receipt from someone in Northern Ireland isn't sufficient. It must have been registered up there for a short period of time and have the correct documentation that matches the receipt. They could also ask you for proof of funds transfer to buy the vehicle if you try the old "back to the UK or down from the North" trick. get in touch with Revenue in Rosslare and tell them the story and see what they say

Vintage VRT

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