Certificate of conformity issue, please help.

hhmmm? · 12-09-2025 10:14AM #1

Morning everyone, need some advice. I bought a lotus in the UK and am in the process of bringing it in. It's 1992 so VRT is not an issue. The car is a product of the UK and should be duty exempt. (See 7.1 in the attachment ) The people looking after the customs paperwork have requested a certificate of conformity. I reached out to lotus UK directly and got a great response from one of the lads advising that COCs were only introduced in 1996 so one does not exist for this car. When I forwarded the response I was advised revenue will only accept a COC or else I'll need to pay duty.

Is this a slam dunk or do I have any options?

import-of-motor-vehicles-from-the-UK.pdf

kdevitt · 12-09-2025 10:33AM

Its vintage - you'll only be paying 23% VAT and no duty anyway. Just get someone like bell.ie to clear it for you.

hhmmm? · 12-09-2025 10:42AM

I'm using another well established importer to do the paperwork for me. They are telling me I must pay duty unless I can produce the certificate of conformity.

kdevitt · 12-09-2025 02:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123809223#Comment_123809223

Use a better importer so

hhmmm? · 15-09-2025 08:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123809190#Comment_123809190

Just as an FYI, I reached out to bell.ie and they will not work with private individuals, just businesses.

kdevitt · 15-09-2025 08:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123817575#Comment_123817575

Thats a shame, they cleared my GTi a year or two back and were great to deal with. Anyway, you're perfectly entitled to clear a 30+ old car without the duty under the collectible TARIC code. Revenue can contest that - generally on the basis that the car is no longer original, but only heard of that happening once (the inteior in an MG had been redone) and Revenue accepted the appeal and cleared it without the duty.

mustang68 · 15-09-2025 09:17AM

I'd revert to your agent and remind them that it is a vintage/classic car, they are confusing things with a standard import/new car, or change agents to one who understands classics. By that rational any car where the manufacturer is long gone would attract duty.

Buried in some email I had from revenue last year:

If the vehicle is a new vehicle, that you bring the EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval Certificate of Conformity or IVA NASSTA Certificate of Conformity, - where applicable, please provide an English translation of this document. (This document will be retained by the test centre so please ensure you have a copy of it)
For new cars a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) must be on the Revenue computer system before a new vehicle can be registered. Refer to Revenue for more information.

For Vintage Vehicles; if the original documentation is not available, a declaration in respect of the vehicle particulars from an enthusiasts’ organisation or club which provides the data necessary for registration will be accepted at the centre. The letter must include year of manufacture, first date of registration year, engine size, make and model.

My car manufacturer is long gone, so I got a letter from the club in question - I'm sure a lotus club would help you out, and write a letter if you provided a few pictures

hhmmm? · 15-09-2025 10:28AM

We're not talking big money here in the grand scheme of things here so I was thinking of just paying up and perhaps trying to claim it back once I have a letter of provenance from lotus to prove it's orign.

mustang68 · 15-09-2025 06:00PM

Maybe, but it means your agent is doing things very wrong, leaving you to pick up the pieces. I'd be concerned if they are processing it (even partially) as a modern car that they are making mistakes elsewhere. Potentially leaving you with costs/problems.

You are paying them to do things right so that you don't have; if they can't, find someone who can.

(I had an agent/shipper/someone make a minor mistake on an import declaration, took well over 50 emails, about ten calls and if I wasn't careful nearly cost me five figures in unnecessary tax to rectify it.. total nightmare. Just be careful)

hhmmm? · 15-09-2025 06:36PM

Advise taken, placed a call to another agent and instantly they knew I was being messed around. Thanks for the advice, will update.

hhmmm? · 20-09-2025 06:18AM

I ended up using Automotive Customs Brokers for the customs paperwork. Everything handled by WhatsApp in no time whatsoever and knew exactly what they were doing. No need for certificate of conformity. Highly recommend for anyone bringing a car in.

Certificate of conformity issue, please help.

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