CompleteCar.ie logo | Car Reviews, News and Features

Quick car review finder - select below

4,861 Irish motoring queries answered to date.

On CompleteCar.ie there is no such thing as a silly question. No matter how small or complicated an issue seems, we'll help. Our experts will quickly answer your queries in a friendly and jargon-free manner. What are you waiting for? Ask us Anything!

Please remember that we offer advice, not gospel. We cannot be held responsible for recalls, a second hand car's history, acts of God, changes in car pricing or Government policy. We are here to help and offer independent, impartial and free advice. What you do with it is entirely up to you!

By submitting a question you are agreeing to this statement. Thank you.

Ask Us Anything

The process for submitting questions has temporarily been restricted to registered users.

To register, go to the registration form.


CompleteCar.ie aims to be completely compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), implemented on 25 May, 2018. At no stage shall we contact you without your express permission (by entering your email address, you are consenting for us to send you emails relating directly to your question). Your data will never be shared with a third party and it is kept in a secure database on our servers, with limited personnel access. You have the right to have your data deleted at any time and also to get a copy of your data on file. For any related queries, please send us a message using the form on the Who we are page.

Is VAT on importing on the whole price of the car?

On importing a car from the UK, is the VAT charged on the price paid for the car or just on the value of the 10 per cent custom duty?

Thank you

Filed under importing - Asked by John Breen (Kilkenny,) - Sun, 29 Jan 2023 15:30


Importing a Defender for work - VAT and VRT?

Looking to import a Land Rover Defender 110 as a commercial vehicle. I have a VAT-registered company and it will be used as a commercial vehicle only. I am trying to establish if VAT can be claimed back and if VRT is payable. It's a 2015/2016 model.

Filed under importing - Asked by David Mahon (Dublin) - Sun, 30 Oct 2022 19:51


Will I pay VAT importing my own car from UK?

Hi,

I am moving back to Ireland after living in the UK for 10 years. I am bringing my car (11 years old, two previous owners). I have already got VRT exemption but I'm worried I will have to pay VAT at 23% on it. I have the purchase invoice and I was not charged VAT by the UK dealer at the time.

Am I going to be charged VAT now by the Irish Revenue?

Cheers, Tony

Filed under importing - Asked by Tony Herrigan (London) - Wed, 20 Jul 2022 15:32


Do I need to pay VAT importing this bike?

I am having trouble working out if the motorbike I would like to bring into Ireland from Northern Ireland requires VAT. I understand about the VRT, which should be €700+€100, but does it require VAT? The bike was first registered in NI but is an engine rebuild with only 50km on the clock. It is insured and taxed up north as a 2007 vehicle.

Filed under importing - Asked by Fiona C (Dublin) - Wed, 13 Jul 2022 22:44


VRT on importing an Infiniti Q70?

Hi there,

What is the VRT on an Infiniti Q70 3.5-litre hybrid? The tax office tell me to bring it in and they will then tell me how much it will be. But if the VRT is too high I will have to bring it out of the country and most likely lose money on it. So can you help?

Thanks

Eamonn

Filed under importing - Asked by Eamonn Munnelly (Mullingar) - Fri, 03 Jun 2022 11:41


Thoughts on Japanese imports?

Hi all,

I’m currently in the market for a used car and it’s my understanding that the Irish market is being flooded by cars imported from Japan as it’s cheaper to import from there than the UK. By that I mean ‘Grey’ imports so Japanese versions of BMW, Audi etc.

Would you recommend buying one or steer well clear? Even though they have low mileage I’m concerned over spare parts and unexpected anomalies due to the cars being specced for the Japanese market. What are your thoughts please?

Filed under importing - Asked by Martin Smith (Dublin) - Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:15


Costs to import a BMW 420d from England?

I want to buy a BMW 420d M Sport Coupe in from England, the list price is £12K, but can you tell me the total with customs, VAT, VRT, NOx and god knows what else?

Filed under importing - Asked by Keif Wynne (Loughrea) - Sun, 30 Jan 2022 13:51


Why is my Santa Fe tax so high?

Hello,

I brought home a Santa Fe from Australia - it's a 151 2.2 litre and it's the exact same car as the Santa Fe here as all the parts for servicing and all fit no bother. It has an automatic transmission. My question is the tax on it is €750 a year; how is it so high compared to any other Santa Fes here?

Regard Phelim

Filed under importing - Asked by Phelim Moran (Wicklow) - Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:51


I am importing an EV from the North...

Hi,

I am looking at getting a new electric car, and availability/waiting time for the model I'm looking at seems better in the North than here, even if the price saving is limited, so I am looking at buying from a dealer in NI and importing the car.

I have two questions:

1. What's the current status of VRT on imported (pure) electric vehicles? Do I have to pay 7% of OMSP, is there a €5,000 discount, or what?

2. SEAI offers a €5,000 grant for new EVs. However this is applied for/paid out via the dealer (who has to be in the State), and this doesn't make sense to me - it's surely meant to incentivise putting new EVs on Irish roads, and provided I import the car properly, where I bought it from shouldn't matter. In other words, why can't I get that grant on my new EV even if the car is properly imported rather than bought in the State - isn't there a Single Market implication here?

Thanks!

Patrick

Filed under importing - Asked by Patrick Edmond (Limerick) - Thu, 11 Nov 2021 14:44


Will this imported car attract VAT and duty?

Hi,

I would like to buy car from Northern Ireland that was brought from UK mainland two months ago and registered by an independent dealer. Car still has UK reg. Do the VAT of 23 per cent and customs duty still apply to me?

Filed under importing - Asked by Vlad Dvadvavosem (Dublin) - Sat, 21 Aug 2021 19:57


Back to Question list