What fees to import a Renault van from NI?
Hi,
I am importing a 2018 Renault Master van from NI to Ireland: what fees do I have to pay?
Thank you
Mark Kelly (Ennis)Oct 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
Assuming it's no more than a 3.5-tonne van, then the VRT should be a flat €200.
Can I get an NI dealer to import a car for me?
Hi,
Great article 'Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland'. I'm looking to import a used car (older than two years) from NI to ROI but as the NI market is very limited in stock for the make/model I'm looking for the car would need to originally come from GB (bigger market, more choice).
With the latest Revenue guidelines on 'Vehicles that were not previously in use in NI', in theory is there any downside (legally or financially) to me asking an NI dealer to buy a specific car from a GB dealer on my behalf but in the dealer's name, import it to NI under the Windsor Framework and sell the car to me for import to ROI and give me a copy of the NI Customs Declaration?
Do I understand correctly from Revenue's guidelines and your article that this would then leave me liable to VRT but not to ROI customs or VAT?
When importing the car to NI, does the dealer have to pay UK customs and VAT that they would then likely have to pass the cost on to me in the form of a higher sale price? Or can the NI dealer reclaim the UK VAT upon selling the car to me for export to ROI?
I just want to pre-determine any additional costs beyond VRT and any fee the NI dealer may add on.
Thanks in advance for your help
George Davis (GREYSTONES)Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi George,
I believe your thinking is all correct, except that there is no onus on the dealer to pass on the VAT reclaim saving to you.
Can we use a commercial Land Rover privately?
Hello
We are looking at buying a 2015 Land Rover crew cab [a five-seater] Discovery from a family relation. He owns the car and pays commercial tax rate of €333/year. My wife and I are employed in the private sector and do not own a company.
We want to know:
1. If we buy the car and use it for day to day commute, dropping kids to creche etc, can we still avail of the €333 tax rate?
2. Is it possible for us to take out insurance on the vehicle whilst availing of the tax rate above?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thanks
Owen Stephens (Dublin 15)Sep 2024 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Owen,
There are strict rules forbidding the use of vehicles registered as commercials (as the Discovery described above is) for anything other than purely business/company use. The rule says you cannot use it for private use as you've described. Many do, I might add, and just hope not to get caught...
Insurance might be trickier, however. The insurers don't seem to like insuring private individuals on commercial vehicles. Only way to know if that will affect you is to ring around and see what they say. Or employ a broker to do the same.
Can an NI car dealer claim back VAT?
In the scenario of a private individual importing a car from an NI dealer that has not previously been used in NI, is it correct that if the car has been imported to NI in accordance with the Windsor Framework that no ROI customs or VAT applies?
If so, what requirements does the NI dealer need to meet in order to import the car to NI in accordance with the Windsor Framework? E.g. does the NI dealer have to pay UK customs and VAT? If so, would that UK VAT be re-claimed by the NI dealer upon selling to me (for export to ROI)?
Thanks!
David O'Loughlin (GREYSTONES)Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi David,
Yes, our understanding mirrors yours - if the car is imported into NI by a dealer in accordance with the Windsor Framework and you buy it and import it South then no customs duty or VAT will be payable by you to Revenue in Ireland. Note that Revenue will look for proof of an import declaration lodged in NI by the dealer.
And yes, the NI dealer would have to pay VAT to make that happen, but they can claim that back.
VRT on an imported VW Transporter?
Hi,
A friend of mine purchased and imported a Volkswagen Transporter van a year ago from England but didn't pay the VRT yet. He has paid the Customs Duty (10%) and VAT (23%) but didn't pay the VRT.
How much would the VRT be if he decides to pay it (including any late payment penalties where applicable)? Is it VRT Category B of 13.3% of OMSP or is it €200 flat fee based on N1 van category as it has only three front seats (no back seats) and a laden mass greater than 130% of the mass in service (whatever that means)?
Thanks
Des D (Maynooth)Sep 2024 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Des,
The late payment penalty is 0.1 per cent per day after the allowed 30 days. If the van is as described, with a VRT fee of €200, then the daily penalty added on is just 20 cents...
I can't get insurance on a private van...
I currently own a standard car. Like many, I'd love a campervan, but the costs are too high, so I am hoping to buy a van to convert it. I am not a business owner, and I am aware I will pay the private tax on the van.
However, I seem to be coming across an issue with insurance. I understand I will have to take out a new policy, I would not move my no claims over to the van, so will be starting from scratch. But I seem to be declined insurance everywhere and I'm not sure why. I would insure it as a private van, until the conversion is complete and then look into converting on the logbook etc. Is there any law/rule against owning a commercial van, taxing and insuring it privately, converting it and then not changing it on the log book to a campervan?
There seem to be so many hoops to jump through, I just want to put a bed in the back of my van...
Any help would be appreciated, thank you!
Kirsty Durnall (Midleton)Sep 2024 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Kirsty,
You're not the first to run up against this issue. Getting insurance to use a van as a private vehicle is bizarrely difficult: it seems the insurers don't want to get involved.
We don't have an easy fix for you, but would suggest looking into employing an independent insurance broker to do the legwork for you rather than trying to deal direct with the big insurance companies.
If you find a good solution, please do let us know.
Thinking of importing a Combe E from the North...
Hi,
I'm considering importing an electric Vauxhall Combo E from a Vauxhall dealer in NI. It's a 2022 model with 10k miles on the clock. It was originally registered in the UK mainland and as of yet not been registered in NI. What would the VRT, VAT implications be if I where to purchase this vehicle?
Thanks in advance
Willie Nugent (Dublin)Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Willie,
If the van is deemed to have an OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) of under €40,000 by Revenue (and I assume it will) then there should be no VRT as there's relief of up to €5,000. Obviously there's no NOx levy either.
Now, if the vehicle was never registered and used in Northern Ireland then it's no different to just importing it from England, Scotland or Wales in terms of VAT and import duty. You will be liable for both, at 23 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively.
Thinking of getting a BMW i3...
Hi,
Are EVs exempt from VRT if looking to import one? Having trouble with the Passat and if and when it gets sorted my wife wants it gone and to treat ourselves so started looking at used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe but tow truck friend warning us away from the 2.0 diesels: "doesn't matter who had it, where or how often it's been serviced or easy life, they are all trouble." And 3.0 diesel harder to find here but still give timing chain trouble.
Son is 20 and learning to drive so depending on cost to fix may dictate keeping it so third car turning to a BMW i3. When I met my wife she drove a SEAT Arosa and we kept that and I used it for my backroad commute to work for years as economical second car runabout.
With fuel, both diesel and petrol rising it might tick a few boxes to look at small economical runabout, it's auto so will suit both wife and son and our first step into EV.
Earlier with the range extender seems lower on the recommend list compared to the later fully electric 2018 onwards or i3S model.
ROS VRT site looks like it has had an update and gave both i3 and i3S options but wasn't clever enough to blank out NOx and CO2 fields. When checking rates for i3S it auto filled a figure for NOx, which I just cancelled out.
Ideally I'd like to buy from a BMW or SIMI dealer with history and warranty and liked your article on importing from Northern Ireland.
Appreciate any advice on importing an i3 (or 4 Series Gran Coupe) from up North
Regards
Damien McGettrick (Lusk)Sep 2024 Filed under: electric cars
Expert answer
Hi Damien,
First up, the BMW i3 is a great option for your needs based on what you told us. It's a cracking compact car that will cost you nothing to run and is an idea runabout. And yes, I'd agree that the fully electric version is the best one, especially when you have access to other cars in the household for longer journeys.
I really like the 4 Series Gran Coupe as well, but understand the reticence to trust the diesel engines. Would you consider a petrol one instead perhaps? The NOx levy on the diesel on importation can be expensive as well. Because of potential engine issues I'd be inclined to stick with a local BMW dealer and get as good a warranty as you can.
Obviously electric cars don't emit any NOx or CO2, so it's a bit bizarre if Revenue's site can't deal with that... There is a VRT exemption up to €5,000 and anyway, it's only 7 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP).
If you're looking to buy in the North, just make sure the car has been registered and used by a private individual in the North for at least three months before you import it, and that must be verified by documentation. Then no VAT or import duty should be due, just VRT - and the NOx levy if applicable.
Hopefully all that helps, but come back to us with other specific questions if you need more assistance of course.
Can I convert my commercial Land Cruiser?
Hi,
Currently driving a 2010 LWB Toyota Land Cruiser (commercial). Now with the arrival of two small boys, I cannot bring them with me when driving. Can I change it from commercial to business/passenger and if so what is the process for same?
Patrick Fitzgerald (Tipperary)Sep 2024 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Patrick,
If the vehicle already has rear seats then all you need to do is inform your motor tax office of the change of use and pay the relevant motor tax increase. Check your insurance policy as well to ensure this is covered.
If the Land Cruiser has no rear seats then it's a much bigger job to convert it, and I'd suggest you enlist the services of one of the many companies specialising in this process. Do a search online and then try to find reviews of ones in your locale. In many cases, however, it may be more cost effective to just change your vehicle.
Are my calculations right on importing this Honda?
Hi,
I've recently paid a substantial deposit on a car in Northern Ireland. (I/we live in Ireland). We bought a petrol car as the import charges are a lot less than diesel. I worked it out to be approximately €196 NOx charge and about €1,200 VRT. In total the cost of the car is under £3,000 Sterling. It is a 2012 Honda CR-V 2.0 petrol.
Can you please advise me urgently as I was going to collect my new car this weekend. If I’m being misled please let me know so I can try to stop the sale due to this discrepancy and get my refund back.
Thanks
Raymond O Callaghan (Slane)Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Raymond,
Following on from our separate conversation, you've confirmed that car is on a Northern Ireland number plate, so I'd assume it has been used in the North by a private individual for quite some time. A quick check of the UK's MOT history service confirms the car was tested in the North since at least 2018.
You'll need documentation to prove all this on importation, but it would appear that you will not be liable for VAT or import duty on this car.
So then it's just VRT and the NOx levy.
It would appear that the NOx rating is 23mg/km, which means a bill of €150 if that's correct.
The CO2 rating appears to be 190g/km, though that would be on the old pre-WLTP system and it needs to be 'uplifted' by Revenue's calculations. That would bring it into the top band, at 41 per cent of the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price). The OMSP is the value Revenue believes the car to be worth on the Irish market, and it's not always an easy figure to guess accurately.
There don't see to be many similar cars on sale in Ireland now so our job is made more difficult by that. If you assume an OMSP of €12,000 as a worst case then VRT would be 41 per cent of that, at €4,920. Obviously, that final figure depends massively on the OMSP.
Hope that helps