Expert answer

Hi Jackie,

Yes, but there’s a better way to do it. If you’re buying from a dealer, it would be easier for them to claim back the VRT at the point of export, and sell you the car at the ex-VRT price. Not all dealers will be happy to do this but it’s worth asking the question. As a private buyer with UK residency, you’ll have to jump through a lot of hoops to claim back the VRT yourself. 

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

If you do manage to get it registered before the end of this month (if you've not already got a VRT appointment, I'm afraid to tell you that you are unlikely to now) then your car will be taxed on its NEDC CO₂ rating, which I believe is 127g/km. That means €270 per annum now and no change for 2021. These guides might be of interest:

Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained

Guide to Importing Cars from the UK

Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

Almost definitely, yes. If you’re exempt from VRT, then buying a used car from the UK makes huge sense. You get more choice, often a higher level of spec and potentially huge savings on price. I say ‘potentially’ because there are obviously outlying examples where you won’t find such big savings, but depending on the car you can often save as much as €5,000 even when you DO pay VRT, so the savings without will be even higher (again, depending on the model). 

Expert answer

Hi Robert,

We don't believe there are any plans to officially sell the Grand California in the USA anywhere. Here in Ireland it costs from €79,920.

Read our Volkswagen Grand California review here

Expert answer

Hi Cesar,

No, you don’t specifically need the V5c. And it doesn’t really matter that the bike is coming over in a van. What is important is that you have seven days to book your appointment at your nearest NCT centre, and 30 days to complete the process of VRT payment and registration.

What you will need is proof of sale (an invoice for the bike with your name on it); proof of date of entry (a ferry ticket will do); proof of your ID and address (utility bill etc); and your PPSN number.

Expert answer

Hi Betty,

OK, it kind of depends on whether you’re looking at second hand or new, but either way your best bet could be to track down a good used Ford B-Max. That had a fairly wide-opening front door, but more importantly the rear side doors slide back, and there’s no pillar between the doors, so effectively the whole side of the car is open. That should make getting in and out a little easier for your daughter.

If that doesn’t suit, how about a Honda Jazz? Take your pick from pretty much any generation of Jazz — they’re all roomy and with big, wide-opening doors. 

Ford B-Max reviews

Honda Jazz reviews

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

OK, we’ve found a few cars that meet both your budget and your small engine requirement, and can pretty easily handle the hack to Ennis and back.

All small car searches should start with a Fiat 500 — looks cool, is fun to drive, costs buttons to run and no they’re not unreliable.

Want something a bit more conventional? You should be able to track down a 2009-ish Ford Fiesta with the 1.25 engine. Terrific all-rounder.

If you want something cheaper to run, there’s the Kia Picanto (circa 2010),  which has a peppy enough 1.0 to be able to cope with the Ennis run.

Or finally a Toyota Yaris, with that brilliant 1.0 VVTi engine, would make a hugely sensible choice, but you’ll have to go for an older one to stay on budget — 2008 or thereabouts. 

Expert answer

Hi Gerry,

Yes, that’s right. You need to fill out form VAT411, which allows a private individual — whether you are registered for VAT or not — to reclaim the VAT. However, there will be an extra cost involved — UK VAT is charged at 20 per cent, but Irish VAT is 21 per cent (temporarily)...

Expert answer

Hi Pauric,

Not sure about ‘deal of a lifetime’ but it certainly sounds pretty solid from what you’ve told us. Obviously, be careful to read the fine print of any deal regarding monthly payments and so on, and to make sure that you’re happy with the terms and conditions, whether it’s a PCP deal or Hire Purchase. The V60 is definitely one of our favourite cars, and the D3 diesel is ideal if you’re doing high regular mileage (which from the sounds of the car you’re trading in, you do).

Just remember that, being an ex-demo, you’re going to be the second name on the logbook not the first, so come resale time that will have a small effect on the trade-in value, although if you keep it for long enough that will be negligible.

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

Yes, it will do as long as you get the conversion done before you import the car. Camper vans pay the same 13.3 per cent of Irish market value in VRT as regular vans, which is helpful, but you will need to make sure that your Caravelle is signed off by a ’suitably qualified individual.’ In other words, if you’ve done the work yourself, you may need to get it inspected  and approved by an official authority (a vehicle assessor who can check that it conforms to DVLA standards, for example) and make sure you have that paperwork with you when processing the import. Assuming that it passes muster in this regard, you’ll also qualify for cheap road tax — just €102 per annum for a camper van, regardless of size.  

However,  you do say that you’re ‘moving back to Ireland’ from the UK and bringing the car with you. That could mean that  you’re exempt from paying any VRT, once you can show proof of ownership (tax and insurance) for at least six months, as well as proof of change of address. Have a look at the Revenue.ie page here.