Expert answer

Hi Karla,

That budget is plenty to find a decent automatic runaround that's big enough for the two of you and relatively cheap to keep on the road.

A few models that are worth looking into:

Ford Fiesta: plentiful, reliable, inexpensive to maintain
Honda Jazz: not so common, but exceptionally reliable and very spacious (also badged the Honda Fit if a Japanese import)
Kia Picanto: you'd get quite a modern one for your budget, though they are smaller than the above cars, and again, not so plentiful
Mazda Demio: this is a Japanese import, badged the Mazda2 here – nice car

There are loads of other options of course, but those are good starting points to begin your search. Sites like Carzone.ie have good search filters to allow you to put in your budget and an automatic gearbox.

In terms of general tips, we'd give you the following advice:

1 – Prioritise the condition and service history of a car over its age and mileage.
2 – If you decide on a particular make and model that you like, seek out different examples of it from various sellers and test-drive as many as you can so you get a feel for which one 'feels' best.
3 – Don't view a car at night or in the rain as that can disguise issues with it.
4 – I would suggest that a diesel car would be a bad fit for you unless you spend a lot of time on the motorway every day covering long distances – they can come with higher maintenance costs.
5 – Make sure you get an insurance quote for any car you are considering before you commit to it.
6 – If at all possible, bring a friend or family member with you when looking at cars, preferably one that has a bit of experience in such things. It's quite a daunting thing to do on your own for the first time.
7 – Ask to see the paperwork on any car you're serious about before you talk about the price.

Hopefully all that is of help. Don't hesitate to send us another question if you'd like more assistance.

Expert answer

Hi Stephen,

This car will be in the top band for VRT due to its high CO₂ emissions, so 41 per cent of the OMSP.

Now, as you probably know, this Open Market Selling Price is what Revenue believes the car to be worth after registration in Ireland, and it's very difficult to predict that value for a niche model such as the Honda.

If you take the top level of the price band as €18,000, then VRT would be €7,380.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

A diesel would probably continue to give you the best economy given your usage, but we'd worry about long-term maintenance for sure as modern diesels have expensive components that can get gummed or clogged up.

If you're willing to make that compromise, then you could do a lot worse than a 2018 Honda Civic 1.6 diesel. Lovely car. It also came with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, but it has known 'wet belt' issues so we would not recommend it.  

You could afford a 2019 Hyundai i30 with either a 1.6-litre diesel or a 1.0-litre petrol engine and that's a very good bet in terms of reliability. Same for the related Kia Ceed, though they're rarer.

Even less common is the Mazda3 of the same year. It's a lovely looking car, of great quality and though it comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, it's an efficient and reliable option.

If you liked your Peugeot, you could move up six or seven years to a newer 308, though best to stick with diesel if you are doing that as the 1.2 'Puretech' petrol engine can have wet belt issues like the Honda.

One of the last of the Renault Megane hatchbacks is another good option, available with petrol or diesel power depending on your preference.

The SEAT Leon is possibly our favourite find for you at this price point with good petrol and diesel engine options and great comfort. You can't ignore the Skoda Octavia for the same reasons, and it's even bigger.

Lots to think about there so come back to us and let us know if we're on the right track. We've only selected mid-sized hatchbacks, while there would be plenty of crossovers and small SUVs in budget as well.

Expert answer

Hi Caroline,

If the car is already registered in Ireland and has an NCT then there will be no issue at all taxing it. The seller should be able to supply the usual Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC - often referred to as the log book). You can also check that the car is on Revenue's system by putting the registration into the Motor Tax Online page.

Expert answer

Hi Shona,

Before we take a look for potential cars for you, I would say that you should avoid diesels, as they're not suited to mostly city driving and will end up costing more in maintenance. Stick with petrol, or hybrid if something comes up within budget.

A small estate such as the Skoda Fabia Combi could work well for you. There are plenty within budget, they're reliable and they have huge boots. The only reservation I have is that the rear seating isn't huge, which might be a problem if you have two rear-facing child seats in there. Worth going to take a look at one and making that decision for yourself. The SEAT Ibiza ST (Sports Tourer) is pretty much the same car underneath, incidentally, if you prefer the look of that.

There are VW Golf and Passat estates on the market within budget and with petrol engines as well, and they come with much more rear legroom than the Fabia, but you'd likely have to make do with an older model for under €10,000.

On a completely different tack are cars such as the Nissan Note and Kia Venga, which are more upright than most hatchbacks that take up the same amount of space on the road, to the benefit of interior space. They beat the Fabia for rear legroom, for example, but their boots aren't huge. I wouldn't want to be carrying a travel-system-style buggy as well as anything else. Nonetheless those ones I've mentioned are reliable and within budget.

The Honda Jazz is similar and it's an excellent choice.

Let me know if we're on the right track with this and if you need further help narrowing your search. 

Expert answer

Hi Bart,

Revenue itself states that the information on its website is for guidance only, so you have no comeback with it. Saying all that, if it gives an OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) for the same car on there, then that is likely to be quite a good guide. 

For cars coming from Japan, however, they will ask for proof of the CO₂ and NOx emissions, so that's the tricky part. Make sure you get that documentation from the seller before proceeding.

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

Yes, that's correct (though don't forget about the NOx levy as well). Just make sure you can prove the car has been used in the North since new.

Expert answer

Hi Fiona,

The Single Administrative Document (SAD) is the standard EU customs declaration form. It records the details of goods being imported or exported and proves that customs obligations (VAT, duty, etc.) have been met.

For cars coming from Great Britain into Northern Ireland, a SAD is generated automatically when the HMRC Supplementary Declaration is completed through the Trader Support Service (TSS). Most buyers never see it, but Revenue can request a copy if they want extra proof that a vehicle has cleared customs correctly.

In most cases you won't need to show an SAD when presenting the car for a VRT inspection. Revenue usually accepts the HMRC Supplementary Declaration together with the V5C as proof that the car was lawfully imported into Northern Ireland and is in free circulation under the Windsor Framework.

If the car's paperwork was processed by a customs agent, they can electronically submit the SAD on your behalf, as it should already exist given the HMRC Supplementary Declaration has already been processed.

Expert answer

Hi Fiona,

So long as the TSS shows that the car was imported into Northern Ireland according to the Windsor Framework, then yes, it should be exempt from VAT and import duty. We always advise readers to double-check with Revenue before committing to a sale.

Expert answer

Hi Roy,

There are documented issues with some Honda hybrid brake servos, yes, though not specifically the Shuttle that we can see. 

Many of these problems can be caused by a failing 12-volt battery, so first thing to do is have that checked or replaced. Then have the fault codes reset, drive it for a while, and if there are still issues get the car plugged into a diagnostic computer for analysis by a good mechanic.

Unfortunately, it's an expensive repair to replace the system itself, so hopefully the battery sorts it out.