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.
David Mahon (Dublin)Oct 2022 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi David,
The good news is that you should be able to claim back the VAT. Because VAT now applies to all vehicles imported into Ireland from the UK, basically, you’re paying the VAT at the point of entry, at the standard rate of 23 per cent, so if you’re a VAT-registered company you should be able to claim that back as normal. Obviously, double check with your company accountant.
You will be liable for VRT though, which will be charged at 13.3 per cent of the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price).
Are hybrid Skodas available in Ireland?
Hi,
I’m interested in the Skoda Superb iV Sportline Plus PHEV (estate and hatch) or possibly even the Octavia iV PHEV, but they don’t seem to be on Skoda.ie although they do appear on Skoda.co.uk… I would have thought they would be available with the demand for electric and more and more companies insisting their fleets are electrified to some degree because of emissions?
Martin Smith (Dublin)Jul 2022 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Martin,
The issue is availability from the factory, I'm afraid. So as not to raise expectations, Skoda Ireland took the decision to remove the cars from the website. We got this response when asking about the situation:
"Semiconductors are still a challenge. As the iV models are semiconductor heavy we are finding it challenging securing production at present in particular for these versions. As a result, orders may get delayed and lead times uncertain. "
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
Tony Herrigan (London)Jul 2022 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Tony,
You should be fine, as if a vehicle is eligible for VRT exemption because of a transfer of residence, then it should also qualify for exemption for VAT and customs duty.
According to Revenue: “If you are transferring your normal residence from outside the European Union (EU) to Ireland, you may be able to claim relief from Customs Duty and Value-Added Tax (VAT). This relief applies to imports of the following: certain personal property and household effects, including those of members of your household bicycles and motor cycles, private cars, trailers, caravans, pleasure craft and private aeroplanes.”
Just get all your paperwork in order and it should be fine.
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.
Fiona C (Dublin)Jul 2022 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Fiona,
If the bike has been in Northern Ireland since 2007 then it shouldn’t be liable for VAT, only VRT. However, if the odometer has also been reset to reflect the new engine mileage of 50km then VAT will be payable. It's possible that won't be noticed, but you shouldn't gamble on that of course.
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
Eamonn Munnelly (Mullingar)Jun 2022 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Eamonn,
Much of this is going to depend on the age of the Q70 you’re looking at. If it’s a 2017 model, for example, I’m going to estimate that it’ll attract around €3,500 of VRT and NOx levy, but then obviously you’ll have to pay 23 per cent VAT and 10 per cent customs charges on top of that, and those will depend on the purchase price of the vehicle.
If it’s a newer Q70 than that, you could well be looking at more than €5,000 in VRT and NOx, plus the VAT and the customs duty.
Your best bet would probably be to see if you can source one from Northern Ireland (and quick, before someone changes the Protocol!) as that avoids the VAT and customs duty.
Can I switch to electric for €450 a month?
Hi.
What are the costs of running an EV per 100km? I'm thinking of buying the new Hyundai Kona or Ioniq 5. I spend an average of €450 per month and maybe I can replace this costs with monthly payment on a new car. Also what would be the costs of buying and installing a charging station at home. Kind regards Nelson
Nelson Lopes (Ballinasloe)Mar 2022 Filed under: electric cars
Expert answer
Hi Nelson,
OK, as ever our answers here include a certain amount of ‘it depends…’ as much does indeed depend on your driving style, the ambient temperature, the cost of your electricity at home and how much public charging you need to do. But, roughly, this is how it should all break down.
Let’s start with the Kona — and by the way, these are both excellent choices as the Kona and the Ioniq 5 are amongst the most impressive EVs on sale right now. Hyundai officially claims that the Kona Electric has consumption on the WLTP test of 14.9kWh/100km, but we’re going to be a little more pessimistic, or realistic perhaps, and assume that you’ll achieve more like 18kWh/100km.
At that rate of consumption, you’ll — obviously — burn through 18kWh of electricity for each 100km you cover. On its undercounted rate for electricity, Electric Ireland will charge you 21.9c per kWh, which means that you’ll pay €3.93 in electricity costs for each 100km journey, assuming you do all of your charging at home.
What if you’re not charging at home? Well… If you’re using one of the new very rapid ESB chargers, which cost 37c per kWh, that cost obviously jumps a bit. In fact it goes up to €6.63 per 100km. If you’re using an IONITY 350kW charger, without a discount or membership, you’ll pay 73c per kWh and that pushes the price up to more than €10 per 100km.
However, the likelihood is that you’ll be using a mix of all three, and maybe you’re lucky and can charge for free at work, so let’s stick a finger in the air and average it out at around €5 per 100km journey. That’s just for the electricity cost.
If you go for the Ioniq 5, then we reckon that you’re looking at more like 20kWh per 100km in day-to-day use, which gives you costs of €4.36 (home charging), €7,37 (ESB rapid charging), or €14.54 (IONITY). Again, all of these prices are to an extent moving targets, and can be reduced further with discounts on charging and home energy bills. Or with free or subsidised at-work charging.
Of course, there are not total life costs. You have to factor in the costs of buying the cars themselves — Hyundai currently has an offer for the Kona Electric of €254 per month on a PCP plan, or the Ioniq 5 at €380 per month.
Those are both for the basic models, but that’s actually OK — the base Ioniq 5, with the smaller battery, is actually quite a canny buy as it will still do a reliable 360km on one charge, and doesn’t look nor feel all that much different to the ritzier versions inside or out. Assuming a reasonable cost for insurance (never an entirely safe assumption to make…) I reckon we can get you in under the €450-per-month mark for either car, with the Kona obviously having a bit more headroom for costs.
The cost of the charging station at home is even more difficult to answer with surety. There is a wide variety of home chargers available now, at various price points, though of course you should be eligible for an SEAI rebate, too. The unknown is if any additional work needs to be done to your house's electrics. Take a read of our Charging your electric car at home feature for a little more detail on that.
Electric or hybrid for my 100km commute?
Hi,
I am currently driving from Limerick to Kilarney five days a week for work and driving a diesel BMW 5 Series. I am looking at the option of electric or hybrid and would really appreciate any advice on which may be a better option for these type of journeys.
Brian Lawlor (Limerick)Mar 2022 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Brian,
A diesel car is quite well-suited to that journey still, as it's over 100 kilometres each way, but we can understand why you might be looking to 'electrify'.
First up, I think we can disregard plug-in hybrids for your needs. None of them have an all-electric range to do a full journey from Limerick to Killarney - or vice versa - even if you could plug it in before heading back the other way again. That would make it potentially quite inefficient overall for you.
A regular hybrid might work depending on your driving style. The N21, which I assume you use, is quite a busy road, so average speeds aren't very high, but some drivers do make the effort to overtake slower traffic and keep their average speed up. If you're the type to amble along with the flow of traffic, then a hybrid might get close to your diesel's economy. If you tend to rush and do lots of overtaking, it won't.
Depending on your budget and situation, I think an electric car would be a good option. There are loads of models with official ranges in excess of 400km now and even allowing for a deterioration of that due to higher speeds and cold temperatures, they'll all likely cover the return journey from Limerick to Killarney and back with little trouble. You could top up the battery if you need to in Killarney, but the vast majority of your charging could be done each night at home. That is of course assuming that you have off-street parking and somewhere to install an electric charger. That's key to EV ownership.
If you don't quite need the space of the 5 Series, but like the BMW brand, I'd highly recommend the BMW i4.
Other than that, check out our list of every electric car currently on sale in Ireland for ideas - and feel free to come back to us to discuss this further.
Either way, drop us a message to let us know what you decided to do
Any bargains on the Citroen C5 Aircross?
My question is, seeing as the Citroen C5 Aircross is getting a facelift and new features will be available in Ireland in June, will there be a price reduction in the current versions now awaiting availability in dealers?
Kieran McGlynn (Bunbeg)Jan 2022 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Kieran,
The only way you'll know for sure is to go visit the dealers and make an offer. There is unlikely to be a lot of stock of the old model remaining, to be honest, and with demand for new cars higher than supply, I'd be surprised if dealers will be interested in heavy discounting.
Why differences in Suzuki tax prices?
I have a Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9 DDiS with a DPF filter from 2009 and the motor tax is €1,250, while the 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9 DDiS tax is €750. Why, because both are NEPC qualified? They have the same engines. I also found the same 2009 DDiS model on DoneDeal, but registered in a different county and the tax was €750. Where are the differences in prices and qualification from?
Yours sincerely,
Robert
Robert Gambin (Ennis)Nov 2021 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Robert,
The €1,250 rate is for cars registered in Ireland before 1 January 2021, with CO2 emissions of 191-225g/km.
The €750 rate has been upped to €790, but it applies to cars registered in Ireland before 1 January 2021, with CO2 emissions of 171-190g/km.
So there appears to be a reason that your car is in the higher bracket. Larger wheels can do that, or maybe it's the difference between the weights of the three- and five-door body styles.
I can't fully insure my Tesla with Aviva!
Hello,
I’ve bought a Tesla Model 3 LR/AWD (not the Performance model). I’m taking delivery on 29 September. I’ve been driving for 40 years, insured (full comp.) with Aviva since 2010 and never had a claim. Today Aviva tells me it will only offer third party cover on a Tesla. I’ve pressed them on this - no budge. Are you familiar with EVs being harder to insure?
Thanks
Ray Hennessy
Ray Hennessy (Ennis)Sep 2021 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Ray,
We got in touch with Aviva asking in general if there was an issue and we received this rather wishy-washy response:
"There are multiple factors that are taken into consideration by our motor insurance underwriters when providing quotes or determining cover for motor insurance. Some of the factors that determine our acceptance criteria or the level of cover we provide include the driver’s details and experience, our own claims experience, the car (its make, model, engine size, age, brake horsepower, power to weight ratio etc.), to name a few.
There are a small number of models from various manufacturers that we may not provide comprehensive cover on and this can be for a variety of reasons. However, our risk appetite allows us to offer comprehensive cover for the vast majority of cars that are available to purchase in Ireland, which includes various Tesla models."
That doesn't really tell us much. I know that some people in other countries have been quoted high premiums as Teslas are supposedly expensive to repair, but this is the first time we've heard of someone with such a good driving history being refused comprehensive cover.
My advice would be to shop around for an alternative premium elsewhere. Insurers don't reward loyalty in any case so it's something to consider doing every year.
Best of luck with it.