Expert answer

Hi Charles,

You've not mentioned which engine or which version of the car as the CO₂ emissions vary considerably. It could be as low as €210 per annum if the emissions are under 140g/km in a model with the 2.0 TDI engine, for example, while the plug-in hybrid models are only €140 a year to tax.

Expert answer

Hi Jacqui,

That's highly unlikely unless you actually convert the vehicle by removing its rear seats and fitting a bulkhead and then have it reclassified as a commercial vehicle. Even if you did all that, the annual commercial vehicle tax fee only applies to vehicles used solely for the purpose of a business, which you'd need to prove. No personal use is allowed at all.

Expert answer

Hi Anne,

The only way to get one is from the original manufacturer of the car, either through the dealer/importer you bought it from or the official representative of that manufacturer in Ireland. 

Expert answer

Hi Ian,

I'd be very wary of this. By rights, the vehicle should have been re-registered with all taxes paid within 30 days of it entering the country. It is not supposed to be sold on UK plates in Ireland by the person that should have registered its initial import.

Regardless of that technicality, the information you've provided suggests that the importer of this vehicle would be liable for VAT at 23 per cent and import duty at 10 per cent, which would be considerably more expensive than the VRT due.

Without knowing the full details, we couldn't estimate the figures involved, but without proof that the vehicle has been imported correctly we would strongly advise against purchasing this van.

Expert answer

Hi Dermot,

The conversion work would either have to be done (and certified) before importation (in which case it could be imported as a commercial) or the Land Cruiser would have to be imported as a passenger car and the conversion carried out afterwards. Either way it's a lot of hassle for sure.

As a passenger car, the Land Cruiser would likely attract 30 per cent VRT. That's 30 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) as determined by Revenue. If we assume that's €8,000, then the VRT would be €2,400. And the NOx levy would be on top of that - up to a maximum of €4,850 for diesel cars if you can't prove it has a lower level of NOx emissions.

Expert answer

Hi Vakaris,

Actually, as the BMW i3 is an EV, and there's VRT relief for electric cars on first registration in Ireland (it doesn't matter if the car is new or used), you won't pay any VRT.

However, if the car has indeed come from England, Scotland or Wales, you will have to pay VAT and customs duty. Customs duty is 10 per cent of the 'customs value', which is defined as the price you paid for the car, plus transport and insurance costs. VAT is 23 per cent of the customs value plus the customs duty paid.

If the car is actually coming from Northern Ireland, and not GB, the situation is different.

I suggest you give our guides on all this a read:

Guide to Importing Cars from the UK

Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland

Expert answer

Hi Fiachra,

From the information you provided, you should not have any VAT or customs duty payable on this car when importing it into Ireland.

Just make sure you have proof of that customs declaration document, as that's the key piece of evidence that shows Revenue that the dealer has already completed customs procedures and the car entered the EU customs territory before you bought it and brought it to Ireland.

Expert answer

Hi John,

Yes, you just need to inform the motor tax office of the change of use of the commercial. The rate varies as it goes by the engine size of the vehicle in this case, odd as that seems. That's even for commercials that are newer than 2008. To see those rates, go to our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature.

Expert answer

Hi Nigel,

Beyond a time-limited doubling of the warranty in some markets to increase initial sales of XPeng models, we're not aware of any country in the world getting a better XPeng warranty than the five-year one that comes as standard in Ireland.

In the EU, there is no onus on the car manufacturers or distributors to standardise the warranty across all member states beyond the legal minimum of a two-year period.

Expert answer

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for the kind words! Good news for you: only last week it was confirmed to us that Peugeot Ireland is looking into pricing the plug-in-hybrid version of the 5008 for introduction this year. Given that confirmation, we'd hope it's available in the next few months.