Expert answer

Hi Rose,

We don't see any reason for these batteries to be any more degraded than those in equivalent cars in Ireland from new. Hybrid batteries last quite well in general. Unfortunately, it won't be easy to detect if the battery in a given hybrid you're looking has degraded as the main symptom is more use of the petrol engine. Unless you can try several examples of the same type of car in the same driving conditions, then you won't know what is the norm.

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Hi Umair,

We believe it is possible to request a post-clearance correction where an incorrect invoice was used for customs clearance, but it must be done through your customs agent and supported by strong documentary evidence.

You should act quickly, provide the correct invoice, proof of payment and auction hammer price, and submit a written explanation acknowledging the mistake.

Revenue may refund overpaid VAT and duty if satisfied the error was genuine but may also ask for further proof and may indeed refuse.

So go back to the customs agent immediately with all your documentation.

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Hi Barry,

Jaecoo does not sell cars in Ireland as yet, and we have no indication if/when it will.

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Hi Justin,

Assuming you mean England, Scotland or Wales, it's highly unlikely. If the car was exported from Northern Ireland and used in one of those countries up until its sale to you, it would be treated no differently to a car originally from those countries. The registration plate itself would not be enough to convince Revenue otherwise.

Check its history, including previous owners, especially the most recent one.

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Hi Nicole,

You should be able to get insurance for a left-hand-drive car without any difficulty, though make sure it's declared as such. And I should say, the car must be already registered in Ireland.

The price of insurance varies massively depending on your own driving history and situation, and where you get the quote from, so we would not be in a position to give you an estimate, unfortunately.

We would advise you to shop around, however.

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Hi Patrick,

I'd suggest asking the seller for any history they have on the car and then, if relevant, follow up with the garage it was serviced at. 

Alongside that, you can pay for a detailed history through a service such as Cartell.ie.

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Hi Martin,

Nothing has been announced, but it's highly unlikely given that Rivian has yet to confirm its plans for any other European country. We'd expect left-hand-drive markets to get the brand before the UK and Ireland.

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Hi Jay,

Revenue's VRT calculator is far from perfect, so you'll have to estimate the VRT yourself and hope you're close. For starters, the model you're looking at should have a CO₂ rating in Band 18 for VRT (156-170g/km), meaning 30 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP).

Now, as you probably know, the OMSP is what Revenue believes the car to be worth once registered in Ireland and with a niche model such as the MX-5, it's not easy to guess what it will say.

If you believe it will be €30,000, for example, then the VRT bill will be 30 per cent of that, i.e. €9,000.

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Hi Jerome,

Don't assume so. Here's the official word from the previous Irish importer:

"At the moment, Mitsubishi Motors Ireland continues to operate as an authorised aftersales provider only. The recent announcement from Mitsubishi Motors UK relates solely to the UK market, where their national approval requirements differ from those in the EU. This does not apply to Ireland."

Expert answer

Hi Mick,

It's very likely that the dealer is correct, but you will need to make sure they give you all the paperwork ahead of time so you can check. For example, if the car was previously imported to NI, but not by the dealer you're buying the car from, then our understanding is that they could not do the requisite customs declaration now.

Essentially, you need to have proof that the dealer you are buying the car from is the same entity that brought the car from England and that they imported it according to the Windsor Framework rules. They should be able to give you a copy of the SAD (Single Administrative Document – or form C88) for example, plus proof of transportation of the car into the North.

If you're satisfied that the paperwork is in order then you don't need a customs declaration at all, just book a VRT inspection with the NCTS.

However, make sure you do have proof of all the facts, as Revenue can contact importers after the VRT inspection and request more information.

It's highly likely that the NI dealer is familiar with the paperwork requirements and that they'll furnish you with what you need.