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Hi Ed,

Yes, theoretically it should be free for the NOx tax as, as you say, that’s calculated as a component of VRT and you are bringing the car to Ireland as part of a change of address. 

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Hi Martin,

It all depends on your residential status. Do you still have a UK address to which the van is registered, taxed and insured? If so then there’s theoretically no real upper limit. There is a notional six-month upper ceiling, but if you were to bring the van back to the UK and then back here again that would reset. The only thing I would advise is that you keep your registration and proof of address details in the van in case challenged on the matter by a Garda.  

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Hi Derek,

As ever, values depend heavily on condition and history, but a ballpark value for a 2013 E-Class would be in the region of €12-14,000. 

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Hi Brian,

To be honest, no — we haven’t heard of any major problems with the current-shape Fiesta, but perhaps the problem lies in the diesel engine and how it’s being used? If you’re only covering a relatively low mileage, you could be getting a clogged up exhaust particulate filter, which is a common issue with diesels that get driven for short hops, or stuck in traffic a lot. Beyond that, if the car has caused you to stop three times in succession, to the point of having to call out roadside assistance, then clearly there is an issue and, if it’s not the particulate filter problem, then it could be something more serious. As a 181, you’re still well within warranty, so I would demand of your Ford dealer that they do something, as there must be a problem somewhere. 

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Hi Ger,

It’s a tough car to value, the Amazon, not only because they’re so thin on the ground in Ireland, but also because they really, really, hold onto their value. I’d take a wild guess at a VRT charge of around €9,000 (based on a rough calculation of a €25,000 valuation), but Revenue could well take a different view. By the way, if you’re going to import one, do it before Jan 1st. The NOx emissions for a 4.2 diesel Amazon are 570mg/km, which means an extra VRT charge of €4,850...

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Hi there,

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Hi Gerry,

Yes, you can absolutely insure it as a private car, especially when you have taxed it as such. Just ring up your insurer and let them know of the change. There shouldn’t be any increase in cost, or at least only a small one.

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Hi Mark,

That’s right, you’ll miss the NOx tax if you bring it in before the 1st of Jan. After that though...

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Hi Andrej,

It all sounds a bit dodgy to us, to be honest. I’d tread very carefully, as if the seller has already brought the car into the country, and made an original appointment to have it inspected for VRT, then Revenue is already aware that the car is in the country. Given that there’s a 30-day limit from the date of arrival for VRT to be paid, I’d say that there’s not just an overdue payment, but possible penalties too. I think your best bet is to walk away — plenty of other cars available, from reputable sources, so you don’t need to be messing around with this sort of carry-on. 

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Hi Felicity,

Pretty much no. Technically any electric car being registered for the first time in Ireland gets a rebate on its VRT, up to a maximum of €5,000. That means effectively that you’ll pay no VRT unless the price of the car pushes the VRT rate above €5,000 of course.