Expert answer

Hi Peter,

We’d never consider those cars to be rivals. The entry-level EX90 is nearly €120,000 while the most expensive ID.7 Tourer listed on Volkswagen Ireland’s website is a little over half that.

The EX90 has seven seats and is a luxury car. The ID.7 is lovely inside, really spacious in the rear seats and has a massive boot, but it can’t compete with the Volvo’s interior in reality. Nonetheless, to drive, we’d take the ID.7 every time.

But does any buyer that can afford a certain level of outlay look at a cheaper car and think, “that’ll do me”? We don’t believe so.

Volvo EX90 review

Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer review

Expert answer

Hi Tomas,

As a commercial vehicle, VRT will be 13.3 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) of the Caddy. That’s the value Revenue puts on the vehicle as if it was being sold in Ireland. Best bet is look at the big classifieds websites such as Carzone.ie for similar vehicles to get a gauge for that value.

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Hi Patrick,

The VRT would be 13.3 per cent of the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) of the vehicle, which is the value Revenue believes it to be worth on the Irish market. That can be tricky to guess/estimate for specialised vehicles such as that, though we did find a similar one on Carzone.ie for about €32,000.

If Revenue chooses that as the OMSP then the VRT would be €4,256.

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Hi Alan,

Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) for vans imported from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland is typically calculated at 13.3 per cent of the vehicle's Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). However, certain vans qualify for a reduced VRT rate of €200. To be eligible for this reduced rate, the van must meet specific criteria:

- The van must have always had fewer than four seats.

- The van's laden mass must be greater than 130 per cent of its ‘mass in service’ (or 125 per cent for electric vans).

This applies to a lot of proper panel vans, though not usually car-based vans.

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Hi Gerrit,

Unfortunately, that's not likely to be correct. The Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) is something that Revenue in Ireland come up with, based on what they believe the car to be worth in Ireland. It rarely is directly related to the amount you pay for the car in the North. 

You'll need to take a look around the Irish classifieds to see if you can find similar cars for sale already registered in Ireland. That will give you a rough approximation of the OMSP. Then you apply the 41 per cent to that. Even so, Revenue's figure might be dramatically different - especially on such a rare car. 

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Hi Ger,

Only if the car is VAT-qualifying (usually an ex-company car or demo) and the invoice clearly shows a separate VAT amount. Most cars sold by dealers in the UK are through the VAT Margin Scheme where the dealer only pays VAT on their profit margin. That VAT cannot be reclaimed on export of the car.

Before committing to a sale, talk through this with the dealer in question.

Expert answer

Hi Gerrit,

For a car such as that, which was registered new in Northern Ireland, you will only have to pay VRT (at 41 per cent of the car's Open Market Selling Price - OMSP - most likely) and the NOx levy. No VAT or import duty should be payable.

Expert answer

Hi Joe,

You don’t have to fill in any forms before going to Northern Ireland to buy a car, but you will need to ensure you sort out the paperwork before bringing it south. You’ll need proof of purchase, the V5C document and of course proof of your own identity and address.

If the car was previously brought into the North from Great Britain, as a used car, then you’ll also need to check that it was imported properly and used by a private motorist. So long as it wasn’t just imported by the dealer and sold on - and you will need to prove that - then you shouldn’t have to pay any VAT or import duty.

You will of course be liable for VRT and the NOx levy.

Book an appointment with the NCTS for within 30 days of its arrival. There the car will be assessed for the VRT liability, so you’ll need to present all your paperwork then.

Expert answer

Hi Michelle,

The IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) is a UK-specific thing and it does not apply to cars brought into Ireland. In any case, the Jimny was sold in the UK and Ireland so there’s nothing unusual with it.

Expert answer

Hi Denis,

Assuming the van was in use in Northern Ireland, not just brought in by a dealer to sell on (and you’ll need paperwork to prove this), then you should only have to pay VRT. That’s at 13.3 per cent of the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price), which is a figure Revenue in Ireland determines that may not be anything like what you’re actually paying for the van.

If Revenue say it’s worth, for example, €11,000, then the VRT bill would be €1,463.