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Hi Rory,

That’s a really tough one to answer, as there are so few E30 3 Series around at the moment, and values stretch from almost nothing to lots, depending on condition. The problem is that Revenue is notoriously awkward when it comes to valuing older, rarer cars and could slap a massive value on the car that’s simply not realistic. My best suggestion would be to get in touch with the BMW Owners Club in Ireland and get a good feeling for the value of your car. If Revenue mis-values it, you’ll be able to appeal and claim back the excess VRT paid. Or, perhaps, try and wait until October to get it done, which would be the best all-round. 

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Hi Roisin,

Unfortunately, we can’t tell you the precise amount of VRT payable on a Tesla Model 3 as Tesla doesn’t provide us with a wholesale price, net of VRT and VAT. However, it’s not going to be much, if anything at all, thanks to the €5,000 VRT rebate available on electric cars.

As for the vast difference between the price of a Model 3 in the US, most of that is down to tax — don’t forget that the American price Tesla quotes does not include local sales taxes, whereas the Irish price is inclusive of VAT (which is, at a rough guess, the guts of €5,000 to €8,000 depending on the model).

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Hi Orlagh,

Insurance has for eons been the bugbear of the Irish motorist and, sadly, it’s not getting any easier. Aside from the usual ‘ring-around’ advice, I think your best bet is to find a good local broker — they can often unlock deals not available to mere mortals. 

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Hi Ciaran,

Well, we’d obviously advise you to buy from a reputable source in the UK, as the Ranger is a hard-working pickup, usually provided rather than owned, and therefore will probably have had a tough life. Make sure you check any potential purchases over very, very carefully indeed, and don’t buy anything without a full service history. The VRT for commercial imports is 13 per cent of the Irish open market selling value, and so we’d expect you’d have to pay around €2,500 to €3,000 in VRT.

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Hi Colm,

It depends — for the most part, all vans are charged VRT at a rate of 13.3 per cent of the Irish market selling price, but some N1 vans qualify for a basic charge of €200 if, according to Revenue, they have always had fewer than four seats, and at any time a laden mass greater than 130 per cent of the mass in service. Better check with the local motor tax office to find out which category your Transporter fits into...

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Hi Kevin,

It depends on what you mean. Are you bringing a new car into the country and then sending it straight on out again? Theoretically, if the vehicle were in the state for less than seven days, then you would not have to inform Revenue of it being here, and would therefore — yes — be exempt from paying any VRT or VAT on it.

However, to cover yourself, it would be prudent to communicate your plans with Revenue first, and possibly ask for a letter from them, stating that they know of the fact that the car is coming into the country but leaving again before VRT is due.

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Hi Pat,

To be fair to the 2 Series Gran Coupe, it’s a coupé in name only — really it’s a 1 Series saloon and is likely to be treated as such by the trade. The conceptually similar Mercedes CLA has solid residuals so we wouldn’t be too worried in that respect.

As far as insurance is concerned, Irish insurers will always find a way to hammer you, but the combination of the relatively mild engine and your own age should ensure that you don’t get hit too hard. And, of course, shop around for other quotes if you do get a big bill.

Of course the right 2 Series to buy is the gorgeous little, rear-drive two-door actual coupe, but perhaps that’s a discussion for another day...

Read our BMW 2 Series reviews here

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Hi Catherine,

You’ll probably get a very broad mix of quotes. Some companies will like the fact that you’re an older driver, with a relatively low-powered car, and assess you accordingly. Many others will simply look at your lack of an Irish driving history (and won’t take your Canadian history into account) and will simply try to charge you an absolute fortune.

Our advice would be to track down a good local insurance broker, who may well be able to help you find a better deal than you’d find yourself. Criteria? That would be expecting the Irish insurance industry to be open and transparent, and that’s simply not going to happen...

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Hi Maura,

God knows, the VRT and VAT system is byzantine at the best of times, but according to the Revenue handbook, the VAT charged on an imported vehicle is based on the price paid, converted into Euro. According to the handbook, under the heading ‘Purchase of new vehicles (New Means of Transport) by a private individual from a person in another country’ it says: "The VRT is calculated on the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) of a vehicle, rather than the actual purchase price. The value for calculating VAT is the price charged for the vehicle, converted to Euro where necessary."

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Hi Mary,

Yes, you should do. There’s no strict legal requirement to, but if you’ve set the VRT train in motion, then technically you have to pay up after 30 days, so you’d better let them know, or there may be an unpleasant knock at your door (or more realistically a nasty letter in the post…).