Expert answer

Hi Lee,

That generation of Kuga is generally quite dependable, certainly with the diesel engine. Just make sure that all the warning lights are working when you switch on the ignition and that they go off quickly when the engine is running. You want to make sure that the DPF isn't clogged, as that's relatively low mileage for the year.

For the same reason, make sure you take it for a decent test drive and ensure that there's no hesitation in the acceleration or in how the engine runs. Top tip: try to test drive other examples of the same car from other sellers so you get a feel for what it should drive like.

It isn't quite due a timing belt change yet, but no harm trying to get the seller to do that for you before you make the deal. Our data shows it's due once the car is either over 10 years old or has done 200,000km.

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Hi there,

As the car you're looking at has been in use all its life in the North - and I presume you can prove that - then there should not be any import duty or VAT payable on its importation south of the border. You will have to pay VRT of course. 

Always check your facts directly with Revenue before committing to a purchase.

Expert answer

Hi Ciarán,

Revenue does not make the information as easy to understand as it could. To clarify one thing straight away, you cannot get around paying the VRT – that's required no matter what and is not affected at all by how long the Caddy has been in use in the North.

It's the Irish VAT (and import duty) that are potentially not required if the vehicle has been in use in the North for, as Revenue says, “a reasonable amount of time”. Essentially, so long as you can prove that it was not just imported into the North to be sold on for export to the South, it's fine. You'll need paperwork to show this, such as MOTs from the North. Prove that and you will only pay VRT.

If you cannot prove this, the van will be subject to Irish VAT at 23 per cent and import duty at 10 per cent.

However, it should be possible to get the seller to zero-rate the van for VAT so long as they're not selling it through the VAT Margin Scheme. To do that they will need proof of export, so they may require more details, and possibly even payment of the VAT up front to be refunded once you can prove the van has been taken out of the country. Then you'll pay Irish VAT and import duty based on the ex-VAT UK price.

Talk to the seller to find out more and feel free to come back to us to clarify any of these points.

Expert answer

Hi Dee,

Hybrids such as the Juke have very small batteries and can therefore only drive on electric power for very short distances. If you're in stop-start traffic, it might use the battery for most of the time, but if the traffic is free-flowing and the speeds are higher, then it will not.

Unfortunately, the Juke Hybrid does not give a readout showing how much time is spent using the battery alone so you can't monitor it accurately.

If you drive slower, the car will use the battery more in town. Likewise, less use of the heating or air conditioning should mean less need for the engine to start up.

Bear in mind through all this that most of the energy used to charge up that battery comes from the engine itself, so it's not free energy.

Choose the Eco driving mode for maximum efficiency, but really, it will come down to your driving style as much as anything else.

Expert answer

Hi Anne Marie,

Yes, SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) maintains 'Recommended Price Guides' for past years. Go to that link and open the "2021" tab and choose the relevant month of the year. It will download an Excel file. Within that there are separate tabs for each of the car brands. A quick look at the January 2021 file shows that the Kona EV is in there, from about €49,000.

Expert answer

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.

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

That's a tricky one. We're familiar with the PSE of course and it's a cracking car. Unfortunately, very few people outside of the Peugeot dealer network are likely to understand what it is and you're unlikely to be offered a satisfactory price that reflects its true value.

But you can probably see the dealer's point of view as well: it's a special, niche model that just won't be in demand from the general public.

I'd suggest either finding a showroom that specialises in high-end and performance cars to try and better the trade-in offer (assuming they have a car you want of course) or sell the car yourself. It's a lot messier than trading in the car, obviously, and it may take time to find a serious buyer, but it's how you'd maximise its value.

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.

Expert answer

Hi Fred,

We did find a CO₂ rating for that BMW on the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website (click here for the file) – it's 121g/km, but it's much harder to find NOx ratings on there and I've not been entirely successful either.

I did find this official PDF showing a NOx figure for the BMW 320d (0.063g/km), but it does not specifically mention “LDA-8C20”.

Expert answer

Hi Frank,

If Ford won't play ball in giving you a CoC with all the details on it, then next step is perhaps to try to find the information on an officially recognised UK website, such as this one from the Vehicle Certification Agency. If you can find your exact car on there, that should be accepted, but we strongly urge you to talk to Revenue ahead of the NCTS inspection about the documentation you have to hand.