Expert answer

Hi Pat,

I can imagine that was a bit of a shock, but I’m sure Carzone has disclaimers on its site warning users that its automated valuations are to be taken as a guide only. Looking through its own listings I can see 2021 Corollas from as low as €18,000 and examples of the 2023 Yaris Cross priced as high €35,000.

Even so, a dealer won’t offer you a price for your Corolla that they will sell it at as they must prepare the car for sale, offer a warranty and still make a profit.

And it’s also worth bearing in mind that each and every transaction is different. On any given day, any given dealer may or may not want your trade in as, for example, they already have plenty of 2021 Corollas in stock. Or they have had lots of calls about the Yaris Cross and know they can go for a high price.

I can only suggest you shop around to get the best deal for yourself.

Expert answer

Hi Henry,

In general, modern Toyotas have no major issues with rust, but the fact that it’s coming from England means you really should have the underside inspected before buying it. That’s because roads in England are salted during the winter - especially in the north of the country - and that can have a detrimental effect on a car’s under-carriage etc.

Expert answer

Hi Barry,

If it’s registered as a commercial and is being imported to be registered as one in Ireland, then the VRT should be 13.3 per cent of its OMSP. That’s the Open Market Selling Price Revenue believes the vehicle to be worth in Ireland, which can be tricky to estimate, especially for something so rare, relatively speaking.

If Revenue says it’s worth €35,000 then the VRT as a commercial would be 13.3 per cent of that, or €4,655.

If this is a private vehicle then the VRT rate depends on the CO₂ emissions, and it’s likely to be in the top band, at 41 per cent. At the same OMSP, that would be a VRT bill of €14,350.

Don’t forget about the NOx levy, which will be high for that vehicle, but if it has been registered and used in Northern Ireland you shouldn’t have import duty or VAT to pay.

Expert answer

Hi Jack,

The EV6 has a longer range on a charge of its battery and is more efficient, though that’s probably not a major issue for you as you’ll likely charge up at home every night and - I assume - have plenty of range in either car to keep you going for a shift. I prefer the quality of the Toyota’s cabin and its smoothness on the road, two things it betters the Kia on. There’s not much difference between them in terms of interior space, but the Kia has a larger boot, which may be relevant to your needs.

I highly recommend you go and test drive both cars for yourself, so you get a feel for which you prefer. Do let us know which you go for and why.

Expert answer

Hi John,

That is all correct so long as certain conditions are met. You can check the validity of the Irish VAT number at the European Commission’s VIES VAT number validation page for a start.

You will also need proof from the buyer that the vehicle has been exported. Without that you may be liable to pay VAT on the sale to the UK government, even if you never actually charged the seller VAT.

And overriding all of this of course is the assumption that you are selling the vehicle as a VAT-registered entity with a VAT invoice. It would not apply to a private sale.

Expert answer

Hi Sonia,

I assume you mean as a trade-in, as most dealers wouldn’t be interested in buying cars such as this unless a car is also being sold. You’re not likely to be offered as much as €1,000 as a trade-in, though you may find a private seller willing to buy it for a little more.

Expert answer

Hi Karl,

We need two things to calculate that. The first is the CO₂ rating to determine the VRT band. It's safe to say this car will be in the top band, with VRT of 41 per cent. 

The second, the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) is trickier to guess as it's the price Revenue believes the car to be worth registered in Ireland - and it includes the VRT... This is especially difficult to estimate for an older model such as this that is very rarely up for sale.

If you take the OMSP to be €15,000 then the VRT would be 41 per cent of that, at €6,150, but we'd not be confident in suggesting what Revenue will say the OMSP is. 

Expert answer

Hi John,

There really won't be much to choose between them. Both manufacturers have good reputations for the reliability of their petrol engines. In your position I'd go with the car I prefer and not worry about the reliability. 

Expert answer

Hi Waltter,

It depends on which all-wheel-drive system your car has. Most of them have an automatic system that sends engine power to the rear wheels only when slip is detected at the front. Some have a centre differential that you can lock yourself using a button on the dashboard marked "4WD Lock" or similar. This is for low speed use only and can only be turned on at very low speeds. It will revert to automatic functioning once you exceed about 40km/h.

Expert answer

Hi Roman,

The VRT calculation for a private car import depends on two things. The first is the VRT band, determined by the car's CO₂ emissions. That Land Cruiser will be in the top band, with VRT at 41 per cent of the OMSP. The OMSP is the Open Market Selling Price, the second item we need. Unfortunately, it's a tricky thing to estimate in some cases as it's the price Revenue believes the vehicle would sell for in Ireland, fully registered etc, which may not correspond with how much you pay for the car abroad.

In the case of the Land Cruiser, most are commercial vehicles in Ireland so it's not easy to get a good feel for their value as a passenger car. For the sake of our calculation, let's say it's €40,000, though I'd not be shocked if Revenue suggested higher...

With an OMSP of €40,000, the VRT would be €16,400.

This car will attract a very high NOx levy as well so don't forget that and, if you're importing it from England, Scotland or Wales, you'll also have VAT and import duty to pay. 

Make sure you read our Guide to importing cars from the UK or the Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland if that applies.