Expert answer

Hi Joseph,

You've not told us your budget, but either hybrid or electric would suit your needs, assuming you can afford an EV that easily covers your required range.

We would strongly suggest that an electric car only really works for private use if you have a home charger, or if you have somewhere you can put one. Once you have that in place, your running costs will be incredibly low.

So, in summary, if you can afford a suitable EV, and you can install a charger at home, that's the one to go for. If not, then a hybrid is a good option, too, though you may have to live with slightly higher fuel consumption than your diesel on the motorway - depending on how you drive.

Expert answer

Hi Tommy,

Assuming it is a normal 2016 Citroen Berlingo van that has been registered and used in Northern Ireland, you should not have to pay customs duty or Irish VAT, but you will have to pay VRT when registering it here.

The VRT will usually be based on Revenue's OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) for the van rather than what you paid for it. For most 2016 diesel Berlingo vans, I'd expect the rate to be 13.3 per cent of the OMSP, so probably somewhere in the region of €800-€1,200 depending on the exact model, mileage and condition.

Before buying, make sure the V5C shows NI registration/keeper history and check that it has an NI MOT/test history. If it was only brought into Northern Ireland from Great Britain by a dealer and was not previously in use in NI, Revenue may look for Windsor Framework/customs documentation, and the costs and paperwork could change significantly, potentially meaning you'd also have to pay VAT and import duty.

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

There were petrol and diesel versions of the Avensis through the years, though most still on the road are diesel.

Expert answer

Hi Stephen,

First up, I'm afraid your previous residence in the North can't help you if you've moved south years ago. There is a "Transfer of Residence" scheme in place that allows you bring your car with you when you move, but it can't be done years after the move.

We need the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) and the VRT band to do the calculation - and this is just an estimate. The OMSP is the value Revenue believes the car to be worth in Ireland after registration, so that's not a fixed thing. Let's round it up to €20,000 for the sake of our calculations.

You didn't state whether it's petrol or diesel. In both cases the CO₂ rating from 2016 will have to be 'uplifted' to align with the newer WLTP scheme. We believe the petrol model would be in Band 18 (156-170g/km after uplifting) at 30 per cent of OMSP and the diesel would be in Band 16 at 25 per cent. 

The former then would be €6,000 VRT and the latter €5,000 - if the OMSP is €20,000.

Do not forget that you will also have to pay the NOx levy on top of all this, which will be way more expensive on the diesel model.

Expert answer

Hi Diana and thanks for this message.

I'm a little perplexed by it though as we quite strongly believe that hybrids are not electric cars and should not be classified as such. The latest SIMI figures on this page state a 52 per cent increase in the number of EV registrations, and that is indeed fully electric cars. That figure does not include hybrids of any sort.

Expert answer

Hi Karla,

That budget is plenty to find a decent automatic runaround that's big enough for the two of you and relatively cheap to keep on the road.

A few models that are worth looking into:

Ford Fiesta: plentiful, reliable, inexpensive to maintain
Honda Jazz: not so common, but exceptionally reliable and very spacious (also badged the Honda Fit if a Japanese import)
Kia Picanto: you'd get quite a modern one for your budget, though they are smaller than the above cars, and again, not so plentiful
Mazda Demio: this is a Japanese import, badged the Mazda2 here – nice car

There are loads of other options of course, but those are good starting points to begin your search. Sites like Carzone.ie have good search filters to allow you to put in your budget and an automatic gearbox.

In terms of general tips, we'd give you the following advice:

1 – Prioritise the condition and service history of a car over its age and mileage.
2 – If you decide on a particular make and model that you like, seek out different examples of it from various sellers and test-drive as many as you can so you get a feel for which one 'feels' best.
3 – Don't view a car at night or in the rain as that can disguise issues with it.
4 – I would suggest that a diesel car would be a bad fit for you unless you spend a lot of time on the motorway every day covering long distances – they can come with higher maintenance costs.
5 – Make sure you get an insurance quote for any car you are considering before you commit to it.
6 – If at all possible, bring a friend or family member with you when looking at cars, preferably one that has a bit of experience in such things. It's quite a daunting thing to do on your own for the first time.
7 – Ask to see the paperwork on any car you're serious about before you talk about the price.

Hopefully all that is of help. Don't hesitate to send us another question if you'd like more assistance.

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

Given what you said, we'd assume that there is no import duty or VAT in that price, just VRT and the NOx levy.

VRT is based on the CO₂ emissions band and the so-called Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). The latter is not the price paid for the car, but the value Revenue believes it to be worth after importation in Ireland.

And while the CO₂ emissions rating might be 187g/km, that is likely to be the old NEDC rating. Revenue 'uplifts' that to be comparable to the newer WLTP standard, which would put this Cayenne into the top band for VRT, at 41 per cent of the OMSP.

It's not easy to estimate what Revenue might say the OMSP is, as that's a rare car in that specification, but for example, if it said it's worth €30,000 in Ireland, then the VRT alone would be €12,300.

On top of that is the NOx levy, which can be really expensive for big old diesels. We'd estimate that could be just under €3,000 for the Cayenne S Diesel.

Unfortunately, therefore, the price you've been quoted to bring this car into Ireland isn't at all surprising.

Expert answer

Hi Rose,

I would expect it to be prohibitively expensive to open up the gearbox and replace parts of it, and I certainly would be worried about what else is going to go wrong in it. If you're intent on keeping the car, perhaps talk to your mechanic about replacing the gearbox instead of taking it apart. There is some risk in buying a second-hand gearbox, so ask about sourcing a reconditioned one with a warranty instead.

And yes, it always makes sense to replace a clutch if the gearbox is off in any case. Same for the dual-mass flywheel.

Expert answer

Hi Pauric,

I'm afraid your local motor tax office has it right. When a commercial vehicle is taxed for private use, it is done by the engine size, reverting back to the old pre-2008 system, even for a relatively new van such as yours. It has nothing to do with CO₂ emissions.

So a van with an engine of 1,401-1,500cc capacity does indeed cost €413 per year to tax for private use.

Read our Motor Road Tax Prices In Ireland Explained guide for full details.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

A diesel would probably continue to give you the best economy given your usage, but we'd worry about long-term maintenance for sure as modern diesels have expensive components that can get gummed or clogged up.

If you're willing to make that compromise, then you could do a lot worse than a 2018 Honda Civic 1.6 diesel. Lovely car. It also came with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, but it has known 'wet belt' issues so we would not recommend it.  

You could afford a 2019 Hyundai i30 with either a 1.6-litre diesel or a 1.0-litre petrol engine and that's a very good bet in terms of reliability. Same for the related Kia Ceed, though they're rarer.

Even less common is the Mazda3 of the same year. It's a lovely looking car, of great quality and though it comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, it's an efficient and reliable option.

If you liked your Peugeot, you could move up six or seven years to a newer 308, though best to stick with diesel if you are doing that as the 1.2 'Puretech' petrol engine can have wet belt issues like the Honda.

One of the last of the Renault Megane hatchbacks is another good option, available with petrol or diesel power depending on your preference.

The SEAT Leon is possibly our favourite find for you at this price point with good petrol and diesel engine options and great comfort. You can't ignore the Skoda Octavia for the same reasons, and it's even bigger.

Lots to think about there so come back to us and let us know if we're on the right track. We've only selected mid-sized hatchbacks, while there would be plenty of crossovers and small SUVs in budget as well.