Can you help calculate the VAT on a UK import?
Thank you for your reply.
You say that the 23 per cent VAT to be paid on the car being imported from the UK is based on the customs value which according to Revenue includes the purchase price. Does this mean the purchase price I paid in the UK and the customs value reflects the UK purchase price or is the 23 per cent VAT based on the customs value or purchase price of the car in Ireland?
Apologies but when I read up on it, it does not state if it's UK or Irish customs value or purchase price so it's a little confusing and I don't want to end up buying a car and be hit with a huge VAT invoice.
If you could break it down that would be great. So, I take a flight to UK, buy the car for £11,500 (or €13,610.77) and drive it back myself using the ferry. What VAT is due? I know import customs duty is 10 per cent, I'm just stuck on VAT.
Kind regards
Michael (Dublin)Jan 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
VAT at 23 per cent is charged on the customs value, which as I mentioned before includes the purchase price (in the UK), the cost of transport and insurance, plus customs duties.
In your case, the purchase price is €13,610.77, which means customs duties of €1,361.08 (10 per cent). To those you’ll have to add the transport and insurance costs to bring the car back - i.e. your ferry fare. Let’s say €200. All that adds up to €15,171.85 as the customs value. The VAT should then be 23 per cent of that, or €3,489.53.
Please double check our calculations and take this as guidance only.
What does Revenue base the VAT calculation on?
Thank you for your previous reply.
In relation to your previous answer to my question regarding importing a car from the UK, can you please advise on the following question related to VAT:
Is the 23 per cent VAT to be paid on the car calculated from the purchase price paid for the car in the UK or is it on the Irish OMSP value of the car?
Please advise
Michael (Dublin)Jan 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
VAT at 23 per cent is charged on the ‘customs value’ of the car, which, according to Revenue is “the purchase price, plus the cost of transport and insurance, plus any Customs Duties payable”. It has nothing to do with the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price).
Looking to convert a panel van to a private crew cab...
Hi,
I am planning to convert a panel van to crew cab and use it for commuting to office and use for private and social commuting with family. Can you please suggest the process involved?
Thanks
Mathew Pc (Ennis)Jan 2025 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Mathew,
I'd highly recommend you employ a professional conversion company to do all the work and certification documentation for you, as it can be quite an involved process. Certain standards in terms of safety and structure will be necessary and the vehicle is most likely subject to inspection after conversion. The registration details will then have to be altered and of course there will be tax and insurance implications.
In short, we're not experts in carrying out such a conversion, and we'd advocate for using one to save yourself hassle in the long run.
Can I use a VW Amarok for private use?
Hi,
I am trying to buy a Volkswagen Amarok because I am constantly driving around quarries as I am a truck driver, and my car just doesn’t suit the terrain. I have tried enquiring about insurance for this and they are asking for proof of my business but since I am working for someone and not owning my own business then I cannot get insurance
Is there any way I could change the Amarok over from commercial use to private despite the price of tax but just so that I can insure it as a car?
Thank you very much
Jake Hunter (Doneraile)Jan 2025 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Jake,
You can easily notify your local motor tax office that you will be using a pickup like the Amarok for private use, and then pay the required motor tax. Unfortunately, that may not satisfy the insurers. Best to ask them before you buy the vehicle if this will be sufficient, and also make sure you get a quote.
If you have no joy, consider employing the services of an independent insurance broker to do the legwork for you.
Best of luck
Can we use a commercial Land Rover privately?
Hello
We are looking at buying a 2015 Land Rover crew cab [a five-seater] Discovery from a family relation. He owns the car and pays commercial tax rate of €333/year. My wife and I are employed in the private sector and do not own a company.
We want to know:
1. If we buy the car and use it for day to day commute, dropping kids to creche etc, can we still avail of the €333 tax rate?
2. Is it possible for us to take out insurance on the vehicle whilst availing of the tax rate above?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thanks
Owen Stephens (Dublin 15)Sep 2024 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Owen,
There are strict rules forbidding the use of vehicles registered as commercials (as the Discovery described above is) for anything other than purely business/company use. The rule says you cannot use it for private use as you've described. Many do, I might add, and just hope not to get caught...
Insurance might be trickier, however. The insurers don't seem to like insuring private individuals on commercial vehicles. Only way to know if that will affect you is to ring around and see what they say. Or employ a broker to do the same.
I can't get insurance on a private van...
I currently own a standard car. Like many, I'd love a campervan, but the costs are too high, so I am hoping to buy a van to convert it. I am not a business owner, and I am aware I will pay the private tax on the van.
However, I seem to be coming across an issue with insurance. I understand I will have to take out a new policy, I would not move my no claims over to the van, so will be starting from scratch. But I seem to be declined insurance everywhere and I'm not sure why. I would insure it as a private van, until the conversion is complete and then look into converting on the logbook etc. Is there any law/rule against owning a commercial van, taxing and insuring it privately, converting it and then not changing it on the log book to a campervan?
There seem to be so many hoops to jump through, I just want to put a bed in the back of my van...
Any help would be appreciated, thank you!
Kirsty Durnall (Midleton)Sep 2024 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Kirsty,
You're not the first to run up against this issue. Getting insurance to use a van as a private vehicle is bizarrely difficult: it seems the insurers don't want to get involved.
We don't have an easy fix for you, but would suggest looking into employing an independent insurance broker to do the legwork for you rather than trying to deal direct with the big insurance companies.
If you find a good solution, please do let us know.
Can I convert my commercial Land Cruiser?
Hi,
Currently driving a 2010 LWB Toyota Land Cruiser (commercial). Now with the arrival of two small boys, I cannot bring them with me when driving. Can I change it from commercial to business/passenger and if so what is the process for same?
Patrick Fitzgerald (Tipperary)Sep 2024 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Patrick,
If the vehicle already has rear seats then all you need to do is inform your motor tax office of the change of use and pay the relevant motor tax increase. Check your insurance policy as well to ensure this is covered.
If the Land Cruiser has no rear seats then it's a much bigger job to convert it, and I'd suggest you enlist the services of one of the many companies specialising in this process. Do a search online and then try to find reviews of ones in your locale. In many cases, however, it may be more cost effective to just change your vehicle.
Can I get my money back on a used car?
I bought a car in April from a dealer that gave me three months of warranty. During this period I paid motor tax (400 euro) and insurance. I also had to do my NCT during which it was discovered that the car was outside the permit pollution numbers, as it was burning too much oil. Also needed to replace two ball joints and the windshield had to be replaced since I bought the car with a small crack.
I then took it back to the dealer that seemed very helpful and said it would fix the car for me since it was still in warranty.
Four weeks later my car is still there. I tried to either get my money back (he offered me €3k less than what I paid) or get another car (he does not have a car with similar price and valued my car €1k less than what I paid).
I decided to wait to get it fixed since it was not worth for me to lose money to get some money back or another car. Now he told me the entire engine needs to be replaced!
Is the engine replacement process good/bad for the longevity of the car? Do I have any legal basis to get my money back?
Thanks
Robert Alves (Drumcondra)Jul 2024 Filed under: warranty
Expert answer
Hi Robert,
That sounds like a traumatic experience - and a frustrating one. I don't feel we have enough information to understand the full story, but you should investigate the legality with the experts at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as they'll know the best course of action.
With regards to replacing the engine, that in itself isn't a good or bad thing so long as it is done properly and the replacement engine is in good condition. Unless it's a new or reconditioned engine there's no way to know how good the replacement is, unfortunately.
Do I need to register my car in Northern Ireland?
Have recently moved to NI from GB. Couldn't MOT my car (long wait and couldn't do the online queue thing as it was not recognised as a NI car, having not been MOT'd there before). So - took it back to GB, MOT'd it and now want to bring it back to NI. Should I get an import form or something, so it is recognised as an NI car now? Confusingly, we are sailing into Dublin and then driving it North for complicated reasons... will that matter? Had the car a year. Can you help - I am so confused!
Alix Wood (Enniskillen)May 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Alix,
If you are bringing the car back in yourself there is no paperwork necessary. Your insurance will presumably be in the North, indicating that the car is there. Keep proof of your ferry as well for future reference, but there's nothing else to do at this stage.
Can I fix a Megane Cabrio's door?
I have a 2006 Renault Megane cabriolet. Last month an idiot in an old 4x4 reversed into the passenger side back panel (behind the door) creating what can only be described as a meteor strike of a dent! Would a reputable body repair shop be able to "beat out" the dent, or is the panel in question reinforced from the inside and not accessible?
This is what a repair shop has told me... or is he just worried about further damage?! I really would appreciate an honest answer to this dilemma which is becoming a total insurance nightmare!
Phil Partridge (Cavan)Feb 2023 Filed under: bodywork
Expert answer
Hi Phil,
Without seeing it for ourselves we wouldn't like to say for sure, but we do know that massive dents are not ever easily repaired as you've described and panel beaters prefer to replace the panel completely where possible.