Expert answer

Hi Rebekah,

1: You'll need to inform your local motor tax office of the change of use of the vehicle. VRT is only paid the first time a vehicle is registered in Ireland so don't worry about that. Your annual motor tax rate will be different to the fixed commercial vehicle tax, however. It will be calculated based on the engine size. The table of prices is the top one in our Motor Tax Prices in Ireland Explained guide.

2: Taxing is straightforward, as above. Insuring a van for private use can be trickier so take your time and shop around on that before you commit to buying the vehicle.

3: Correct, it's no more complicated, really, and a modern van like you're looking at should sail through for many years.

For further reading check out Buying a van for private use on our van website, CompleteVan.ie.

Expert answer

Hi David,

Yes, our understanding is that VAT and import duty will not be required on that car.

I'd suggest you obtain as much information as possible in terms of documentation that might prove the car has been in the North since 2020. If that information is on the V5C then it should indeed be sufficient. 

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

I'm afraid not. Seems crazy, doesn't it?

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

You can indeed, though you'll need to tax it for private use, not commercial use. That means the annual motor tax rate goes by the engine size, not the CO₂ emissions (and not the fixed commercial vehicle rate).

Just get in touch with your local motor tax office to tell them and it shouldn't be difficult.

Read the Buying a van for private use over on our sibling site CompleteVan.ie for more.

Expert answer

Hi Rory,

The answer is thankfully pretty straightforward. No, there’s no upper limit on the number of cars you can bring in, but you have to make sure that they all qualify for VRT relief under the regulations.

Full response from Revenue below:

"When transferring residence into the State, a person can apply for relief from Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) for their personal vehicles.  Whilst there is no limit on the number of personal vehicles in respect of which an individual can avail of Transfer of Residence relief, each vehicle must individually fulfil all qualifying criteria. One of these qualifying criteria requires that the vehicle must be in use by the applicant for a period of 185 days prior to their relocation."

Expert answer

Hi Marko,

To be 100 per cent sure, look up your local motor tax office on this page and give them a call. Talk them through the situation and see what they say.

Expert answer

Hi Tony,

You should be fine, as if a vehicle is eligible for VRT exemption because of a transfer of residence, then it should also qualify for exemption for VAT and customs duty. 

According to Revenue: “If you are transferring your normal residence from outside the European Union (EU) to Ireland, you may be able to claim relief from Customs Duty and Value-Added Tax (VAT). This relief applies to imports of the following: certain personal property and household effects, including those of members of your household bicycles and motor cycles, private cars, trailers, caravans, pleasure craft and private aeroplanes.”

Just get all your paperwork in order and it should be fine. 

Expert answer

Hi Fiona,

If the bike has been in Northern Ireland since 2007 then it shouldn’t be liable for VAT, only VRT. However, if the odometer has also been reset to reflect the new engine mileage of 50km then VAT will be payable. It's possible that won't be noticed, but you shouldn't gamble on that of course.

Expert answer

Hi Eamonn,

Much of this is going to depend on the age of the Q70 you’re looking at. If it’s a 2017 model, for example, I’m going to estimate that it’ll attract around €3,500 of VRT and NOx levy, but then obviously you’ll have to pay 23 per cent VAT and 10 per cent customs charges on top of that, and those will depend on the purchase price of the vehicle.

If it’s a newer Q70 than that, you could well be looking at more than €5,000 in VRT and NOx, plus the VAT and the customs duty.

Your best bet would probably be to see if you can source one from Northern Ireland (and quick, before someone changes the Protocol!) as that avoids the VAT and customs duty. 

Expert answer

Hi Charlie,

What you need to register and tax a vehicle as a commercial are:

1. Current commercial insurance certificate for the vehicle

2. Evidence of registration for VAT

3. Tax Clearance Certificate

4.. Notice of Tax Registration Form.

If you don’t have all or any of those then you’ll have to register it as a private vehicle. That’s actually easy enough — you just ring up your local motor tax office and tell them what you want to do, and all of the listings are on the motor tax website — but it does mean that you’ll be paying tax on the engine capacity, which, with a 3.0-litre Discovery, is going to be pretty chunky. Equally, insurance can be tricky for commericals-as-private cars, so get hold of a good, reliable broker to get you some quotes.

For more on this, we recommend our sibling site, www.CompleteVan.ie.