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.
Costs to import a 2018 campervan?
I'd like to import a 2018 campervan...
If I were to import a campervan, what are the payments I would need to think about: VRT, NOx, customs, VAT? How could I know for sure before importing a campervan what value would be considered OMSP because from Irish sites the prices seem to be very varied, which is a problem.
Cait NiRiain (Dublin)Sep 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Cait,
VRT is 13.3 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP), but unfortunately there's no way to accurately predict that ahead of time, especially for campers as there is such variation in the market. You can appeal a valuation after the VRT has been paid, which isn't very helpful.
Campers are not subject to the NOx levy, you'll be glad to know.
However, if the camper is coming from outside the EU (including England, Scotland and Wales), you will also be liable for 23 per cent VAT and 10 per cent import duty. In most cases, campers imported from Northern Ireland do not attract these taxes, but only if they've been registered and used by private owners in the North before you buy it.
Cost to tax these pick-up trucks?
Hello,
To tax a 2016 Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 diesel or a 2017 Nissan Navara 2.3 privately what would it cost?
R Hughes (Galway)Sep 2024 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi there,
Private taxation on a commercial vehicle reverts to engine size, so that Amarok would be €710 per year and the Navara would be €994.
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.
Is VAT definitely due on importing a used car?
Is VAT in fact due on second-hand vehicles purchased by private individuals - from a foreign motor dealer or from a private person in another country (say Japan)? S.10.1 of Revenue's Tax and Duty Manual (May 2024), VAT and VRT on transactions involving Motor Vehicles' reads "There is no VAT liability in Ireland" in those instances.
Brian M (Bray)Jul 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Brian,
That document is confusingly laid out, because, if you look further down, in section 10.3, it clearly states that VAT is due on importation of the vehicle to the EU. In summary, no, you don't pay VAT to the Irish government when you buy the vehicle from the foreign seller, but you do on importation.
Is it worth importing a Velar from the North?
Can you please advise on the various types of costs that are required to import a car from Northern Ireland to the Republic?
I am currently looking at two different cars with different backgrounds:
Car 1: 2021 Range Rover Velar, first registered in UK April 2021 now on sale in Northern Ireland with UK registration plates. Dealer has said he can get it registered in NI and sell with NI registration plates.
Car 2: 2021 Range Rover Velar, car built in UK and first registered in NI Feb. 2021 i.e. is currently on NI registration plates.
I have read as much documentation as I can find on the 'potential costs' but have come away more confused than informed. It was verbally mentioned to me whilst researching this, that if a car has been registered in NI for a period of more than 60 or 90 days (I cannot remember which) then the car is exempt from VAT and only subject to NOx and VRT.
Can you please let me know if this is correct?
I would appreciate any help you can afford me on this as calling the National VRT helpline has not been helpful and I was advised to take the car to my nearest NCT centre, however by doing this, I would have bought a vehicle and would be completely unaware of its taxes.
Before buying a vehicle, I need to know the cost of taxes to establish if its expenditure is worthwhile.
Deirdre Grouden (Castledaly)Jul 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Deirdre,
Yes, we have to agree - the whole process is completely over-complicated and difficult to understand at times. And it would appear some of the rules allow for real grey areas.
For example, according to Revenue: "There are no customs obligations for a vehicle that has been brought into Northern Ireland after 1st May 2023 and where the vehicle has been in private ownership in Northern Ireland for a reasonable period of time." This would suggest that Car 1 in your question would attract VAT and import duty if it has actually not been used by a private individual. I.e. it has been imported by a dealer to sell on. It doesn't matter how long it has been in the country if it is sitting on a dealer forecourt and switching it to NI plates before selling it to you doesn't change that.
Car 2 would also, we believe, attract VAT and import duty. The 'made in the UK' thing is tricky as you need to prove it yourself and it comes down to more than just the factory the car was made in - it depends on its components as well.
Sounds like you've read a lot already, but you want our take on it, look at our Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland.
How to bring a car back from Scotland?
Hello!
I purchased a car in North Ireland and I brought it over to Scotland for college for six months. I have since moved back to the ROI. I have queued in the tax office and was told to send forms to the VRT centre (the only one is in County Cork).
Can you advise the best way to go about this?
Thank you in advance!
Niamh ODonoghue (Virginia)Jul 2024 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Niamh,
I assume you mean what's the best way to go about bringing the car into Ireland and registering it here?
From the information you've given, I'd assume you're eligible for the "Transfer of Residence" exemption on VRT etc. Take a look at the official Revenue page explaining that here and give Revenue a call if you're unsure on anything.
Looking to buy a van for private use...
I'm looking at buying a Ford Transit Connect LWB 1.5L (2018-2020 ish). I'm going to be using it privately, travelling Ireland with boards and camping stuff in the back. I'm unsure of how to go about taxing and insuring it privately. I'm getting quotes at the moment but it's looking more complicated than I had anticipated.
Few questions here:
1. Do I need to do anything to switch the van from commercial to private use? I've heard about possible VRT, but I can't seem to find any info online about that apart from imported vehicles.
2. Is taxing and insuring as straightforward as doing so with a regular car? I'm aware that AXA who I’m currently with for a car won't privately insure me in a van so I'm checking with insuremyvan.ie
3. CVRT - I know it's more expensive than NCT and is yearly, but is this as simple to get done?
4. Are there any other problems that I might run into if I do buy a van to use privately? I'm pretty clueless on how any of this works.
Rebekah Steele (Bray)Jun 2024 Filed under: commercial vehicle
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.
Will this Northern Ireland import be VAT and duty-free?
Hi.
I'm looking at importing a car from Northern Ireland - first reg June 2020 in Northern Ireland. Am I correct in reading the very complicated rules as needing to pay VRT, plates and motor tax, but not having to pay customs and VAT?
Is the V5C sufficient, or will I need the dealer to provide import/shipping info too?
Many thanks
David
David Forde (Kilkenny)Apr 2024 Filed under: importing
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.