Can I bring two cars to Ireland exempt?
Hi there,
I am going to be moving from UK to Ireland. If I have owned two vehicles for more than six months are both vehicles exempt?
Thanks in advance
Scott Jolly (Ipswich)Mar 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Scott,
There shouldn’t be any issue. Anything out of the ordinary will always gets Revenue’s antennae twitching, but as long as you can show proof of change of address, and proof of tax and insurance for at least six months at previous UK address, you should be OK. After all, there’s nothing that says the exemption is specifically limited to one vehicle at a time...
Is it ok to keep a UK car here during lockdown?
Hi guys,
My daughter drove home to Dublin from London last October in her UK-registered car. It has been sitting on the road outside the house since then, she drives around occasionally to keep the battery up. She is still here because of the lockdown here and in London. My neighbour has said that if someone reports the car to Customs that they can take it off her and she will have to pay import duty to get it back. She has owned it more than six months. It is her intention that if we and the UK EVER get out of lockdown that she will drive back to London.
She has no money as a result of Covid and is on the Covid payment and came home because she could not afford her rent in London. My husband and myself have been in lockdown for over a year now, we are just not able for the worry of this. Have you any advice please? We do not have a driveway big enough to take this car.
Regards Helen
Helen ONeill (Dublin)Mar 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Helen,
OK, first off there’s nothing to be concerned about. People who are temporarily resident in Ireland are allowed to bring their cars with them, and not have to re-register or fully import them for as long as 12 months. There are no forms to fill out, you just have to be able to show proof of address, purchase, tax, and insurance when and if you’re asked. Students who are studying in Ireland can keep cars with them for the duration of their studies, even if that exceeds 12 months, so there are clearly generally lenient rules when it comes to this. Given that your daughter is (a) intending to return to the UK when it is safe to do so and (b) effectively sheltering with you because of the pandemic, I wouldn’t be too concerned about having the car taken away nor anything like it.
Really, the only issue that would arise is if your daughter wanted to sell the car here, but if she’s going to keep it, I would say you’ve not much to worry about.
I have a unique import question from NI!
I have a two-part question. Can you offer clarification on the distinction between registering a car vs importing a car to NI/ROI after the Brexit cut-off date? Back story: I have a GB reg car and I've been the registered keeper of it for more than two years. I took it to NI in Sep 2020, before the Brexit cut off date of 1 Jan 2021. However, it has still been registered at a GB address, whilst I move between the two countries. I am now ready to register the car in NI at a permanent address.
1) Are there UK custom duties and VAT now attached to this if I register it in NI? Or because the car was taken (can I say imported?) to NI before the cut off date - just not registered - is the process the same pre-Brexit? It is still registered at an English address. I would specifically like to check if registering the vehicle in NI before the cut off date was necessary to avoid the extra UK import fees due to Brexit?
2) When I subsequently move to the ROI, will the car be subjected to Irish Customs Duty, VAT and VRT? I keep reading used cars from Northern Ireland will not be subjected to the new customs/VAT fees but I'm not sure if this is applicable to the car detailed above. Revenue.ie state: "You can register a vehicle registered before 1 January 2021 without any checks on the customs status if it was registered: i) in Northern Ireland or ii) to a person resident in Northern Ireland". So whilst it wasn't registered in Northern Ireland, it was registered to a person with an address in Northern Ireland before the cut off date.
Any information is gratefully received.
Cheers
Caroline Ponsonby (Lisburn)Mar 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Caroline,
Right, this is a bit of a tricky one. The good news, first off, is that there’s no issue with moving a car between England and Northern Ireland — no duties nor VAT to pay, all you have to do is inform the DVLA of the change of address.
Bringing that car south might then represent a difficulty, but it will depend on how long you wait between your registering the car in the North and bringing it south. Technically, Revenue have told us that there is no specific timeline when it comes to having a car registered in Northern Ireland and not having to pay import duty and VAT when importing that car into the Republic. However, they have also said that they will be carefully monitoring the paper trail of each car to ensure that no-one is trying to game the system. If there’s only going to be a short gap between you registering the car in the North and then importing it into the South, that could get antennae twitching at Revenue, even if you’re technically above board.
How much to tax a commercial privately?
Hi,
How much would it cost roughly to tax a commercial van like a Ford Transit ot Transit Connect LWB or something similar for private use?
Thanks.
Rhys Rutherford (Ballinasloe )Mar 2021 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Rhys,
If you tax a commercial vehicle for private use then it reverts to the old by-engine-capacity system that was there pre-2008. You'll find the rates in our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature, and it might be worth your while reading Buying a commercial vehicle for private use as well.
Can I register my Beetle for classic tax?
I have a 2001 Volkswagen Beetle and am wondering if I can register for the reduced 'classic' car tax?
Thanks
Chris
Chris Langton (Caherconlish)Mar 2021 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Chris,
I'm afraid that classic motor tax (or 'Vintage' according to Revenue) only kicks in when a car is over thirty years old.
How to make my commercial Kuga private?
Hi,
I have a 191 Ford Kuga Utility four-seat commercial that I'm looking in the near future to use privately. Is this as simple as insuring and taxing it as a private vehicle or are there any other steps, i.e re-registering it as a private vehicle?
Thanks in advance for your help
Stuart Coonerny (Caherconlish)Mar 2021 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Stuart,
No, you don’t need to re-register it, you simply need to call up your local motor tax office and tell them that you want to tax it as a private car. They’ll then put you on the old by-engine-capacity tax system, and the job’s done. The tricky part is insurance — we’ve been hearing that many people are struggling to find insurers who’ll cover a commercial as a private car, so have a good, careful shop around for cover first.
Cost to use a Transit Connect privately?
I am currently office based for work with the requirement to visit building sites from time to time. I am considering buying a Ford Transit Connect van, 1.5-litre that is more practical than my current car for visiting sites. I would therefore need the van for work and private purposes as I cannot afford to have a seperate car for private use only. What type of tax and insurance by law do I need for this scenario (private/commercial) and what would be the approx cost of same?
Thanks
Ronan Toft (Kilcullen)Mar 2021 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Ronan,
You will have to tax the van as a private car if you’re going to use it for social, domestic or pleasure purposes. That’s relatively easy to do — you just need to ring up you local motor tax office and ask them to make the switch for you. Annual motor tax will cost you €413 a year for the 1.5-litre engine (taxing a commercial as a private car means you go back to the old engine capacity based system).
Insurance is the trickier aspect, and we’ve heard from a lot of readers that they struggle to find cover for commercials as private vehicles. We always advise to try and track down a good, reputable, broker and get cover sorted before you make any decisions.
Take a read of Buying a commercial vehicle for private use for more information.
How to change from N1 van to M1?
Hi,
I want to buy an N1 van and change to M1 status. How do I do this?
Mohammed Ahmed (Midleton)Mar 2021 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Mohammed,
If you mean changing the tax status on a van to a private car, then really all you have to do is ring up your local motor tax office, and tell them that you want to change the tax status of your vehicle. Insurance is the tricky part — some insurers don’t like covering vans being used as cars, so make sure you shop around carefully before you decide.
Read Buying a commercial vehicle for private use for more.
Private tax on a 2015 Toyota Hilux?
Just wondering what price it would be to tax a 2015 3.0-litre Toyota Hilux van for private use?
Thanks in advance
Stephen Mulvey (Dunboyne)Mar 2021 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Stephen,
As a private car, you’ll have to tax that according to the engine capacity, so that means a €1,494 annual bill I’m afraid.
Read Buying a commercial vehicle for private use for more
How much to tax a Citroen C3 Aircross?
I am trying to figure out the motor tax on a Citroen C3 Aircross 1.2 PureTech 110 Feel. I can't make sense of the new tax system; can you guys give me an idea?
Thanks
Paul McDaid (Navan)Mar 2021 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Paul,
The C3 Aircross PureTech Feel 110 has CO2 emissions of 141g/km and so will cost you €400 per year to tax.
Read Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained for more.