Expert answer

Hi Michael,

Assuming it has been registered and used in the North “for a reasonable period of time” (Revenue’s words, generally accepted to mean more than three months), then no VAT or import duty should be payable, and as the car is over 30 years old the VRT is a flat €200.

Expert answer

Hi Mehir,

I agree, there’s no way the OMSP is so low for that car so don’t take that figure seriously. I’d suggest a minimum OMSP of €14,000. If the CO₂ is 127g/km (and that will depend on the specific model - some versions are in the band below) then VRT is 17.5 per cent, so that would be €2,450 before the NOx levy, which should only be €160 according to our data.

And it sounds like no VAT or import duty would be due on that car as you’ve said.

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

If the car is coming from England, Scotland and Wales then there is no way to avoid the VAT and import duty. For a car coming from Northern Ireland, and to ensure no VAT and import duty are payable, it must have been imported there officially and used by a private owner in the North “for a reasonable period of time” according to Revenue, which is generally accepted to be three months.

Coming off the ferry with a car from the UK, you are unlikely to be stopped or questioned, but that’s not relevant as you have seven days to make an appointment with the NCTS to have the car inspected and 30 days to complete the importation process. Paperwork is required to prove all of the details, including where you bought the car and its entry to Ireland.

Expert answer

Hi Sonia,

I assume you mean as a trade-in, as most dealers wouldn’t be interested in buying cars such as this unless a car is also being sold. You’re not likely to be offered as much as €1,000 as a trade-in, though you may find a private seller willing to buy it for a little more.

Expert answer

Hi Omar,

From the information you've provided, you should not be liable for VAT or import/customs duty on this bike. Just make sure you have paperwork to prove the bike was sold in the North originally and used there from new as you've stated. 

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Hi Ger,

If the van on English plates has not been imported fully into Northern Ireland and used there then you are likely to be liable for VAT and import duty on it for sure. Those are calculated according to the price paid for the van so you’d need paperwork to cover that.

If you go for the van already registered and used in the North then get as much paperwork and proof of that as possible before you bring the van for inspection.

You’d have to pay VRT on either van, calculated as 13.3 per cent of the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price). This is the value Revenue estimates for itself and it’s far from an exact science. If you disagree with the assessment you can appeal it, but only after you’ve actually paid the VRT.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

First up, be aware that estimating trade-in values is far from an exact science. You may be offered different amounts for your car on any given day by different dealers as it depends on how badly they want the deal and also on how much they do or do not want to have to resell your car. Also, bear in mind that they will offer you less than your car would sell for privately as they need to turn a profit and provide a warranty when they sell that car on.

With all that in mind, your car seems to be exceptionally low-mileage in comparison to others on the market so it’s likely to attract a high price, relatively speaking. We’d hope for somewhere in the region of €17,000 as a trade-in.

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

The savings are not what they were, and effectively non-existent if you're talking about England, Scotland or Wales. The only realistic option is to look to Northern Ireland as most cars won't be subject to VAT and import duty, just VRT and the NOx levy. Read more below:

Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland

Guide to importing cars from the UK

Expert answer

Hi Bernadette,

Assuming the car has already been imported into Northern Ireland and registered there, and used by a private individual, then you should only be liable for VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax). This is calculated using the VRT band and something called the OMSP.

The latter - Open Market Selling Price - is the value Revenue in Ireland believes the car to be worth following registration here, and that doesn’t always correlate with the price you actually pay for the car in the North. It varies by year, condition and even the equipment fitted, and it is determined only after you import the car and present it for inspection at an NCT centre. You can estimate what it might be by looking at other similar cars for sale in classifieds, and we’d be happy to help you with that if you give us full details of the car in question.

The VRT band is determined by the car’s official CO₂ emissions rating and again, we can’t tell you that without knowing the full details of the car, especially regarding its engine.

Take a read of our guides on the subject and if you need more assistance, don’t hesitate to post another question. The more specific you are on the car, the more help we will be.

Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland

How much VRT is paid in Ireland?

MINI Clubman reviews

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.