Expert answer

Hi Daniel,

The VRT bit of importing a motorbike works the same as before in that you’re charged €2 for each cubic centimetre of engine capacity up to 350cc, and €1 for each cc above that. That charge is then discounted by ten per cent for bikes between three months and one year old, 20 per cent for one-to-two years, 40 per cent for two-to-three years, 50 per cent for three-to-four years, 60 per cent for four-to-five years, 70 per cent for five-to-seven years, 80 per cent for seven-to-ten years, 90 per cent for ten-to-30 years, and is totally waived once the bike is 30 years old or older.

The new charges are, of course, import duty and VAT. VAT will be charged at 21 per cent, regardless of age, and there will be a ten per cent import duty (based on the price you paid and the cost of transport and delivery) unless more than 55 per cent of the original value of the parts used to build the bike originated in the UK.

Expert answer

Hi Ann,

Taxing a van privately is easy. You just need to inform your local motor tax office that you are changing its use. You'll probably pay more in annual motor tax, as it goes by the engine size.

Insuring a commercial vehicle privately is not so easy, annoyingly. We advise you employ the services of a good broker to find you an insurer, as most of the large insurers will just give you the "computer says no" answer...

Give our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature a read too.

Expert answer

Hi Declan,

Unfortunately, this is the way things have gone now. Revenue were being relatively generous (relatively is of course a relative term…) in the first couple of weeks of January for people who’d imported in December and been unable to get an inspection date until January, but that grace period seems now to have passed.

Given that the car didn’t come into your possession until after Jan 1st, I don’t think they’ll give you a break on it, I’m afraid, and of course it’s not that you’re paying extra in VRT (although you are, a little, of course thanks to the switch to WLTP emissions), you’re actually paying extra in VAT and import duty thanks to Brexit. I wish I could give you better news, but these are the perils of importing a car.

Expert answer

Hi Desmond,

OK, while the DB9 is a tricky car to value (mostly because there aren’t that many for sale in Ireland), let’s take €50,000 as a ballpark. If you’re bringing one down from Northern Ireland, it’s pretty straightforward — you’ll pay 37 per cent VRT, which will come to around €18,500. Ish. That’s assuming Revenue agree with our finger-in-the-air valuation. 

If you’re bringing it in from the rest of the UK, then there’s going to be 21 per cent VAT on top of that (€10,500 again assuming our €50,000 guess is about right) plus the NOx levy of €600 and then, finally, the ten per cent customs duty, which will be calculated on the actual price paid for the car (not the notional Irish value as for the VRT and VAT) plus whatever shipping and delivery expenses you incurred. 

The good news is that DB9 prices have actually dipped below £30,000 in the UK (although you’ve got to be careful buying at that price level) so there are bargains to be had. The best thing to do would be to get in touch with the guys at Aston Martin Belfast who could give you a much more precise steer on the whole thing. 

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

In theory, all crew-cab vans fall into Category B for VRT purposes, which Revenue defines as: "commercial vehicles, designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. These vehicles are European category N1 and generally have three seats or less. VRT Category B also includes motor caravans.”

In Category B, you’ll be charged 13.3 per cent of the OMSP, the Irish market selling price as defined by Revenue. There are some vans that fall into a slightly different category, and are charged a flat rate of €200, but these are vans that (a) always had less than four seats and (b) have at any time a laden mass greater than 130% of the mass in service. You should be able to find out which category your Vito fits into by quoting the VIN number when booking your VRT inspection.

Expert answer

Hi Luke,

Yes, it is possible — you just need to ring up your local motor tax office and get them to switch you to the private car system. The downside is that, yes, you will be taxed on the engine capacity at that point, which, with a 3.2-litre Ranger is going to be top-whack — €1,809. You might be better off looking for a newer Ranger with the 2.2-litre engine, or the older Volkswagen Amarok, which had a 2.0-litre.

Take a read of our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature.

Expert answer

Hi Dermott,

Indeed, we’ve heard from more than a few readers about difficulties getting private insurance on a commercial. The first thing you need to do is to change the tax status of your pickup by phoning your nearest motor tax office, and ask them to transfer you to the private car taxation setting. That should help. The next thing to do is to get hold of a good insurance broker who can help you navigate through the sticky quicksand of Irish car insurance. There are no insurers who specialise, as far as we know, in commercial-to-private insurance

Expert answer

Hi Len,

Short answer: yes. If you’re buying used from the North, then you’re avoiding the ten per cent customs duty and the 21 per cent VAT on used vehicles.

Expert answer

Hi James,

You SHOULD be able to bring your car in with you without paying VRT or VAT, as, according to Revenue: “You may be able to claim relief from Customs Duty and Value-Added Tax (VAT). This relief applies to imports of the following: bicycles and motor cycles, private cars, trailers, caravans, pleasure craft and private aeroplanes." VRT would be waived, normally, for a transfer of residence. You’ll need to have all your paperwork in order, and you can bet that Revenue will be checking carefully to make sure no-one is trying to pull a fast one, but you should be OK.

Expert answer

Hi Damien,

OK, as you don’t have a VAT number, you’ll have to pay the VAT on the Hilux at the time of purchase. But the good news is that, as you’re bringing it in from Northern Ireland, there won’t be any extra charges (no import duty and no Irish VAT) on top of the usual VRT payment. VRT will charged at 13.3 per cent of the Irish market value. That value should (emphasis on the should) be around €29,000, so VRT will be in the region of €3,900.