Is there a plan for EVs in apartments?
The government have a stated plan to phase out internal combustion engines. If they are serious, they must have a plan for how people living in apartment blocks, terraced housing and anywhere else without a driveway are going to charge their full or partly electric cars while at home.
The question is, do they have a plan?
Thanks
Philip
Philip Donegan (Ballina)Aug 2021 Filed under: electric cars
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
The answer is yes — kind of. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is currently going through a public consultation on this very process, and it hopes to start rolling out the first grants to support apartment-block chargers by October of this year.
The plan, as it currently stands, has two levels — a grant of between 50-80 per cent for landlords, management companies and other apartment block owners who want to invest in the wiring and infrastructural installation for charging points, and a second level that gives the same €600 grant to private residents who want to install a charger, where possible. The SEAI is currently seeking public submissions on the plan, so head over to the SEAI website if you’d like to get your views across.
Can we import our two cars from the UK?
Hi,
With reference to your importing feature, I was wondering how much of this would apply to me? I am moving to Ireland with my partner who is an Irish citizen and we both want to bring our cars with us. Both are UK-registered in 2015 and both have been owned for around three years. Are we going to get charged large fees to do this or are we going to exempt due to having owned them and not just buying to import i.e. is the terminology related to the latter and we have nothing to worry about?
One of the cars is a 3.0-litre diesel, so wondering what tax band that would fall under?
Many thanks
Alex
Alex Parris (Gorey)Jul 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Alex,
The good news is, you shouldn’t have to pay anything. As long as you can show proof of ownership for at least six months prior to your move, at your previous address, and can show documentation confirming your move to Ireland, you should be exempt from both VRT and VAT.
You can find more details on the Revenue website.
With regards to motor tax for your diesel, it depends when it was registered and, assuming it's post-2008, what its CO2 emissions rating is. Read our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature for full details.
How much to import a nearly-new Dodge?
Hello.
I bought a Dodge Challenger 5.7 and it's on the way to Ireland. Only a year old. I was just wondering how much will the VRT cost? The car was €30,000, the CO2 around 272g/km.
Thanks Brigitta
Brigitta Reczi (Kilkenny)Jul 2021 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Brigitta,
OK, this is going to get expensive. For a start, that 272g/km CO2 rating means you’re going to be paying the top rate of both VRT and motor tax. That’s going to be €2,350 a year for motor tax. As for VRT, well it’ll be 37 per cent of whatever Revenue thinks a year-old Challenger (awesome, awesome car by the way…) is worth.
My best guess is that they’ll benchmark it against a V8 Mustang, which sells, new, for €69,818 here in Ireland. Take off a year’s depreciation, and they’ll probably peg that at around €55,000. Maybe. So 37 per cent of €55,000 is going to be €20,350, but I’ll be honest; that’s just my totally unscientific best guess.
Then you’ll pay 23 per cent VAT on top, which will be charged on the customs cost — that’s the price you paid, plus shipping, plus customs duty (which is ten per cent, usually), so at minimum that’s going to be around €8-9,000.
Will my imported Amarok be VRT-free?
Hi,
I am moving back to Ireland permanently next year from Australia. I own a 2016 VW Amorak that I want to bring back with me. I own the vehicle for more than six months. Can you confirm if I will be exempt from VRT and if there are any other taxes, unexpected costs on arrival in Ireland?
Thank you
Bryan Glynn (Kilkenny)Jun 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Bryan,
OK, in general, yes you should be exempt from VRT when importing a vehicle from Australia if it’s a transfer of residence, but you will have to show proof of ’normal residence abroad’ — basically household bills and bank accounts in your name — plus the original receipts and bills of sale for the Amarok.
You may also be able to skip paying VAT, if you can prove residence outside of the EU for more than 12 months, but you will have a lot of forms to fill out — head over to this page on Revenue.ie to get started…
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.
How much VRT on a €37,000 car?
Hello.
If I buy a new car with an on-the-road price of €37,000, how much is the VRT in cash and also the VAT? If VAT is 23 per cent does that make €8,510?
Thanks
Martin.
Martin Dunne (Dublin)Mar 2021 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Martin,
I'm afraid we can't answer that without knowing the CO2 rating of the car, as the percentage of VRT paid is dependent on that.
Read How Much VRT is Paid in Ireland? for more info.
Help me understand import costs please!
Hi,
I am interested in importing a used 3.0-litre V6 Jaguar XF from England (2013-2014 and about £12,000). I am finding the real cost of doing so very confusing especially the VAT implications. If I have to pay the Irish VAT rate of 21% is it possible to avoid paying VAT on the car in the UK or will I be paying VAT in both countries? Also, since the XF is manufactured in the UK does this mean that it is exempt from the 10% customs duties incurred since Jan 2021? Any insight would be much appreciated.
Eoin Murray (Dublin)Mar 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Eoin,
VAT isn’t charged on second hand car sales in the UK, so while technically you will be paying a residual portion of the car’s original VAT cost, on a car that’s between seven and eight years old, it’s not going to be a particularly big proportion. You could — technically — claim it back from the UK authorities on export, but the process is byzantine and time consuming, and generally not worth the effort.
You will definitely have to pay Irish VAT, though, which will now be charged at 23 per cent as the rate has gone up since the 1st of March. Unlike VRT, which is charged according to the OMSP, the Open Market Selling Price or what Revenue thinks the value of the car would be on the Irish market, VAT is charged on the price you paid for the car, plus shipping costs.
As for the import duty, you may well get away without paying that, as the XF’s structure and engine (the V6 diesel was made by Ford in Dagenham) were built in the UK, which should push it over the minimum value necessary. You’ll have to fill out a customs declaration form first, though, which should help you figure all of that out.
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 (Dublin)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.