Importing from the UK - definitive guide (Q&A)

mgbgt1978

https://www.ros.ie/evrt-enquiry/vrtenquiry/vehicle.html?execution=e1s1

There you go. Just input all the details of any particular model you're interested in and the nice folk in revenue will tell you what to expect to pay.

billy few mates

Actually there's another website where you just have to type the reg of the car and it will do it all for you, it's a lot handier than having to type it all in manually on the Revenue site, I can't remember exactly what site it is, maybe someone here can...?

mgbgt1978

http://www.motorcheck.ie/blog/vrt-calculator/

billy few mates

That's the one...

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Harcrid

Strictly speaking you could be liable for VRT penalties but in reality I don't think it happens that often. But it's still something you need to keep in mind.

The seller should have the full UK V5 registration document. He hands this to you when you buy the car with no need to send any part of it anywhere. You need it for the registration process here. If he does not have the full V5 walk away as it will be a nightmare getting a replacement.

bazz26

Just a get a receipt from him stating the date of purchase. The only complication I could see is if the seller already presented the car for VRT meaning it's on their system and it's outside the 30 day period that the registration needs to be completed by. In that case I'm not sure what would be the story around penalties.

The V5 registration document is the UK equivalent of the Irish Vehicle Registration Cert or log book. Make sure you get this as not having it gives you a whole world of pain registering it here.

Claude Burgundy

bazz26 wrote: »

Just a get a receipt from him stating the date of purchase. The only complication I could see is if the seller already presented the car for VRT meaning it's on their system and it's outside the 30 day period that the registration needs to be completed by. In that case I'm not sure what would be the story around penalties.

The V5 registration document is the UK equivalent of the Irish Vehicle Registration Cert or log book. Make sure you get this as not having it gives you a whole world of pain registering it here.

Does any of the V5 have to be filled in ?

mgbgt1978

No. You would only fill it in if you were transferring ownership within the UK. i.e. if a UK resident was buying the car.

Claude Burgundy

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

No. You would only fill it in if you were transferring ownership within the UK. i.e. if a UK resident was buying the car.

Ah sweet !

App in the NCT centre on the 25th and just want to make sure i have all the paperwork.

aujopimur

When you present the car at NCT/VRT you will fill in a form giving your and the sellers details, this is sent to Revenue who will deal with any tax liability issues.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

bazz26

If you are on your way to a VRT inspection appointment then I cannot see Customs having any problem. I would not be driving around in it for any other reason though until it has Irish plates on it.

aujopimur

If you are pulled by customs, all they will do is demand the VRT on the spot, and I mean on the spot.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

NIMAN

bazz26 wrote: »

If you are on your way to a VRT inspection appointment then I cannot see Customs having any problem. I would not be driving around in it for any other reason though until it has Irish plates on it.

You wanna live up here near the border, where there are hundreds of Irish residents driving around on UK/NI plates for years and years!

bazz26

NIMAN wrote: »

You wanna live up here near the border, where there are hundreds of Irish residents driving around on UK/NI plates for years and years!

There are always exceptions and bordering counties have always flirted with the laws in this regard.

nophd08

What is the best method of paying for a car in uk, say if buying through a garage. I spoke to one dealer and he said customers from southern Ireland usually transfer money before coming over as it can take 24hrs to clear. Debit cards I think have a limit of 2.5K. Don't think I would be happy transferring money in advance. Other options I suppose are hanging around in uk until money is transferred. Any opinions?

bazz26

Use something like transfermate.

The_Conductor

nophd08 wrote: »

What is the best method of paying for a car in uk, say if buying through a garage. I spoke to one dealer and he said customers from southern Ireland usually transfer money before coming over as it can take 24hrs to clear. Debit cards I think have a limit of 2.5K. Don't think I would be happy transferring money in advance. Other options I suppose are hanging around in uk until money is transferred. Any opinions?

Depending on the company you use to transfer the money- 15-20 minutes is the norm- not 24 hours.......

nophd08

bazz26 wrote: »

Use something like transfermate.

Transfermate can take up to 24 hrs according to their website

nophd08

The_Conductor wrote: »

Depending on the company you use to transfer the money- 15-20 minutes is the norm- not 24 hours.......

Which company can do it in 15-20 minutes?

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

bazz26

Is it possible that the car was VRT'd already back in 2011 but the owner never actually bothered to apply for a log book or tax it?

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

CiniO

Heisenberg. wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Maybe it was already registered in Ireland before and then exported to UK.
Now back in Ireland.
If that's the case, you probably don't need to pay VRT.

rocky

or the previous owner took it back to the UK when he found out how much the VRT is...

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

bazz26

Heisenberg. wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Hard to believe that it was parked up for 4 years. If the guy could not afford to VRT it then surely he would have sold it rather than letting it sit up for 4 years. Is there no service history in that time frame? It could have been driven to the moon and back in that time frame irrespective of what country it was in.

billy few mates

Are you sure it was actually parked up for four years and not just driven around unregistered...?