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

Cona

Question: I thought I read somewhere on here before that Car Supermarket chains won’t sell if it’s for an export. Can anyone confirm this and would you know if it applies to all the franchises in the UK?

colm_mcm

Cona wrote: »

Question: I thought I read somewhere on here before that Car Supermarket chains won’t sell if it’s for an export. Can anyone confirm this and would you know if it applies to all the franchises in the UK?

Not the case usually. It’s an issue with Mercedes main dealers anyway.
Some garages won’t do distance selling though for obvious reasons.

User1998

Anyone know if the vrt late fees are definitely being waved until the end of the year? Is there any written confirmation?

deezell

User1998 wrote: »

Anyone know if the vrt late fees are definitely being waved until the end of the year? Is there any written confirmation?

Yes, here, it expires on Dec 31st.
https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/communications/covid19/vrt-and-excise.aspx

User1998

Thanks Deezell

darragh o meara

User1998 wrote: »

Anyone know if the vrt late fees are definitely being waved until the end of the year? Is there any written confirmation?

First hand experience, my car was over a month late going and no penalty’s.

clones1980

Hi. I am looking at buying either a 1.4 or 1.6 golf in the north. Possibly 2017 or 2018. Would I be better buying this year or holding off until january does anyone know.

Wildly Boaring

clonesbabe wrote: »

Hi. I am looking at buying either a 1.4 or 1.6 golf in the north. Possibly 2017 or 2018. Would I be better buying this year or holding off until january does anyone know.

Get it in and vrt before year end
Ring for cancelation etc if you're after dec


On top of higher vrt you COULD have no deal brexit and a ball of extra tax

FLOOPER

deezell wrote: »

Direct transfer to the dealers account is best for them and for you if you use Revolut, Transfermate or Currency fair.

You may not get an inspection before Jan 1st which will complicate things. You should check how the car will be affected by the new VRT emissions conversions and bands if you end up with inspection after Jan 1st.
If it's a post April 2020 car and already specified in WLTP on the v5 cert you might be disadvantaged by paying VRT now based on the old NEDC emissions rates. Revenue won't convert back to the lower NEDC emissions, they'll calculate using the higher WLTP.

Thanks Deezell,

am worried now about committing to this car. The car is 2016 A4 2.0 TDI SE. 150PS.

What do you think the worst case scenario could be with new rates. Would hope to have the car by next week.

VRT + NOx calculated around 3K.

Thanks

garo

Get on the Revenue website and book an inspection now. That model is common enough that you should be able to get a valuation on the day so won't be left waiting for Revenue. If you can find an appointment in the first half of Dec you should definitely be fine. Also if you don't find an appointment right now, keep looking for cancellations and maybe even call them.

The problem with Revenue not valuing the car before Jan 1st is we don't know what form Brexit is gonna take and you may end up being liable for import taxes.

Wildly Boaring

Yeah there's been a few examples done with the new VRT.
A complete guess but an extra grand??

A No Deal Brexit could throw another few grand onto it

Cona

Looking at pulling trigger on a import from north Ireland this week. Didn’t even think about the delays with VRT. What is the rough estimate that I would have to wait?

bs2014

Cona wrote: »

Looking at pulling trigger on a import from north Ireland this week. Didn’t even think about the delays with VRT. What is the rough estimate that I would have to wait?

My local vrt office told me yday a week and half waiting time but naturally that will change by centre and as we get into Dec

User1998

You should get an appointment within 4 weeks and if theres no stat code expect that to take another 4 weeks, in my experience lately

danoriordan1402

Cona wrote: »

Looking at pulling trigger on a import from north Ireland this week. Didn’t even think about the delays with VRT. What is the rough estimate that I would have to wait?

I had to go on waiting list for Blarney in Cork, also they said that there are waiting lists for the other closest ones in Limerick/Skibereen/ and Kerry

If I am lucky 2-3 weeks..

Wildly Boaring

VRT Kells booked today - 11th December is earliest

sayno

I booked Castlebar last week. The earliest date was 1/12. It must be getting busy

SwordofLight

So the end of this week might see Brexit finally happening.

Can't understand why people are still bringing cars in - there's not much value anymore unless up over £15k I think. I was looking at 2016 Ford Kuga but by the time the VRT is paid it ends up similar to the cost of cars here, if not a little more. Think I'm going to give up.

If I export the car back to the UK, as I may need to move - I would get the VRT refunded wouldn't I?

Cona

Sorry if this has been asked before... What would be the current state of play if I wanted to travel to mainland UK and bring a car home. Obviously it would be get a flight over and get the ferry back.

Trying to figure out if this is possible as Irish would have to restrict movements once arriving in UK for 14 days...

Isambard

Cona wrote: »

Sorry if this has been asked before... What would be the current state of play if I wanted to travel to mainland UK and bring a car home. Obviously it would be get a flight over and get the ferry back.

Trying to figure out if this is possible as Irish would have to restrict movements once arriving in UK for 14 days...

you'd have to quarantine for 14 days on return and can only travel 5km anyway for non essential purposes.

Cona

Isambard wrote: »

you'd have to quarantine for 14 days on return and can only travel 5km anyway for non essential purposes.

Thats not an issue for me, more wondering about the restrictions on the UK side. Would I be able to travel over (on a flight) and back (on ferry) on the same day without issue?

SwordofLight

Cona wrote: »

Thats not an issue for me, more wondering about the restrictions on the UK side. Would I be able to travel over (on a flight) and back (on ferry) on the same day without issue?

...and we wonder why the virus won't go away :rolleyes:

Can't you just have it inspected, then delivered to you.

bazz26

Travelling abroad is still classed only for essential reasons only. Technically they cannot stop you but the Government advice is not to travel abroad unless deemed essential. And I don't think going over to buy a car would be seen as essential travel to be honest.

If you can get the dealer to deliver the car to the ferry port then you can book it on as freight. If it's booked as freight it will be loaded/unloaded by the ferry company. You can then collect it at this side once it arrives. The alternative is to have a transport company collect it from the dealer and bring it over for you. Both would involve you have the car inspected first though. Hard to know how that goes given the UK is in lock down too, though it depends which part of the UK you are buying from as the restrictions vary between England, Scotland and Wales.

Isambard

Cona wrote: »

Thats not an issue for me, more wondering about the restrictions on the UK side. Would I be able to travel over (on a flight) and back (on ferry) on the same day without issue?

there are very few restrictions in the UK, that's why they are the 5th worst covid nation. I wouldn't risk that

richieffff

SwordofLight wrote: »

So the end of this week might see Brexit finally happening.

Can't understand why people are still bringing cars in - there's not much value anymore unless up over £15k I think. I was looking at 2016 Ford Kuga but by the time the VRT is paid it ends up similar to the cost of cars here, if not a little more. Think I'm going to give up.

I know in my case I just couldn't get the car here. The last one of the particular model was sold in March, for 5K more than the rough total of the one I'm bringing in.

Wildly Boaring

SwordofLight wrote: »

So the end of this week might see Brexit finally happening.

Can't understand why people are still bringing cars in - there's not much value anymore unless up over £15k I think. I was looking at 2016 Ford Kuga but by the time the VRT is paid it ends up similar to the cost of cars here, if not a little more. Think I'm going to give up.

If I export the car back to the UK, as I may need to move - I would get the VRT refunded wouldn't I?

There is a lot of value to be had over the 15 anyway

Brought a low mileage 2017 CRV in from the north over the summer for 18k all in.
20 or so more

beggars_bush

SwordofLight wrote: »

So the end of this week might see Brexit finally happening.

Can't understand why people are still bringing cars in - there's not much value anymore unless up over £15k I think. I was looking at 2016 Ford Kuga but by the time the VRT is paid it ends up similar to the cost of cars here, if not a little more. Think I'm going to give up.

If I export the car back to the UK, as I may need to move - I would get the VRT refunded wouldn't I?

we brought a car in 2 months ago.
I've yet to see the same car for sale anywhere in Ireland

edit, found one. €3000 dearer
and doesn't have the same list of spec

and another one, €6000 dearer

Psygnosis

Brought over a Seat Alhambra with Flipping Cars 2 months ago. Now it was a drawn out process and shipping took a while. Had to travel from Cork to Dublin to collect it. Was initially told it would come into Cork.
Car is 2017 SE LUX with 30K KMS on it. Save the bones of 7K on it for me it was well worth it. Much better specced car for allot less money that saving includes the VRT as well.

So still value out there.

LillySV

Psygnosis wrote: »

Brought over a Seat Alhambra with Flipping Cars 2 months ago. Now it was a drawn out process and shipping took a while. Had to travel from Cork to Dublin to collect it. Was initially told it would come into Cork.
Car is 2017 SE LUX with 30K KMS on it. Save the bones of 7K on it for me it was well worth it. Much better specced car for allot less money that saving includes the VRT as well.

So still value out there.

U found them good? Does he vrt it too?

Psygnosis

LillySV wrote: »

U found them good? Does he vrt it too?

Ok but long time to ship. You get it yourself