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

I'm thinking of importing something silly from the UK. Possibly a pre July 2008 (cheaper road tax at 1800😨) V8 Audi S4/5 or BMW 650i.

Can get them real cheap in mainland UK.

VRT seems to be calculated on OMSP, is VAT and customs calculated on this too or actual price paid?

If actual price paid then a receipt from dealer should be good, but what about private? A written receipt from seller surely wouldn't be worth much.

These questions have probably already been answered here already, but going back through over 2yrs of posts on my phone was taking a very long time.

Thanks 👍

Does anyone know if Land Rover and Jags manufactured in UK are exempt from customs duty on import under the rules of origin? Or where can I find this information for specific models? (range rover sport, XF, F-pace)

Thanks

Yeah I've heard that too, I'd be interested to know how this is decided or proven.

I'd imagine if you view the v5 document and see the current owner with a ni address and v5 issued back in 2018 or date purchased or whatever, that would be all you would need.

Given it was a mini-budget, this was never even on the radar.

The scheme is on hold until further notice.

You definitely need the V5C.

That applies to UK residents. They won't send it to a non UK address. Why can't the seller request it?

Afaik there would be no VAT due - as long as the car has more than 6000km on the clock (if less, it is treated as a new car, and VAT would apply).

I believe if I import a 2022 electric Northern Ireland car I pay no VRT or nox, would it be liable for VAT/tax or are electric cars exempt? Car value 32000E

Anything can be investigated if suspected of being fraudulent so I wouldnt rock up with a 50k bmw and an invoice stating you paid 3k for it.

I'd imagine any invoice that was reasonable wouldn't be questioned.

As far as I can remember they charge 10% on bikes over 10 years old.

Is VAT liable bringing in a pre 2020 NI vehicle across the border?

This is more a rant than anything but feel I need to vent. It obviously doesn't come as a surprise but the value, even in benefiting from VRT exemption, is gone.

Moved back from UK 2 years ago and now helping a friend figure out what to do as he plans to move back next year. I know things were different but you'd get a £30k car in the UK with an Irish value of about €70-odd k. It was a no-brainer.

For the same £30k now you seem to be looking at about €45-55k range, at most.

I know the dynamics around used car prices are all over the place but it seems particularly crazy. Has the UK become more expensive relative to Ireland? Has Ireland become relatively cheaper?

Yup, I get those factors boosting used car prices globally.

But I had (I now realise, naively) guessed those factors would have impacted Irish used car prices worse than UK car prices - for example I'd have guessed fewer imports from UK to Ireland the past couple of years would have pushed Irish prices up.

To give examples, 2years ago I was looking at 2018 GLEs and X5s for about £30k (then equivalent to about €33k) worth €75-80k in Ireland.

Now a 2yr old X5 or GLE is about £48-50k (say €55k) and worth about €80-85k.

So feels like a EUR equivalent increase of about €15k in the UK Vs about €5-10k in Ireland. And I'd have expected the opposite