Scary Scary! Anyone bought a car from S Ireland and imported to UK

[Flex]

Ok so I'm about to pyut a deposit down on a car, fly over Friday, collect and ferry back. Never done anything like this!

 

I don't think there's any VAT/Duty (yes I'm an accountant but it's not something I've encountered before), DVLA I think is fairly straight forward. It's a second hand car btw.

 

Anything I need to consider?

 

I'll update with what it is as soon as it's on.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Flex

[Flex]

Also HPI check, argh, off to google I goes.

[Hodaka]

I'm afraid I have no idea, but just wanted to drop by to say I hope it all goes well. It definitely sounds a bit scary, although exciting at the same time!

[coldel]

Sure you do not have to pay import tax on it? Just like any import car to the UK? You would then need to get it registered and go through the IVA?

 

If it was sold new in Ireland and had not been registered in the UK before then you are due import duty.

[JetSet]

From the DVLA site

You don’t usually have to pay VAT if you’re importing a second-hand vehicle and the VAT was paid in another EU country.

You’ll have to pay VAT if your vehicle is classed as a ‘new means of transport’ - ie it’s less than 6 months old and has done less than 6,000km (about 3,728 miles). HMRC will tell you if this is the case.

Pete

[Flex]

Sure you do not have to pay import tax on it? Just like any import car to the UK? You would then need to get it registered and go through the IVA?

 

If it was sold new in Ireland and had not been registered in the UK before then you are due import duty.

 

You might be right. Duty only due if it's only if coming in from outside the UK, no?

[coldel]

Yes, and as Ireland is outside the UK it applies - so any of the duties you would typically pay on an import (look up GT Torque or other import sites for a list)

[coldel]

What are you importing? There are different rules if its manufactured in Europe vs Asia etc as far as I can remember...sure a quick google will answer all your questions

[Flex]

I'll call my VAT helpline tomorrow. R33 GTR Vspec, hopefully

[richard.hezlett]

From my previous experience of "importing" a new car from Southern Ireland to Northern Ireland I didn't have to pay vat at the Southern Ireland rate ( which was very high ) but instead at the UK rate. As Coldel has said unfortunately Southern Ireland is not part of the UK so you will definately have vat to pay. If u were buying the car in Northern Ireland then u have nothing to pay at all except a ferry across the Irish Sea.

[Flex]

Well that's a bugger, how soon is it payable? There and then?

[350zedd]

Lucky to find that R33?

When I went over there, the place was full of euroboxes and not a performance car in sight.

I presume its because of the horrendous road tax and lack of 99RON

[JetSet]

Here are the import rules. As the R33 will be over 10 years old you'll need to contact the DVLA

 

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/overview

 

Pete

[richard.hezlett]

Well that's a bugger, how soon is it payable? There and then?

I couldn't tax car until the vat was paid. Drove her up from the south on international plates. Not sure how it works with a 2nd hand car.

[garygranite]

drive to roslare and come back through wales we don't know what tax is ,, even though the dvla is around the corner

[coldel]

Uber rare car, with the way prices are going on R33s if you are getting a good price on this you would make your tax payments back in a year.

[Flex]

Uber rare car, with the way prices are going on R33s if you are getting a good price on this you would make your tax payments back in a year.

Lets hope so but it'll be a keeper

[coldel]

Assume you have checked out all the forums? What history does it have? Compression tested?

[Flex]

It's got some good history.

[marzman]

Too many unknowns with a risk of getting badly burned. I'd walk away, personally.

[coldel]

A bargain could be had here if it is in good shape - would definitely give yourself plenty time to check the car over. You can buy compression checking kits from a trader on one of the Skyline forums for about £20, worth the investment if there is no garage over there that can do it for you. I think if you are looking to buy a keeper get an issue free one from the start. Ownership of performance cars in Ireland I have heard is very expensive, and they know the market for buyers is multiples higher in the UK so I wouldnt make it an easy sale for the guy, I would swallow the air fare if the car is not straight and come back empty handed.

[veilside z]

Is it a refundable deposit, not sure if you are putting one down as a holding deposit until arrival and inspection.

[Flex]

A bargain could be had here if it is in good shape - would definitely give yourself plenty time to check the car over. You can buy compression checking kits from a trader on one of the Skyline forums for about £20, worth the investment if there is no garage over there that can do it for you. I think if you are looking to buy a keeper get an issue free one from the start. Ownership of performance cars in Ireland I have heard is very expensive, and they know the market for buyers is multiples higher in the UK so I wouldnt make it an easy sale for the guy, I would swallow the air fare if the car is not straight and come back empty handed.

 

Cheers CD, appreciate that.

[Flex]

Although I would say that someone has told me that a compression test is pretty worthless, they didnt explain themselves fully but I do give their opinion a lot of worth.

[coldel]

There are a number of tests, you can do a leak down test but you can at least cover yourself in as many areas as possible - plenty of would be buyers of R33s have reported compression issues on cars, its not as uncommon as you think and if there is a compression issue then you would not be paying the full rate for the car - it certainly gives you a great bargaining tool if it picks something up and you still want the car.