OK Gang,
I need help with a VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) question...
Here's the situation: I have a car that I want to get rid of, and I'd like to replace this with a nice new shiny bigger car that can go fast.
Here's the problem: Although I live in Dublin, I will be buying the car in the North, as they are WAY cheaper there. Having said that, I am still going to the upper limit that I want to spend in buying said nicer faster shinier car. Therefor I don't want to pay the government up to 30% of the cost of the car for the privilege of registering it (I'd be happy enough not to bother registering it if it's get me out of VRT, but this is apparently not an option!)
Here's the Idea: I'm a Nordie, and my family still live up North. What if I were to purchase the car up North as planned, then register it up there, to my Mum's address, and insure it to that address. Then I just drive it down here. If I ever get pulled over, I can say I live in the North but frequently have to travel to the South for work (or to see my Girlfriend if it's at the weekend). I can back this up because my company (a big multinational) is based down here in Dublin, so I could say I work in the field, but come down all the time to come to the office!
That's it. Anyone tried to get away with something like this and succeeded? What about anyone tried it and got caught? What happens if you get caught? Does anyone know of any other forum that I could ask these questions on?
Thanks very much in advance, you could save me a few thousand euros.
F
Long as your tax and insurance are ok and license is registered there you shouldn't have a prob in the short term. After a while not sure how long you can just transfer the registration down at no cost as its persona belongings and you not importing. Its risky.
If you continually get stopped you could have a problem so don't get stopped and if you do have nothing with your Irish address on it in the car.
I've been there with a car from the continent .... and a friend from the North has been there with a northern registered car.
Basically it's illegal to have a foreign registered car in Ireland when you are not a tourist but are living here. You have to get it registered almost immediately and pay that VRT when living in the Republic, as you know. The excuse it's you mom's car or you are commuting doesn't count. Customs heard it all ...
Not the police is the danger but customs - and grasses.
Customs, especially in Dublin and especially since a lot of Europeans try their luck, often check on company car parks and supermarket carparks. They hijack you as soon as you open your car door and ask for proof of commuting or proof of "temporary" employment. They are not that easily fooled, believe me. There is money to be made, after all.
People who dislike you for what reason ever can grass on you and tell customs that you actually live here. A back-stabbing way to get at you. Happened to my friend from the North.
I got away for quite some time, but had to own up eventually. At least I had (and still have) an old banger which wasn't worth much. They have a list at the VRT-office for brand, ccm and age of the car which is ridiculous but unfortunetaly not debatable.
I'd say it's a bad idea, because you always have to look over your shoulder. On the other hand if you take your chances you might get away with it and save a lot of money in the long run. If there is a long run.
Can't really give any advice, especially not publically an illegal one ... you know ....
you also run the risk of voiding your insurance if you lie about where you live, leading to a whole bunch more trouble
Hi, i have friends from north of the border who do it alot....just be prepared to be pulled by the customs and have a good story for them, they have more power than the gardai...
i've been i car that have been pulled and we have gotten away with it.....with so much work in dublin its is jam packed with northies and there cars so u'll more than likely get away with it...
NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS- as far as i know a person from the north can bring on car across the bored and put irish plates on it without paying the VRT...i hope i am right, check it out with the relevant authorities, and even if not, go ahead with not doing it, u should be fine in dublin.
ger
ps.I have work for Intel, Wyeths, and boston scientific and know for a fact that customs pay their car parks a visit sometimes...
good luck
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS- as far as i know a person from the north can bring on car across the bored and put irish plates on it without paying the VRT...i hope i am right, check it out with the relevant authorities, and even if not, go ahead with not doing it, u should be fine in dublin.<hr></blockquote>
You can but you need to have owned it for a certain length of time.
best people to tell you are customs.
I second the issue of insurance. If your car gets broken into etc whilst at 'home' in Dublin then you run the risk of being found out that it is your permanent address. For insurance purposes it has to be insured at the usual address at which the vehicle will be kept....
As someone who has paid €1000's of quid on VRT, I'd feel like shooting you! But all that aside, if you buy a fairly mewish, second hand car in GB, not NI, pay the VRT and sell it, make money.
Ah crap! I was hoping that everyone would come on and write "brilliant idea fingers, that'll work for defo! Dead easy!"
If I was asked, I wouldn't say I was commuting, more that I live and work in the North, as my customers are all up there, but head office is in Dublin, so I have to come down all the time to go to meetings etc. If anything happened to the car outside my flat, I'd just say that I was down for a meeting and as it was early in the morning, was staying at my girlfriends flat for the evening before.
You have to own your car for 6 months before importing it, and only then do you not have to pay VRT. I haven't even bought it yet! But at least I'd only have to get away with it for 6 months, then I could register it down here.
I know it's risky, and have now been somewhat put off! >:o(
I HATE VRT!!!
Thanks to everyone for their responses.
Even you've owned the car for at least six months you still have to pay the VRT. It's an import no matter what. They are ruthless, believe me.
I brought my banger over to Ireland after I owned it for about seven or eight years. No joy. Not even after explaining that I went to and fro (shouldn't say that really, but I got away for several years, but that was before the influx of East Europeans, and I don't live in Dublin).
There is this form and rule that every car from another country (and sadly that includes the North) has to be registered in Ireland if your main residence is in RoI. They find out, I've heard that they even ask the employer.
The insurance thingy is another risk, less so in the country, but more so in Dublin.
I know, I hate the VRT too!
But since customs is now more concerned with European car registration numbers ... ah well, it's your decision.
Good luck!
trusted partner
