Are new cars cheaper in Southern Ireland than England?
Discussion
This is not the case. If it were the case then there wouldn't be such an influx of people heading to England on a daily basis buying new cars and even after paying the VRT saving at the very least a couple of K over the Irish list price!
VRT is a killer. Cars are cheaper in England.
VRT is a killer. Cars are cheaper in England.
Edited by Ianeire on Monday 9th June 18:30
BeerForBreakfast said:
I knew it stupid American neighbour of mine. He even went as far to say someone he knew had drove over bought a new car for a few grand cheaper and then brought it to the UK. AND that the websites lie when they see my IP address is from England.
definitely some porkie pies being told there!!No, UK cars are cheaper than ROI cars, both second hand and new.
But it was not always the case.
We got a new Mazda 323F GLX, have to get the X in. and imported it from the South to the North of Ireland and saved £2500.
Now that was in the late '90's and cash situation has changed, but you can still find a nice car down south and save some money, like the ones they cannot afford to tax anymore and sell off cheap..
One thing the south can keep is the car tax, just send up the beer guys.
Colin L
We got a new Mazda 323F GLX, have to get the X in. and imported it from the South to the North of Ireland and saved £2500.
Now that was in the late '90's and cash situation has changed, but you can still find a nice car down south and save some money, like the ones they cannot afford to tax anymore and sell off cheap..
One thing the south can keep is the car tax, just send up the beer guys.
Colin L
As I understand it if someone from the UK purchases a car in Ireland and they do not register it here then they do not have to pay VRT (vehicle registration tax), which accounts for 20-30% of the list price in Ireland depending on model. So pre-tax the car could well be cheaper here than it is in UK. What taxes you would have to pay on it when it arrives in the UK I'm afraid I dont know.
I'd imagine so Paul as VRT is a Republic of Ireland tax so if the car is destined for another jusristiction like the north, the only problem is that if the car cannot be registered in the republic you could not tax or insure it until you got it back up north, so I'd say it would need to be trailered or something.
I'd say your best bet would be to contact a good sized dealer near the border who will most likely have done this before and get some info that way
I'd say your best bet would be to contact a good sized dealer near the border who will most likely have done this before and get some info that way
It used to work out that it was worthwhile to import a car from the south to the north or to the mainland, because the Vehicle Registration Tax is very high on new cars, hence manufacturers charged less for the actual car, so that when the VRT was added on the cars were still affordable. Of course they didnt always do that by taking less profit - often the specs were poorer - no electric windows, no sunroofs (before the days of air/con being standard) and even no wheel trims.
Basically you bought the car in the south for export, took it to the north, then paid less new vehicle tax and VAT because the basic price of the car was less.
I dont think its working out so well at the moment though with the strong Euro.
Basically you bought the car in the south for export, took it to the north, then paid less new vehicle tax and VAT because the basic price of the car was less.
I dont think its working out so well at the moment though with the strong Euro.
paul38 said:
Hi Guys,
Does VRT only apply to bringing a car from england to southern ireland?, im assuming it wouldn't apply to bringing it from england to n ireland?
Im considering doing this, as there really is a far greater choice of cars and in some models cheaper.
If you're merely bringing a car from england to n.ireland, then theres no VRT to be paid. There are quite a few people i know of who buy their cars from say, one of the large car supermarkets on the mainland, then bring them home here to the north.Does VRT only apply to bringing a car from england to southern ireland?, im assuming it wouldn't apply to bringing it from england to n ireland?
Im considering doing this, as there really is a far greater choice of cars and in some models cheaper.
Another good one to watch is the likes of BMW. There is a national search facility on their website, so you dont have to limit yourself to Prentices, Bavarian, etc, the mainland dealers will cheerfully sell you a car - often for considerably less.
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