Moving back with car

K

Kevin5

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Hi

I am moving back with a car from Germany next August to Ireland. Before I go back I want to buy a new car here and order it directly from the Manufacturer as a right hand drive.

Do I understand properly that the car must remain for at least 6 months in germany to avoid any import tax ?

Also are there any other considerations ?

when I arrive over I will have a german license plate that will need to be changed....Is this costly and are there any other hidden costs ?

Thanks in advance
Kevin
 
You need to own the car personally in Germany for 6 months before moving back.

When you do so, you can reregister it on Irish plates, and must retain ownership for a further 12 months.

After that yopu are free do do whatever you wish with the car, and will hopefully make a few bob on it.

I'd advise you to buy a nearly new quality Audi, Merc. or BMW.

Or if you are loaded a Porker (Porsche).

p.s. If you follow the Revenue's rules there is virtually no cost.
 
Hi Kevin,

I did the same myself a few years back , you need to own the car for 6 months and have lived abroad for at least a year. My advice would be to buy the best new car you can afford - not sure what your budget is but personally I'd go for a porsche boxster or cayman (if you can get one), you've got a pretty good chance that it will be worth almost what you paid for it once the year has expired.

Make sure you keep lots of bills and pay slips from Germany as the revenue will examine them forensically! There is no other costs involved other than the new plates.

Its a once in a lifetime chance to put one over the revenue so make the most of it!

M
 
I'm not so sure I'd agree with the advice re. Porsche or Cayman. If the objective is to resell the car after 12 months here, you want to be able to resell with minimum hassle. Porsche's are a pretty specialised product with a limited target market. I'd be much more inclined to stick to Merc/BMW/Audi which should resell very quickly back here.
 
RainyDay said:
I'm not so sure I'd agree with the advice re. Porsche or Cayman. If the objective is to resell the car after 12 months here, you want to be able to resell with minimum hassle. Porsche's are a pretty specialised product with a limited target market. I'd be much more inclined to stick to Merc/BMW/Audi which should resell very quickly back here.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that a boxster will be worth more after a year than an similarly priced BMW/Merc/Audi , even 5 year old boxsters are still going for around 40K. Anyhow, he'll only get one shot at this and if he'd going to buy an expensive car (which he may not want to , he didn't mention budget) then he should go the whole hog!! I would.

M
 
hi thx for the replies
I have a 5 yr old bmw at the moment and i thought it would be a good idea to trade it in for a new one before I go back. obviously i better get moving as it could take some time to order a right hand drive.

The reason being is when i sell it after 3/4 years I will be able to keep with the same level of car in ireland.....thx again
kev
 
Hi,

Make sure you register and put your new plates on your car as soon as you arrive into Ireland, well within 24 hours at least. This will ensure you avoid any unnecssary confrontations with Customs who are always looking out for Irish residents using foreign reg cars - not just at the entry ports - all over the couuntry. I believe technically they are allowed to seize any such car!
 
Kevin

I assume you will try and buy a Rught Hand Drive and just have the nuiisance of driving on the wrong side of the car in Germany for the 6 months.

Probably a sky is blue observation.
 
RS2K said:
I'd advise you to buy a nearly new quality Audi, Merc. or BMW.
Click to expand...

Would it not be extremely difficult/next to impossible to get a second hand RHD car in Germany, or if on the other hand if you buy a second hand LHD and bring it back it is less attractive for resale here?
 
dam099 said:
Would it not be extremely difficult/next to impossible to get a second hand RHD car in Germany, or if on the other hand if you buy a second hand LHD and bring it back it is less attractive for resale here?
Click to expand...

Not really. Loads of squaddies over there. All drive RHD motors just incase they are sent home.
 
Hi there Kevin.

I did this not so long ago:

1. You need to have the car registered and insured in your name and at your address in Germany for 6 months +
2. You need to have greater than 6000 Kms on the clock.
3. You need to have proof that you have lived in Germany full time during the time you have owned the car - Rental contract, payslips, bank account etc.
4. You need to prove you are coming back to Ireland to live for good - not just hopping back to offload the motor - proof of rent, house purchase, job contract etc.
5. You need to source International License plates for taking the car from Germany to Ireland ( this can cost a bit), you need to get the car de-registered from Germany (Zullasungstelle), you need to get EU insurance coverage (Green card) just ask your insurance company it should be free.
6. Hold onto your ferry ticket.
7. When you arrive in Ireland make an appointment with your Local VRT office within 24 hours of arrival - the appointment is all you need to make within 24 hours, if they cannot see you within the 24 hours, that is their problem, not yours.
8. When they eventually see you, they will come out and check the car to ensure everything is in order(VIN, chassis number, engine block number etc.) - as other posters have said - load it up with toys, they pay no attention to the interior.
9. They will then take all your documentation and give you a note to show to any Garda or Customs officer who may stop you.
10. You cannot get Irish plates until the VRO supply you with a cert. this can take 4-5 weeks. so ensure you are insured on your international plates for as long as possible - I think max is 21 days.

Best of luck.
 
RS2K said:
All drive RHD motors just incase they are sent home.
Click to expand...
Or more likely, all drive RHD motors so they can take advantage of the same duty-free import facility when they return.

kane3000 said:
this can take 4-5 weeks. so ensure you are insured on your international plates for as long as possible - I think max is 21 days but no Gard in Ireland is going to question you if you go over this - just dont have an accident!
Click to expand...
Hi Kane - Great post, but you're not suggesting that someone should drive uninsured after the 21 day period is up, are you?
 
Hi RainyDay,

Well it does actually look like I am - apologies, will edit.

I meant to say that if the Maximum 21 day period of insurance is up and one still has no cert back from the VRO then one cannot obtain Irish insurance, so need to park up the car for a few days/weeks.

Cheers
Kane
 
RainyDay said:
Or more likely, all drive RHD motors so they can take advantage of the same duty-free import facility when they return.
Click to expand...

Yes, but some stay on for a few years so there is a trade in used RHD vehicles. The numbers might be too small so perhaps he might be better off buying new.
 
Hi, I moved back from the UK to Ireland in 2001 and did my reseach as to what car I could re-sell after the 1 yr to make the best profit. The best car IMHO is a Merc E220 CDI. The engine size is a good fit for Ireland as people don't want a big annual road tax bill and as it a diesel its v popular.
I paid 20k sterling in the UK for a 6mth old demo model from a Merc dealer, drove it for 1 yr in Ireland and sold it for 37k Euro - a profit of 7k plus 1 yr of motoring.
Also you are not limited to just importing 1 car so if you're loaded take in a few.
 
Hi,

does anybody know if there are any companies who could give professional advice on this subject.

Cheers.
 
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