QUOTE (Dirty-30 @ Dec 19 2011, 06:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi, I was offered a nice 1991 golf gti recently for good money but with one catch.....its on english plates.
Would I still get savaged for €1100 at the vrt office if i convert it to a van, even though the v5 would still say gti?? How about a 1.9 diesel engine swap?
I'm a mechanic so doing the work won't be the issue,I have a diesel engine in stock, and to be honest, a commercialised diesel big bumper gti would suit me perfectly!! I remember people converting land cruisers and the likes to commercials for vrt purposes a few years back, can it still be done??

well you could get vans in the mk2 shape anyway so converting shouldn't be a problem. u'll need to remove the seatbelts and black the windows and stuff. and don't change the engine. there's a nissan 300zx and a toyota supra in ireland that have been converted to vans for tax reasons so it can be done.

 

From what I hear on here, if you appeal it afterward, you get it for half that amount, or you get refunded

 

surely the vehicle would have to be a van on the V5 to be imported as a van here, you could probably make enquiries to the DVLA.....if its that good and that cheap would you not VRT it and as suggested above appeal it.........

 

Simple answer is dont ask us here ... ask the VRT office. Also remember you could be asked to prove when the car came into the country cuz if you are you could be asked to pay the back tax. From a Revenue point of view it is illegal to sell a vehicle which is registered outside the country - even if you are a trader!

 

Early this year the VRO had all mk2's at 680euro to VRT, it was on their site for around 3months at that rate, afaik it's the lowest rate but then it went back up to over a grand, you can appeal that rate but to do that you have to pay the full rate and then you'll need to get a few adverts with mk2's at cheaper asking prices than their estimated omsp which is something like 4grand.. A few on here did it and received 4-500 back, I think they drop it to 680euro which is their lowest rate..

Or you could get a scrapped Irish reged mk2 and "swap shells"...

Also if you change it to a car/van it's VRTd at 18% of the omsp not the 50-80 euro commercial rate, and afaik 680euro is the lowest they'll go.

 

QUOTE (syncropaddy @ Dec 19 2011, 08:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Simple answer is dont ask us here ... ask the VRT office. Also remember you could be asked to prove when the car came into the country cuz if you are you could be asked to pay the back tax. From a Revenue point of view it is illegal to sell a vehicle which is registered outside the country - even if you are a trader!
had this discussion with them, if he buys the car, he needs a hand written receipt of some sort to show when HE bought the car. and they said the only time them will follow up on a ''sold on'' english car if it is of a high value

 

You can VRT it without the v5, you'll need an "export form" from the dvla which you have to send off for, can take a while I've heard..

 

QUOTE (paddy_cl @ Dec 19 2011, 09:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>had this discussion with them, if he buys the car, he needs a hand written receipt of some sort to show when HE bought the car. and they said the only time them will follow up on a ''sold on'' english car if it is of a high value

In reality this is most likely the case - depending on which VRT place you go and how lazy the civil servent is!! Two years ago I imported an E220 Mercedes and the difference in VRT between Wicklow and Wexford was €230 !!!!! ( I'm allowed to choose as I have a house in each county!)