has anyone brought their car in from EU country

[Sarah510]

So I moved from Rep of Ireland and I brought my car with me, but trying to work out how to get it registered here is just wrecking my brain. I cant work it out - all the different steps you have to do. Would anyone have done it before, or could anyone direct me to someone who could help me navigate the system? It's so complicated. TIA

[[https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/importing_car_into_ireland.html importing a
and registering a car in Ireland]]

@ElementalIllusion , I think OP means bringing a car from RoI to the UK.

www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk

I believe that if the vehicle is under 10 years old it has to go for Single Vehicle Approval (SVA). The SVA ensures that it complies with UK regulations, for example, speedo must be in MPH not Kilometres, Odometer must be in miles not kilometres, fog lights, indicators on side of car as well as front and back etc. Anything that needs to be done must be done prior to an MOT if the car is over 3 years old. It isn't cheap and can take a fair amount of time to get an appointment for an SVA. You should check the DVSA (not DVLA) website for clarification.

thanks laffinalltheway. I'm bogged down in HRMC at the moment, as it seems the first step is to see if I need to pay VAT?

I've been through all the websites and tried and tried but I cant get my head around what to do, it's so complicated. I'm nearly thinking of taxing the car in Ireland for another few months until I can get it sorted out. I'm scared of being stopped as my Irish tax disc is out of date.

I wonder would a garage help me, do you think they would.

Unless it's a very special car I think the best thing to do would be to sell it in Ireland and buy a new one over here. You do need to get it taxed.

I sold mine and bought a new one, it's easier.

yeah, thing is I'm here now and how would I get it back to Ireland to sell it and then get back here again. very awkward. I guess I'd have to bring it back on the ferry and then either ferry/train back or fly back. And how long would I have to stay to sell it. I don't think I'd get that much for it tbh its 2014. I cant tax it here cos i'ts not registered yet. Maybe I should tax it in Ireland - does anyone know . Thanks a mil for sending me to that website DVSA, it's helpful. I've emailed and rang so many people but nobody seems to know how to do it. Would you say a garage would help me. Then again why would they. Maybe I'll see if they would trade it for me, that could be an idea.

Sorry, but I can't see any garage helping you. Please look at the link below. Your car MUST be taxed in Ireland to use it in the UK and if you plan to stay in the UK you must re-register it within 6 months. I very much doubt that anyone would take it in part exchange as they would have to either re-register it or export it.

www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/temporary-imports

Also, have you told your Irish insurers that you now permanently live in the UK?

We did it 20 years ago with an Opel from Germany. I can’t remember the paperwork as DH dealt with it as it was in his name but I remember the chaos, moaning, money being paid and issues with the garage getting all stuff converted to UK standards.

Looking back, we should have just sold it and bought a car here in the UK.