I know it's all about the level of VRT we put on cars here, but the difference in the list prices and trim levels is astonishing.

Take a New Octavia 1.9tdi Combi in elegance trim for example

Ireland -

Erm , whats VRT?

It's the price of independance.

Erm , whats VRT?

Vehicle registration tax - an illegal surcharge on all new cars sold in Ireland applied by the Irish government when the EU made them remove excise duty on new car imports in the early 80s. The EU have told them to remove it, our government stalls with appeals, petitions and lobbying.

They charge VAT @21% on top of the VRT so that they can double whammy you, charging tax on their original tax. In this way, up to 60% of a new car's list price can go to our beloved government.

It has nothing to do with independance, I'm afraid. It has everything to do with our lack of an active motoring lobby.

Yikes , thats not good.

It has everything to do with our lack of an active motoring lobby.

Maybe YOU should lobby, you'd be surprised how effective some well thought out campaigning can be...

Maybe YOU should lobby, you'd be surprised how effective some well thought out campaigning can be...

I agree, and I would certainly subscribe/contribute to any organisation that chose to fight the government on this. However for me to set up such an organisation would require a level of knowledge and capital that I just don't have. The AA here are a glorified insurance company (not an industry reknowned for being on the consumer's side) and the SIMI represent dealers, not consumers.

Anywhoo, this is verging off topic - My point was how lucky you UK buyers are.

Can't you just buy a UK car? I'm living in Belgium, and if a car was (that much) cheaper in the netherlands or France, I would not doubt 2 seconds about buying it there, and even driving with a dutch/french licence plate if possible/necessary :-)

Can't you just buy a UK car? I'm living in Belgium, and if a car was (that much) cheaper in the netherlands or France, I would not doubt 2 seconds about buying it there, and even driving with a dutch/french licence plate if possible/necessary :-)

I'd love to, but I would have to pay the VRT on import to Ireland on any car less than 30 years old. I cannot insure a car in Ireland on foreign plates.

Mainland europe is much less restrictive about what you can and cannot import between countries than Ireland [even though we were a founding member of the EC :(] and imposes no import taxes, only VAT.