The process of importing a car from outside the state and paying VRT to the revenue commissioners is to change, with responsibility for registration, taxing and inspection of the vehicles to be handed over to Applus+, the company that took over the NCT testing last January. Although a date for the change has not been confirmed, it is understood that the switch will take place this summer.

Under the 2010 Finance Act, the Revenue was granted the power to appoint a “competent person”, to carry out pre-registrations on vehicles to ensure they comply with the VRT requirement. It is hoped that the appointment of a third party contractor to handle the registration process will make it more efficient. However, there are some concerns that it will heap further work on already hard-pressed NCT centres.