UK CAR IMPORTS

These Terms and Conditions apply to all services provided by UK Car Imports, trading name of Focus Investments Limited, VAT No. 3234981CH, with principal place of business at 51 Bracken Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 18, D18 CV48.

By paying a deposit, instructing UK Car Imports to act, approving a vehicle, authorising a bid or purchase, paying an invoice, submitting documents for registration, or collecting a vehicle, the client confirms that they have read, understood and agreed to these Terms.

These Terms should be read together with any vehicle quotation, invoice, client authority form, inspection report, warranty election, VRT estimate, transport confirmation and correspondence relating to the vehicle.

In these Terms:

“UKCI”, “we”, “us” or “our” means UK Car Imports / Focus Investments Limited.

“Client”, “you” or “buyer” means the person who instructs UKCI to provide vehicle sourcing, purchase administration, import, VRT, registration, transport, inspection coordination or related services.

“Vehicle” means the motor vehicle selected, approved or purchased by or on behalf of the client.

“Seller” means the UK garage, dealer, auction house, trader, private seller, finance house, leasing company or other third party from whom the vehicle is sourced or purchased.

“Service” means the vehicle sourcing, administration, coordination, import, VAT/duty/customs support, VRT processing, registration support, inspection coordination, transport coordination and related services supplied by UKCI.

“Inspection” means any third-party mechanical, visual, appraisal, condition, diagnostic, road-test or inspection report arranged, commissioned or supplied in relation to the vehicle.

“Third-party provider” includes any mechanic, inspection company, garage, auction house, seller, transport provider, recovery company, customs agent, warranty provider, finance provider, shipping company, port operator, VRT/NCTS centre or other external provider.

“Price” means the amount quoted to the client, which may include the vehicle price, UKCI service charges, third-party charges, estimated VRT, customs charges, VAT/duty where applicable, transport, inspection fees, registration costs, warranty products and related administration costs.

UKCI provides a vehicle sourcing and import administration service.

Unless expressly stated in writing by UKCI, UKCI does not sell vehicles from its own forecourt stock and does not act as the manufacturer, mechanical warrantor, insurer, finance provider, inspection provider or repairer of the vehicle.

The client appoints UKCI to assist with some or all of the following:

a. identifying or sourcing a vehicle selected or approved by the client;
b. communicating with the UK seller;
c. arranging or coordinating an independent inspection;
d. administering payment to the seller or third parties;
e. arranging UK collection, transport, shipping and delivery;
f. assisting with customs, VAT, duty and import administration;
g. estimating and processing VRT;
h. assisting with Irish registration;
i. arranging optional warranty products where selected and paid for;
j. providing related administrative support.

UKCI’s role is administrative, sourcing, coordination and support. UKCI does not itself manufacture, inspect, repair, certify, warrant or guarantee the vehicle’s mechanical condition.

Unless UKCI expressly states in writing that it is selling a vehicle as principal, the contract for the purchase of the vehicle is between the client and the seller.

UKCI is not responsible for any breach by the seller of the seller’s obligations, including any issue relating to title, vehicle condition, description, warranty, service history, accident history, mileage, finance history, roadworthiness, quality, durability, fitness for purpose or post-sale mechanical failure.

UKCI may communicate with the seller, pay the seller, receive documents, arrange collection or deal with warranty queries on the client’s behalf. Such acts do not make UKCI the seller of the vehicle, the warranty provider, or the party responsible for the vehicle’s mechanical condition.

Where funds are paid by the client to UKCI and then paid by UKCI to the seller or a third party, UKCI acts as payment administrator for the client. The fact that funds pass through UKCI does not of itself make UKCI the seller of the vehicle.

The client is responsible for deciding whether to proceed with any vehicle.

The client confirms that:

a. they have selected or approved the vehicle before purchase;
b. they have had the opportunity to review the available advertisement, description, mileage, MOT/NCT equivalent information, photos, inspection report, service history and other available vehicle information;
c. they understand that used vehicles may have wear, age-related deterioration, cosmetic defects, prior repairs, replacement parts, maintenance requirements and future repair needs;
d. they understand that online descriptions, seller descriptions, auction reports and third-party reports may be incomplete or imperfect;
e. they are not relying on UKCI as the mechanical inspector or guarantor of the vehicle.

UKCI may provide guidance, valuation information, VRT estimates, market information or comments based on available material. Such guidance is not a guarantee of the vehicle’s condition, future reliability, NCT outcome, resale value or repair cost.

All vehicles sourced through UKCI are used vehicles unless expressly stated otherwise.

The client accepts that a used vehicle, particularly an older or higher-mileage vehicle, may require maintenance, repairs, servicing or replacement of wear-and-tear components after purchase.

Wear-and-tear items may include, without limitation:

a. tyres;
b. brakes;
c. suspension components;
d. shock absorbers;
e. control arms;
f. ball joints;
g. bushes;
h. track rods;
i. batteries;
j. charging cables;
k. lamps and bulbs;
l. seals;
m. air-conditioning components;
n. software updates;
o. infotainment issues;
p. cosmetic, trim or bodywork defects.

The client accepts that a vehicle may pass a UK MOT and still later require work to pass an Irish NCT or to meet the client’s personal expectations.

UKCI does not guarantee that a vehicle will pass an Irish NCT unless such guarantee is expressly given in writing by UKCI.

Where an inspection is requested, UKCI may arrange an inspection by a third-party mechanic, inspection company or platform.

The inspection is carried out by the third-party inspector, not by UKCI.

The scope of the inspection is determined by the inspection provider. Unless expressly stated otherwise, a pre-purchase inspection is a visual, road-test and non-invasive inspection. It is not a dismantling inspection, manufacturer diagnostic inspection, warranty inspection, forensic engineering report or guarantee that no fault exists.

The client accepts that an inspection may not identify:

a. intermittent faults;
b. latent defects;
c. internal component wear;
d. faults requiring dismantling;
e. faults requiring manufacturer-level diagnostics;
f. future failures;
g. defects not apparent at the time of inspection;
h. faults that arise after inspection;
i. issues concealed by the seller or not reasonably detectable during the inspection.

UKCI will use reasonable care in arranging an inspection provider where requested. However, UKCI does not accept responsibility for the independent professional judgment, omissions, errors or conclusions of a third-party inspector.

Any claim that an inspection was negligently performed should be directed to the inspection provider, mechanic or inspection company responsible for the report.

Where the client receives the inspection report, photographs or direct communication from the inspector and then confirms approval of the vehicle, the client accepts that they have decided to proceed based on the information available to them.

UKCI may reproduce or pass on information provided by sellers, auction houses, inspection companies, vehicle history providers, MOT records, valuation services, VRT sources, warranty providers or other third parties.

UKCI does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of third-party information unless UKCI expressly states otherwise in writing.

The client acknowledges that vehicle advertisements, service histories, MOT records, auction condition reports, seller warranties, photographs, specification lists, emissions data and mileage records are provided by third parties and may contain errors or omissions.

UKCI is not liable for inaccurate third-party information unless UKCI knew the information was false and failed to correct it, or unless UKCI failed to exercise reasonable care and skill in providing its own service.

A deposit may be required before UKCI acts on the client’s instruction.

The deposit may be used for some or all of the following:

a. reserving the vehicle;
b. arranging inspection;
c. paying third-party inspection fees;
d. administration;
e. exchange-rate costs;
f. seller deposit;
g. transport booking;
h. related costs.

Where a seller, garage, auction house or third party requires a non-refundable reservation payment, the client will be told where reasonably possible. If the client approves a non-refundable reservation payment, that amount may not be refundable if the client later decides not to proceed.

If a vehicle cannot be purchased, is withdrawn, exceeds the agreed budget, fails a material inspection issue, or becomes unavailable before purchase, any refundable balance of the deposit will be returned, less any third-party costs, inspection fees, exchange charges or agreed administrative charges already incurred.

The client must pay all amounts requested by UKCI before UKCI is obliged to complete the relevant step in the process.

UKCI is not obliged to pay a seller, reserve a vehicle, collect a vehicle, arrange transport, process VRT, release a vehicle, or complete registration until cleared funds have been received.

UKCI may receive client funds and pay sellers, garages, auction houses, transporters, customs agents, inspection providers, warranty providers, Revenue/NCTS or other third parties on the client’s behalf.

If exchange rates, bank fees, VRT, duty, VAT, NOx, transport, inspection, customs, registration or third-party costs change, the client remains responsible for the difference unless UKCI has expressly agreed a fixed price in writing.

Any VRT, NOx, VAT, duty, customs, emissions or registration figure quoted by UKCI before registration is an estimate unless expressly stated otherwise.

Final VRT and NOx are determined by Revenue/NCTS and may differ from the estimate.

The client is responsible for any increase in VRT, NOx, VAT, duty, customs charge, emissions charge, exchange-rate movement or other statutory charge.

UKCI is not liable for VRT or tax differences arising from Revenue/NCTS classification, statcode allocation, emissions data, CO2 conversion, NOx values, open market selling price, depreciation, vehicle version interpretation, or changes in Revenue practice.

If the final VRT or related charge is lower than estimated, any saving will be dealt with in accordance with the invoice or agreed pricing structure.

UKCI may arrange transport, recovery, shipping, delivery or collection using third-party transport providers.

Transport providers are independent third parties. UKCI is not the transport insurer, carrier or repairer unless expressly stated in writing.

The client accepts that transport and shipping involve risks including delay, port issues, weather delay, customs delay, accidental damage, loading damage, unloading damage, documentation delay and logistical disruption.

Where damage occurs during transport, UKCI will assist the client in notifying the transport provider and seeking a response. UKCI does not accept liability for transport-provider damage unless UKCI itself caused the damage or failed to exercise reasonable care and skill in arranging the transport service.

The client must inspect the vehicle at collection or delivery and notify UKCI immediately in writing of any visible transport damage or collection issue.

At collection or delivery, the client must inspect the vehicle as far as reasonably possible before accepting handover.

The client must notify UKCI immediately, and in any event within 24 hours, of any visible issue, warning light, dashboard message, delivery damage, missing item, document issue or material concern apparent at handover.

If the client drives or removes the vehicle after handover without reporting an issue that was reasonably apparent at handover, UKCI may treat the vehicle as accepted in relation to visible or apparent issues.

This clause does not remove any statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded, but it is intended to ensure prompt reporting and fair investigation of any issue.

UKCI does not provide a mechanical warranty unless a UKCI warranty product is expressly purchased and confirmed in writing.

Any third-party warranty, garage warranty, auction warranty, manufacturer warranty, extended warranty or insurance-backed warranty is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, claim procedure, authorisation requirements and limits of the warranty provider.

Where a vehicle is advertised by the seller as having a warranty, UKCI may assist in passing information to the seller or warranty provider. That does not make UKCI the warranty provider.

The client is responsible for reading and complying with all warranty terms, including any requirement for prior authorisation before repair, servicing requirements, mileage limits, claim limits, diagnostic procedures, excluded parts or approved repairer requirements.

If the client carries out or authorises repairs without warranty-provider approval, this may prejudice any warranty claim.

UKCI is not responsible for a warranty provider’s refusal, delay, exclusion, limit, claim handling, cancellation or interpretation of warranty terms.

UKCI is not obliged to pay for post-collection repairs unless UKCI has expressly accepted responsibility in writing.

If the client reports a post-collection issue, UKCI may, without admission of liability, assist by:

a. passing the issue to the seller;
b. contacting a warranty provider;
c. forwarding documents;
d. seeking a response from a third party;
e. giving administrative assistance.

Such assistance does not constitute an admission of liability, acceptance of warranty responsibility, acceptance that UKCI sold a defective vehicle, or agreement to pay repair costs.

The client must take reasonable steps to minimise loss. This may include obtaining more than one repair estimate, using an appropriate independent specialist, considering warranted reconditioned parts where reasonable, following warranty procedure, and avoiding unnecessary main-dealer costs where a proportionate repair route exists.

A main-dealer estimate is not automatically proof that the full amount is reasonable, necessary, recoverable or caused by any act or omission of UKCI.

UKCI is responsible for supplying its own service with reasonable care and skill.

UKCI is not responsible for:

a. the seller’s breach of contract;
b. mechanical failure after purchase or collection;
c. latent defects not reasonably apparent;
d. future reliability of the vehicle;
e. seller misdescription not known to UKCI;
f. inspection-provider errors;
g. warranty-provider decisions;
h. transport-provider damage, except where caused by UKCI’s own lack of reasonable care;
i. Revenue/NCTS decisions;
j. VRT/statcode/emissions differences;
k. manufacturer defects;
l. recall issues;
m. wear-and-tear items;
n. service history gaps not reasonably identifiable before purchase;
o. NCT failure after collection unless expressly guaranteed in writing;
p. main-dealer repair pricing where a reasonable alternative repair route exists.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or statutory rights that cannot be excluded.

Subject to the above, UKCI’s liability for any claim arising from its own service shall be limited to the amount of UKCI’s service fee for the relevant transaction, unless a higher limit is required by law.

UKCI shall not be liable for indirect loss, loss of profit, loss of use, loss of business, inconvenience, loss of opportunity, depreciation, finance cost, insurance cost, rental cost or consequential loss, except where such liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

The client is responsible for:

a. selecting or approving the vehicle;
b. reading all available reports, advertisements and documents;
c. deciding whether the vehicle is suitable;
d. obtaining independent advice where required;
e. approving any bid or purchase;
f. paying all amounts due;
g. providing accurate registration, PPSN, address, identity and import documents;
h. taxing and insuring the vehicle;
i. maintaining the vehicle after collection;
j. complying with warranty terms;
k. reporting any issue promptly;
l. minimising loss if a fault arises;
m. retaining invoices, diagnostic reports, removed parts and repair evidence if making a claim.

The client must not authorise repairs, dispose of removed parts, modify the vehicle, continue driving a potentially unsafe vehicle, or incur unnecessary repair costs where doing so may prejudice investigation, warranty or recovery from the seller.

By instructing UKCI to proceed, the client authorises UKCI to take reasonable steps to secure, reserve, bid for, purchase, administer, collect, import, register or arrange transport of the vehicle on the client’s behalf.

This may include:

a. paying a seller deposit;
b. paying the vehicle balance;
c. arranging an inspection;
d. instructing transport;
e. completing customs/VRT documentation;
f. communicating with Revenue/NCTS;
g. using UKCI, Focus Investments Limited, a UK entity or other administrative structure where reasonably required to complete the purchase/import process.

Any such administrative structure is used to facilitate the client’s purchase/import and does not alter the client-selected nature of the transaction unless expressly agreed in writing.

Title to the vehicle passes in accordance with the seller’s terms and applicable law.

UKCI may hold documents, keys, registration papers or possession of the vehicle until all amounts due to UKCI and third parties have been paid.

Risk in the vehicle passes to the client when the vehicle is purchased, collected from the seller, released to a transport provider, or otherwise treated as purchased under the seller’s terms, whichever occurs first, unless a different written arrangement applies.

Where the vehicle is in the custody of a third-party transport provider, port, shipping company, garage or storage provider, risk for events within that provider’s control rests with the relevant provider, subject to applicable law and insurance.

The client may cancel before UKCI has incurred costs or committed funds to a seller or third party.

Once UKCI has paid a seller deposit, arranged inspection, booked transport, purchased the vehicle, paid an auction fee, incurred exchange costs, paid third-party charges or otherwise acted on the client’s instruction, those costs may not be refundable.

Where the seller withdraws the vehicle, refuses sale, changes price, fails to supply documents, reveals material issues, or where the vehicle is not purchased, UKCI will return any refundable balance after deduction of agreed and incurred costs.

Where the client refuses to complete after authorising purchase, the client remains responsible for costs, losses, fees, resale losses, storage, transport, exchange-rate loss and any seller claim arising from the client’s withdrawal.

The client must collect or accept delivery of the vehicle promptly once notified that it is ready.

UKCI may charge reasonable storage, parking, insurance or administration fees where the client delays collection, fails to provide documents, fails to pay amounts due, or fails to cooperate with registration or release of the vehicle.

UKCI may retain the vehicle, keys or documents until all sums due have been paid.

Any complaint must be made in writing as soon as possible and must include:

a. the vehicle registration/VIN;
b. date of collection;
c. mileage at collection if known;
d. current mileage;
e. description of the issue;
f. warning lights or fault codes;
g. photos/videos where available;
h. diagnostic reports;
i. repair estimates;
j. warranty correspondence;
k. confirmation whether the vehicle is still being driven;
l. confirmation whether any parts have been removed or retained.

The client must give UKCI, the seller, warranty provider, inspector or transport provider a reasonable opportunity to inspect or respond before repairs are carried out, unless urgent safety repairs are required.

Where a claim relates to a third-party seller, warranty provider, mechanic, transport provider or other third party, UKCI may assist in forwarding information but does not assume liability by doing so.

If the client alleges a defect, failed component, non-genuine part, unsafe part, transport damage, inspection failure or warranty issue, the client must preserve relevant evidence where reasonably possible.

This includes retaining:

a. diagnostic reports;
b. repair invoices;
c. estimates;
d. proof of payment;
e. removed parts;
f. photographs;
g. correspondence with repairers;
h. warranty decisions;
i. NCT/MOT reports;
j. mileage records.

If the client disposes of parts, carries out repairs without notice, prevents inspection, or fails to preserve evidence, UKCI may dispute liability, causation, quantum and reasonableness of the claim.

UKCI may communicate with the client by email, WhatsApp, SMS, phone, website message, invoice note or other reasonable method.

Important notices should be sent by email to [email protected] unless UKCI gives another address.

Where legal, warranty or repair issues arise, UKCI may require all further communication to be by email so that a complete record is maintained.

No employee, agent, mechanic, driver, seller, transport provider, warranty provider or third party has authority to vary these Terms or give any guarantee on behalf of UKCI unless confirmed in writing by a director of UKCI.

No statement made orally, by WhatsApp, by advertisement, by third-party report or by seller communication shall override these Terms unless expressly confirmed in writing by UKCI.

UKCI may process the client’s personal data for the purpose of providing the service, including vehicle sourcing, payment administration, inspection coordination, transport, customs, VRT, registration, warranty administration, compliance, accounting and dispute handling.

UKCI may share relevant data with sellers, inspection providers, transport providers, customs agents, Revenue/NCTS, warranty providers, payment providers, professional advisers and other third parties where necessary to provide the service or comply with law.

UKCI is not liable for delay or failure caused by events outside its reasonable control, including seller delay, transport delay, shipping delay, port delay, customs delay, Revenue/NCTS delay, strikes, weather, system outages, documentation delay, third-party failure, vehicle recall, accident, illness, government action or force majeure events.

UKCI will take reasonable steps to minimise delay and keep the client informed where reasonably possible.

UKCI may use associated companies, UK entities, Irish entities, customs agents, transporters, mechanics, inspection platforms, warranty providers, payment providers or other third parties to complete the service.

The client agrees that UKCI may structure the transaction administratively in a reasonable manner to complete the purchase, export, import, VAT/duty treatment, registration or delivery of the vehicle.

This does not create any warranty by UKCI regarding the vehicle’s mechanical condition.

Vehicle listings, VRT estimates, NOx estimates, CO2 data, OMSP data, warranty summaries, transport estimates, delivery timelines, service-history summaries and vehicle specifications shown on the website are provided for guidance only and may depend on third-party data.

UKCI makes reasonable efforts to keep information accurate but does not guarantee that all third-party vehicle data is complete, current or error-free.

The client must satisfy themselves that the vehicle, specification, emissions data, warranty position, service history and condition meet their requirements before approving purchase.

All website content, pricing tools, VRT calculations, written material, guides, processes, branding, documents and other intellectual property produced by UKCI remain the property of UKCI unless otherwise agreed.

The client may use documents provided by UKCI for their own vehicle transaction but may not copy, publish, resell or exploit UKCI material for commercial purposes.

If any clause of these Terms is found to be invalid, unfair, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining clauses shall continue to apply so far as legally permitted.

Any invalid clause shall be interpreted, where possible, in a way that gives effect to the commercial intention of the clause while complying with applicable law.

These Terms are governed by the laws of Ireland.

Subject to any consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded, the Irish courts shall have jurisdiction in relation to disputes involving UKCI’s services.

These Terms, together with the invoice, client authority, quotation, inspection report, warranty election, VRT estimate, written correspondence and any signed client documents, set out the basis on which UKCI provides its service.

The client confirms they have not relied on any statement, representation, warranty or promise not recorded in writing by UKCI.

Nothing in this clause excludes liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

By paying a deposit, authorising a bid or purchase, paying an invoice, submitting documents for registration, or collecting the vehicle, the client confirms:

1. I selected or approved the vehicle before purchase.
2. I understand UKCI provides a sourcing/import administration service.
3. I understand the vehicle purchase contract is with the seller unless UKCI expressly states otherwise in writing.
4. I understand UKCI does not provide a mechanical warranty unless separately purchased and confirmed in writing.
5. I understand any third-party inspection is independent and limited in scope.
6. I understand used vehicles may have wear, age-related deterioration and future repair needs.
7. I understand VRT, NOx, VAT, duty and registration costs may differ from estimates.
8. I agree to these Terms and Conditions.