Who am I supposed to believe on V-plates?

Sir,
I have sympathy with Geoffrey Smith’s view (letters, May 25) that V-plate “advice from customs was available” in plenty of time to avoid knee-jerk reaction. However, this advice was not crystal clear – and appeared to vary. In desperation, I went to Nicosia and took the highest advice open to me.

Until January 2004, I ran an offshore company based in Limassol. I enjoyed the privilege of a 3000cc duty free motor car. As I had lived on the island for eight years, own my home in the town, and have a daughter married to a Cypriot, I decided to retire here.

The removal of my employment status required me to change the ownership of the car to my own name – and pay £28,000 in duty and extra VAT. I was not allowed to register as a V-plate. After exhaustive investigation, I was assured that retired aliens were no longer allowed a duty free car. If they have one, they can keep it. When they sell or transfer ownership it must be exported or pay the appropriate duty – and they are not allowed another duty free car to replace it.

My luxury car is now a thing of the past. It was traded in (and almost certainly exported) in favour of a duty paid model with an engine capacity that does not require me to sell up and leave. To add insult to injury, I had to pay Cyprus domestic road tax to put it in a duty free bonded area.

If Mr Smith is correct, I have been misinformed by my solicitor, various car dealerships and the Customs Department. Arriving retired aliens be warned.
CP, Limassol

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