All the information you need to import a vehicle to Ireland.

Introduction

If you are moving to Ireland, and you want to bring your vehicle with you. You have to register it in Ireland and you may have to pay additional charges and taxes.
If you already live in Ireland and want to purchase a vehicle from another country, you will need to check the extra costs that are involved in registering and taxing the car in Ireland.
In this article, you will find plenty of information that will guide you on the process to import a vehicle to Ireland.

Import a vehicle to Ireland from the UK

You have to pay:

• A custom duty if the vehicle is arriving from the UK and not Great Britain
• VRT when the vehicle is registered (unless it is exempt)
• VAT on all new cars, and on used cars imported from the UK (including cars imported to Northern Ireland from Great Britain)

If you are buying a vehicle from Northern Ireland which was previously registered in the Great Britain, you should make sure that you get documents to show that customs duties were paid on arrival into Northern Ireland.

Customs declarations and duties:

Under the agreement between the UK and the EU, items that were registered originally in the UK can be exported to the EU without customs duties.
But the rules from the country of origin are tricky, and even new vehicles bought from the Great Britain may be liable to pay custom charges if, for example, the vehicle was imported into the Great Britain from another country before being sold.

Northern Ireland continues to be treated as part of the EU under the trade agreement. This means vehicles imported from Great Britain to Northern Ireland have to go through customs and may have customs duties applied to them.

If you import a vehicle from Great Britain, you must make a customs declaration:

• If the vehicle’s country of origin is the UK, you don’t need to pay customs duty (if it is a new vehicle). Customs charges apply only to all used cars imported from Great Britain.
• If the vehicle’s country of origin is the EU or a third country, you have to pay customs duty (10% of the value of the vehicle plus the cost of shipping it)

If you purchased a vehicle from Northern Ireland, you don’t need to do the customs declaration. But you need to prove it was made when the vehicle arrived to Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

VAT:

You have to pay this on all used and new cars imported from the Great Britain. If you buy a vehicle in Northern Ireland, you only need to pay the VAT in Ireland if the car is new (an extra VAT could apply if the vehicle was not properly imported to Northern Ireland)

VAT charge is 23%

VRT and registration:

VRT and registration are very important when you import a vehicle to Ireland.

You need to register your vehicle within 30 days and pay for the VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) unless the vehicle is exempt.

You have to register the vehicle at the National Car Test (NCT) center. To do that, you have to book an appointment online or by phone to 01-4135975. Before taking your vehicle for registration, you must register the certificate of conformity with Revenue.

Documentation required to register the vehicle:

• The completed Vehicle Purchase Details (VRTVPD2 form) if the car is for private use.
• The vehicle’s logbook (also called V5C)
• The Certificate of conformity (for new vehicles)
• An invoice with the date of purchase
• Proof of your name and address
• Proof of your identity
• Proof of your PPS number
• An exemption certificate issued by Revenue if you are claiming for an exemption from VRT

Foreign registration documents:

Most used cars imported into the State are bought in the United Kingdom (UK). It is essential that you get the UK registration certificate (the V5C), when you are buying your vehicle in the UK.

Motor tax, NCT and insurance:

You have to pay for the motor tax and the vehicle may need a National Car Testing Certificate and you need to have a motor insurance to drive in Ireland.

You might be interested in: The best guide: How to import a vehicle to the UK from day 1

Import a vehicle to Ireland from the EU

If you want to import a vehicle to Ireland from the EU, you need to:

• Register the vehicle
• Pay VRT (unless you are exempt)
• Pay VAT (unless the vehicle is exempt)
• Get a motor insurance

VAT:

If you want to import a vehicle from another EU country, you have to pay VAT (Value Added Tax), usually when registering the car. A new car means that it has been in service for 6 months or less, or has been driven for 6,000 Kilometers or fewer.
For example:

• The vehicle is 5 months old with 8,000 km – Pays VAT
• The vehicle is 7 months old with 5,000 km – Pays VAT
• The vehicle is 7 months old with 8,000 km – Doesn’t pay VAT

The VAT is mandatory, even if you paid for it in the original country.

NCT:

If the vehicle is 4 years older or more, you need to have it tasted by the National Car Testing Service.

Foreign registration documents

You should not purchase a vehicle you intend to import to Ireland unless you can get the accompanying foreign registration documents.
You should not return a vehicle’s registration documents in full to other States before registration in Ireland is completed. If you do not present the relevant Foreign Registration Certificate, registration will be refused.

Import a vehicle to Ireland from outside the EU

If you want to import a vehicle to Ireland from outside the EU, you have to:

• Pay a customs duty
• Register the vehicle
• Pay VRT (unless you are exempt)
• Pay VAT (unless the vehicle is exempt)
• Pay motor tax
• Get motor insurance

A customs charge must be paid when the vehicle enters the EU (including Ireland) or Northern Ireland.

Vat charge is 23%

Vehicle Registration Tax

This is a tax you have to pay when you first register the vehicle in Ireland.
The VRT is paid at the National Car Testing Service center (NCTS) where an inspector examines the vehicle to make sure you are paying the correct VRT.

How to register your vehicle

When you import a vehicle to Ireland you need to register it, here is the step by step.

• You need to book an appointment with the NCTS within the 7 days of the car’s arrival to Ireland (the registration must be completed within the first 30 days)
• The vehicle should have an electronic Certificate of Conformity (e-CoC) before the registration. If you have the physical version, you need to input the information manually onto the Revenue system.
• You need a PPS number (Personal Public Service Number)
• Proof of identity (example: Passport or Driver’s license)
• And other required documentation (you can check that clicking here)
• You need the relevant Foreign Registration Certificate (If you do not have it, registration of the vehicle in Ireland will be refused)
• You also need the VIN (or Frame number)

Once the vehicle has been registered and the VRT paid, you will get:

• A receipt for the VRT paid that shows the registration number assigned to your vehicle. You must display the registration number within 3 days. You can get the vehicle registration plates from the NCTS center or any motor accessories’ dealer.
• The form RF100, which is used when you pay motor tax (first you need to insure the vehicle)

Vehicle registration plates

When you register and pay the VRT, a registration number will be assigned to your car. You must display the registration number within 3 days.
You are committing an offense if you fail to display the new registration number. The vehicle registration plates are gotten from the NCTS center or any motor accessories’ dealer.