Importing a car from UK to Ireland 2021 - Steps Involved & Calculations

Q: Is it worth importing a car from the UK?

Importing cars from the UK to Ireland can be valuable, even lucrative, provided you understand all the costs up front. Prior to Brexit you just needed to account for VRT. Now you also need to account from Customs Duty and VAT . In some cases even with these taxes included it is still work importing a car from the UK, in other cases it makes cars from the UK more expensive. Our handy UK Car Import Costs Calculator can help give you the full picture of costs.

Posted16th February 2019

Last Updated On29th August 2024

Byvrtmanager

UK Car Import Services in Ireland

VRT Ireland is your ideal choice for independent Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and customs declarations, including importing a car from UK to Ireland. For clients buying cars from Northern Ireland and Great Britain, much has changed since Brexit came into effect on 1 January 2021.

For this reason, it’s imperative that importers abide by all of the current regulations regarding customs declarations, VRT, VAT, and NOx levies to ensure that their vehicle is imported from the UK to Ireland smoothly and without undue delay. Our team can assist you every step of the way and process all documentation professionally on your behalf.

Importing a Car from the UK to Ireland;

Steps Involved:

Please note, as a result of Brexit, vehicles may be subject to 10% customs duty and 23% VAT (see below).

1. Finding the right car.

There are literally thousands and thousands of new and used cars for sale online in a large variety of locations. These include large used car sites, car supermarkets, car auctions, car dealers, and many more. The biggest piece of advice when looking at importing a car from UK to Ireland I would give is to shop around and also look out for rogue private car sellers posing as car dealers and illegitimate sellers just trying to grab your hard-earned cash.

2. Estimate how much the car will cost:

To read an article with details of costs of importing a car from UK to Ireland click here

You may be required to pay customs duty and VAT (see below).

3. Do a history check:

A history check will confirm the details of the car, year of manufacture, date of first registration, number of previous owners, etc.

In addition it will also identify whether this vehicle is subject to:

Outstanding finance

A current police interest

Has been registered as an insurance write-off

Any registration plate changes

A former taxi

4. Get the vehicle inspected:

Consider this an optional step, but if you want piece of mind it is often a good idea to get the vehicle you wish to buy inspected by a professional. Many companies provide different levels of inspection at different costs.

5. Purchase the car:

Do your bargaining and purchase the car.

6. Collect the car:

There are two options when it comes to collecting a car from the UK.

(i) Get it delivered: there are lorries travelling between the UK and Ireland regularly offering delivery services.

(ii) Collect it yourself: this obviously involves flying or travelling to the UK by ferry and returning by ferry. Unless the car is near the coast, it is probably easier to book a cheap flight with a low fairs airline to the airport closest to the cars location and book the ferry home. You may also need to consider booking a nights accommodation to split the journey or if flight times don’t suit. It’s also worth asking the seller to collect you at the airport as many small sellers would be more than willing to do this.

7. Customs and VAT

VAT
If you import a vehicle from UK to Ireland you are required to pay VAT. Currently VAT is charges at 23%.

Customs Duty
If you import a vehicle from Great Britain into Ireland you must complete a customs declaration.
If you import a vehicle from UK to Ireland Customs Duty is 0% if the vehicle originated in the UK.
If you import a vehicle from UK to Ireland Customs Duty is 10% if the vehicle originated outside the UK, e.g. a EU country or a third country like USA, Japan.

8. Register the car:

Make an appointment to have your vehicle inspected at an NCT centre within 7 days of the vehicle entering the State in order to register and pay the VRT (and any other tax liabilities due on the vehicle)within 30 days of the vehicle entering the State .

9. Purchase and display new registration plates:

10. Pay your motor tax:

Once you have registered the car, you need to pay your motor tax.

More information can be found here

Our Services

Customs Declarations/Agent ServicesVRT CalculatorUK Car Import Costs CalculatorCar History CheckingUK Foreign Exchange

Completing a customs declaration for UK imports to Ireland such as vehicles is a complex task, and one that requires specialist customs knowledge, customs software as well as the ability to understand EU customs standards. Failure to submit a customs declaration will mean a vehicle cannot be registered in Ireland and in some cases, seizure of the vehicle. We provide complete customs declarations services to make the process far less of a hassle. See Page – customs declarations

How much Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) will you need to pay to import a vehicle from the UK? Find out with our handy VRT Calculators, complete with detailed reports. We offer calculators for various duties, fees, and tariffs, including customs duties, VRT, VAT, and NOx Emissions Levies. See Page – VRT Calculators

Estimate the total costs, in detail, of your vehicle(s) from the UK using our handy UK Car Import Costs Calculator tool. From customs duties to VAT owed, it’s imperative that you pay just the right amount for any imported vehicles from the UK. Our car import calculator provides an estimation of how much of each you are liable to pay during the customs declaration process. See Page – UK Car Import Costs Calculator

Have you verified the history of the vehicle you wish to import from the UK? Taking the seller’s word for it isn’t a good idea. Instead, purchase and import with confidence by performing an extensive car history check through our partners at MotorCheck. Their Car History Checking services provide a detailed overview of the vehicle’s history, such as mileage, previous owners, VINs, and more. See Page – Car History Checking

Our partners at TransferMate have established a reputation as a leading provider of fast, secure, and affordable foreign exchange transactions such as UK Foreign Exchange for imported vehicles. Their transaction fees for currencies such as the Euro and Pound Sterling are far closer to market rates than what most banks or financial institutions offer. See Page – UK Foreign Exchange

Customs Declarations/Agent Services

VRT Calculator

UK Car Import Costs Calculator

Car History Checking

UK Foreign Exchange

Why Work with Us?

Reliability

We are Ireland’s leading team for VRT and customs declarations for cars imported from the UK. You can depend on the professional expertise of our team to reliably import vehicles with minimal chances of customs issues. Take advantage of our services and start importing vehicles from the UK today.

Customer Service

We are committed to providing each and every client we work with a bespoke, comprehensive service from start to finish. No matter whether you’re importing a personal automobile from the UK or a fleet of company vehicles, you can rely on our top-notch customer service.

Vast Experience

Our team has a wealth of experience when it comes to importing vehicles from the UK. Before 2021, few Irish car importers had to worry much about customs declarations. The changes have come hard and fast, and our team have the expertise to make the process smooth and hassle-free.


Reliability	Customer Service	Vast Experience
We are Ireland’s leading team for VRT and customs declarations for cars imported from the UK. You can depend on the professional expertise of our team to reliably import vehicles with minimal chances of customs issues. Take advantage of our services and start importing vehicles from the UK today.	We are committed to providing each and every client we work with a bespoke, comprehensive service from start to finish. No matter whether you’re importing a personal automobile from the UK or a fleet of company vehicles, you can rely on our top-notch customer service.	Our team has a wealth of experience when it comes to importing vehicles from the UK. Before 2021, few Irish car importers had to worry much about customs declarations. The changes have come hard and fast, and our team have the expertise to make the process smooth and hassle-free.

Importing a car from UK to Ireland – FAQs

Is it worth importing a car from the UK?

Importing cars from the UK to Ireland can be valuable, even lucrative, provided you understand all the costs up front. Prior to Brexit you just needed to account for VRT. Now you also need to account from Customs Duty and VAT . In some cases even with these taxes included it is still work importing a car from the UK, in other cases it makes cars from the UK more expensive. Our handy UK Car Import Costs Calculator can help give you the full picture of costs.

How to import a car from the UK to Ireland?

As of 1 January 2021 with regards to the Brexit, the process of importing a vehicle from the UK into Ireland has become complex. From sourcing the vehicle to completing all of the background history checks, completing the customs declaration, and paying the appropriate customs duties and levies, it’s best to get in touch with us at VRT Ireland for professional services. Additionally please consult the detailed information we have provided on our website.

How much is it to import a car from the UK to Ireland?

The cost of importing a car from the UK to Ireland depends largely on the price of the vehicle itself as well as its country of origin. If the vehicle was manufactured in the UK, the customs duty is currently (as of 2021) 0%. If the vehicle was manufactured elsewhere, the customs duty is currently 10%. Furthermore, importers must also pay Value-Added-Tax (VAT) of 23%, Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), and a NOx Emissions Levy. In order to estimate the costs of importing a car from the UK to Ireland, we recommend you use our reliable UK to Ireland cost calculator.

Do I pay VAT on an imported car from the UK?

Yes. All vehicles imported from the UK into the Republic of Ireland are now subject to Value-Added-Tax (VAT). Previously, vehicles imported from the UK into Ireland were subject to VAT provided they were considered to be new (less than six months old at the time of registration) and have accumulated less than 6,000 km. As of March 2021, current VAT rates in the Republic of Ireland are 23%

Is it cheaper to import a car from the UK?

Before Brexit came into effect on 1 January 2021, it was almost always cheaper to import a vehicle from the UK into Ireland, all other things held constant. Now, it is less lucrative than before, but there are still many deals to be had, depending on currency fluctuations between the Pound Sterling and the Euro and the specific vehicle being imported.

Steps Involved in Importing a Car from the UK to Ireland. was last modified: August 29th, 2024 by vrtmanager

Steps Involved in Importing a Car from the UK to Ireland.