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Can a NI car dealer sell a car VAT-free to an Irish buyer?
Hi,
I was just reading your article Guide to Importing a Car from Northern Ireland, and I have a question about UK VAT.
Here's the hypothetical situation: a customer in the Republic identifies a car online in the North, priced at £30k. Now, this price includes UK VAT of £6k (20 per cent). Can that car be sold to the customer in the Republic for £24k?
I understand there is VRT to be paid upon import but no Irish VAT. But I'm just not sure on the UK VAT element of the equation.
Thanks a lot
Alan Furlong (Dublin)
Sep 2025 Filed under: importing
Is it easy to bring my car with me moving from NI to ROI?
I bought a car in N.I. just two years ago. I am now planning to live in the Republic of Ireland. Any advice please on bringing the car with me and registering it in R.O.I.?
Many thanks
John Hone (Tyrone)
Sep 2025 Filed under: importing
How to register my off-the-road Defender in Ireland?
I moved to Ireland in 2016 and came with a 1990 Defender County (12 seats). This developed problems at the end of the journey (gearbox) and I declared it off road in the UK and it has been parked up ever since. What would be required in order to register it in Ireland? It would require a chassis and bulkhead at minimum to be road legal.
Iain (Co Cork)
Sep 2025 Filed under: importing
I'm going to register my UK vehicles at a friend's in the North...
Hi,
I have a 1991 Lotus Elan 1600 SE, bought for £8,000 sterling in June 2024. It's on mainland UK plates but eventually I wish to get it ROI registered. I have a colleague who lives in NI who is happy for me to register the car in his name and address for as many months as needed to comply with the Windsor protocol.
How do I go about doing this and what UK customs forms do I need to have in addition to the V5, a new NI MOT etc? I also wish to do similar with a 2017 motorhome I'm considering buying.
Chris Hayward (Kinsale Cork)
Sep 2025 Filed under: importing
Where to get NOx data for a Japanese VW T-Roc?
I am working on importing a car from Japan. I'm looking at a 2022 Volkswagen T-Roc 2.0 diesel. Code is 3DA-A1DFF. The exact car code (3DA-A1DFF) shows up on a VRT check on ROS, therefore someone has previously imported one from Japan.
Where can I get NOx data as this figure would be crucial when importing a diesel T-Roc? I am finding it difficult to get NOx data for this model from the Japanese MLIT website. Will Volkswagen Europe provide this information for me, and will this be acceptable for VRT purposes?
I look forward to hearing from you.
James (Dublin )
Sep 2025 Filed under: importing
How much to bring my car with me moving to the UK?
Hi,
I am currently looking to move to the UK and bring my car with me. I was wondering if I would be able to get a rough estimate on how much it would cost to change my car from Irish plates to UK plates?
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards,
Michael Stanley
Sep 2025 Filed under: importing
Will I only pay VRT on a 2023 Honda Civic imported from NI?
If I buy a 2023 Honda Civic that was registered in Northern Ireland from new will I just pay VRT?
Shane (Dublin )
Sep 2025 Filed under: importing
How much to import a 2022 MG5 from the North?
Hi,
I'm looking at buying in Northern Ireland, a 2022 MG5 61.1kWh Exclusive Long Range with 22,000 miles on the clock for £13,000. It was previously owned in N.I. What can I expect to pay in VRT, VAT and other import charges?
Thanks
Sean Mullins (Claregalway, Co. Galway.)
Sep 2025 Filed under: importing
Would I pay VAT and duty on an ex-demo car from the North?
If I import a demo vehicle from a garage in Northern Ireland registered in the garage's name, do I pay VAT and customs duty?
John Griffin (Dublin)
Aug 2025 Filed under: importing
How to get CO2 emissions of a VW Up imported from Japan?
I have imported a VW Up from Japan. Revenue wants the CO2 and NOx confirmed by the Japanese Ministry of Transport. I have the website address of the Japanese Ministry, but I cannot find the emissions section. Have you any advice?
Martin Fallon (Leopardstown, Dublin)
Aug 2025 Filed under: importing
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