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Looking to import a 1979 motor bike from the UK.
Hi,
I am thinking about buying a vintage motorbike from the UK but having trouble working out the import charges. It's a 1979 bike so I believe this is exempt from paying VRT but not sure if I will need to pay VAT or any other customs charges once I have transported it over?
The bike is £1,500. Would you be able to advise me?
Thanks
Gill D (Roscommon )
Oct 2025 Filed under: importing
Can I bring a motorhome through the North to England?
I have a UK-reg motorhome with a logbook at an English address; I'm looking at how I can move the car to Portugal through NI to reduce import duties in Portugal.
Luke Boylan (Newquay)
Dec 2025 Filed under: importing
Any issues importing a Japanese 'Kei' truck to Ireland?
I'm looking to purchase and import a second-hand 'Kei' truck from Japan into Ireland. Do you know of any compliance issues that may impact my ability to register the vehicle in Ireland?
Paul (Cork)
Dec 2025 Filed under: importing
Wondering is it worth importing a VW Tiguan PHEV?
Hi,
I have a question related to importing a car from the UK. I have read your guide and it's very informative.
I am trying to work out how much it will cost me to import a 2025 VW Tiguan 1.5 PHEV basic spec model from England. It would be more than six months old and have about 15,000km on the clock.
How much would the price difference be depending on if it was from the UK mainland or NI and is there a decent saving to be made compared to buying one from a garage here?
I see many Irish VW garages are selling 2025 used imported UK cars on their forecourts so I'm presuming there is value to be had by importing.
Many thanks
Dillon (Kildare)
Dec 2025 Filed under: importing
Any import charges on importing this ex-demo EV from NI?
Hi,
I am looking into importing a car from NI. I read your article and it was very helpful on this. I wanted to confirm, if I get a car from a NI dealer that was used as a demo car and has greater than 6,000km and was registered by the dealer in NI over six months ago, does it qualify for being VAT exempt?
Also if I read correctly, there is no customs charge or other import charges, is that correct? Obviously VRT will need to be paid, although from using the VRT calculator on Revenue website, it appears to be zero as it is an electric car.
San S (Dublin)
Dec 2025 Filed under: importing
Can I change a car's value after it has been customs cleared?
Hi, I have imported five cars from Japan into Ireland.
For these cars, I was issued with two different invoices by the seller. One invoice showed higher values for all five cars, while a second invoice showed the correct purchase prices.
Unfortunately, due to my own mistake, I sent the higher-value invoice to my customs agent, and the cars were cleared through Customs using that incorrect invoice. The vehicles have now been released.
I now have the correct invoice, proof of bank transfer for the actual amounts paid, and auction hammer price documentation.
Is it possible to resubmit the correct documents and request a revaluation or refund of any overpaid customs charges based on the true purchase prices?
Umair Rasool (Ballinasloe)
Dec 2025 Filed under: importing
Can I import my cousin's car VAT and duty free?
Hi there,
My cousin bought a 2020 car from the UK and lives in Northern Ireland. He has owned the car for six months and is looking to now sell it. Can I buy this car from him and import it into the Republic without paying duty or VAT?
Ian Ockenden (Dublin)
Oct 2025 Filed under: importing
Are there savings on importing a UK-made car?
Can I buy a UK-manufactured car in the UK for importing into Ireland? And what are the savings versus a non-UK-manufactured car?
Frank
Oct 2025 Filed under: importing
Can I import a Northern Irish car from England without VAT?
I've seen a car in the UK for sale and it's on Northern Ireland plates; can I import it into the Republic of Ireland without paying VAT?
Justin Corrigan (Kildalkey)
Nov 2025 Filed under: importing
What taxes on importing a nearly-new van from the North?
Hi,
If I buy a nearly new van in NI (more than 3,500kg), I assume if it is more than six months old and/or it has more than 6,000 miles on the clock I will be paying VAT to the NI dealer but saving on any customs duty? I am buying for private not commercial use.
Keith Cunningham (Dublin)
Nov 2025 Filed under: importing
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