Do I pay UK tax on a car before importing?

If a car has outstanding tax from the previous owner in the UK, will this need to be paid before importing it to Ireland?

Laza R (Dublin)

Jul 2016 Filed under: importing

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Expert answer

Hi Lorna,

Do you mean motor tax or purchase tax? If purchase tax (VAT basically) then yes – the VAT must be paid before or when it’s imported. If it’s motor tax, then no. It would help if the car has been declared as legally off the road by the previous owner, and obviously you can’t drive it across the UK to a ferry port to bring it here (you’ll have to put it on a trailer), but the Irish authorities won’t be bothered if it comes in with no tax as long as you pay your VRT properly and then tax it here. Unpaid UK road tax is an issue for the UK authorities and the previous owner.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe