What if a Northern Irish owner never properly registered the car?

Hey,

A car has come up for sale in the North but the owner did not register it in the North when he brought it over from GB - he lives in the north. If I bought it and brought it south, do I have to pay all the customs and VAT along with VRT or is it still just VRT?

Dean (Dublin)

Mar 2025 Filed under: importing

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Expert answer

Hi Dean,

If the car was not imported into the North properly then you may well be liable for custom duties and VAT as well as VRT. You need to determine whether it is considered to be a Northern Ireland vehicle or a GB import.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Advisor