Should I import a car via Ireland to Spain from the North?

Hi,

We are moving to Spain and thinking about buying a car from NI. Is it better to first register it in ROI and then transfer it to Spanish registration or directly registering it in Spain? There might be a problem in Spain as the car was not in use by us for six months. Also, does the same exemption apply to VAT as it does to ROI with the vehicle being in NI private use from before 2020 Brexit?

Albert Valentyn (Knock)

Jun 2025 Filed under: importing

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Expert answer

Hi Albert,

The only way you could benefit from importing the car to Ireland first is to then keep the car here and use if for at least six months before moving to Spain. This would then allow you to bring the car with you as your personal possession without any other taxation. Obviously you would have to pay VRT and the NOx levy on importation to Ireland.

If you don't have that timeframe to work with, it's just as easy to bring a car straight from Northern Ireland to Spain as you'll be going through the rigmarole of reregistering it just once and you can't avoid the tax that the Spanish authorities will place on it regardless.

If the car has been used in Northern Ireland – and you'll need paperwork to prove it – then yes, it should be exempt from VAT on importation to Spain (or Ireland). That is of course assuming we are talking about a car not considered to be new.

One final thing: are you happy to drive a right-hand-drive car on the 'wrong' side of the road in Spain? It will be difficult to sell on in the future there.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Advisor