What documents do I need to show a car was owned in NI?
If importing a car from NI, I see the previous owner from NI must own it a reasonable time. What is that, two months plus?
Also what docs from him will I need?
Thank you
Mahmood HussainOct 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Mahmood,
Assuming you mean to avoid having to pay VAT and import duty:
In short, the "reasonable amount of time" has not been defined by Revenue, which says it will take each import on a case-by-case basis. But it's not about the previous owner having the car for that time, it's about the car being in use in Northern Ireland for that time, so if a 2010 car, for example, was registered new in NI, but the latest owner only had it a day before selling it to you, that does not matter.
Any documents you can get relating to the car's registration or importation into NI would be good, though the car's MOT history seems to be a good way to prove where it was in use as well.
Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Advisor