What taxes to pay importing a 2016 Citroen Berlingo van from the North?

If I bring in a 2016 Citroen Berlingo van from Northern Ireland, how much will I pay to import it?

Tommy (Donegal )

May 2026 Filed under: importing

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Expert answer

Hi Tommy,

Assuming it is a normal 2016 Citroen Berlingo van that has been registered and used in Northern Ireland, you should not have to pay customs duty or Irish VAT, but you will have to pay VRT when registering it here.

The VRT will usually be based on Revenue's OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) for the van rather than what you paid for it. For most 2016 diesel Berlingo vans, I'd expect the rate to be 13.3 per cent of the OMSP, so probably somewhere in the region of €800-€1,200 depending on the exact model, mileage and condition.

Before buying, make sure the V5C shows NI registration/keeper history and check that it has an NI MOT/test history. If it was only brought into Northern Ireland from Great Britain by a dealer and was not previously in use in NI, Revenue may look for Windsor Framework/customs documentation, and the costs and paperwork could change significantly, potentially meaning you'd also have to pay VAT and import duty.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Advisor