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How much to import a 2015 Defender - not a commercial?

Hi,

I am looking to import a Defender 110 from Northern Ireland, cost is £32,000. It's a 2015 and has 38,000 miles on the clock. And it's not a commercial vehicle. What charges would I expect to pay VRT etc. and what would I pay in tax, as it's a 2.2L diesel.

Many thanks

Paul Moore (Kildare)

Mar 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

As a passenger vehicle, the VRT cost will depend on the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) and the VRT band. The latter is determined by the CO2 rating, which for that model means the highest with emissions of well over 191g/km. VRT is therefore 41 per cent of the OMSP.

Unfortunately, the OMSP is nothing to do with the price you pay for the car. It's the figure Revenue believes the car to be worth in Ireland. That's not very easy to guess at for a rare model such as the Defender. For the purposes of our calculations let's assume it's €40,000, but you may know Irish values of these cars better so adjust the figures accordingly.

At an OMSP of €40,000, the VRT alone would be €16,400.

You will also have to pay the NOx levy on top of that. This can be up to €4,850 for diesel models and unfortunately the Defender is likely to attract the top value.

Assuming the Defender was imported into Northern Ireland and used there by someone (i.e. not just a car dealer), then you should not be liable for VAT or customs duty, but you will need to be able to prove its status to Revenue when importing it.

Motor tax in Ireland will be at the top rate of €2,400 per year.

A few useful guides for you:

Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained
Guide to Importing a Car from Northern Ireland
How Much VRT is Paid in Ireland?


Should I buy a diesel Hyundai Tucson?

I was thinking of buying a 2023 Hyundai Tucson 1.6 diesel, but I have been warned from many people to avoid it as there are too many faults with them. Is this true and if so, can you suggest something like the Tucson that might be a better fit?

Michael Molloy (Kildare)

Mar 2025 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

You'll find someone somewhere that has had an issue with nearly every car on sale, but the Hyundai Tucson in general has been very reliable and we'd not hesitate in recommending it. The Kia Sportage is based on the same mechanicals, and it has the same strong reputation. If you're not set on diesel, you could consider the dependable Toyota RAV4 instead, or the Nissan Qashqai e-Power for that matter.

Come back to us with your budget and annual mileage if you want us to help you narrow your search.


Can I check if an AA-approved dealer is genuine?

I am buying a 2012 Renault Clio from an AA-approved dealer. Can I be sure dealer is genuine?

OBroin (Kildare, Ireland.)

Mar 2025 Filed under: history

Expert answer

Hi there,

Go to the AA Approved Car Network and search by car or location to see if you can find the dealer you are dealing with. Aside from that we'd recommend you carry out a car history check on the registation of the car you are interested in. And make sure you physically visit the dealer's premises to discuss and see the car before you pay out a deposit.


Do I pay VAT and customs duty on a 2018 Peugeot from the North?

If I were to import a 2018 Peugeot 308 from Northern Ireland, would I have to pay VAT and/or customs duty? Have looked at several websites but can't get a clear picture. Any help greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Paschal Houlihan (Limerick)

Mar 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Paschal,

You can avoid VAT and import/custom duties completely if the car was imported into the North and then used there by someone (i.e. not just imported by a car dealer to sell on) or indeed if it was registered in Northern Ireland when new. You will need to have paperwork to prove this to Revenue on import to the south. And of course you will have to pay VRT and the NOx levy regardless.


Can I change a car's screen for a smaller one?

I don't like screens like large tablets stuck on the dashboard; I like a minimalist look, such as that of the Mazda3 hatchback, though I've had five different examples of the Ford Focus over my 'long life'! If I go for a 2021 or 2022 car can I get the relatively small screen changed to an even smaller one?

Frank Dodd (Dublin)

Mar 2025 Filed under: infotainment

Expert answer

Hi Frank,

That won't be very easy to do, and would likely be quite expensive as well. We wouldn't recommend it.


Can I change the county on an Irish reg?

Hi,

Can you change a car reg in Ireland? E.g. from say a Cork to Dublin reg?

John Glennon (Dublin)

Mar 2025 Filed under: registration

Expert answer

Hi John,

I'm afraid the answer is a simple no, that's not possible. 


Any extra tax exporting a salvage car from NI to the UK?

Hi,

I'm buying a used salvage Volvo car from Northern Ireland and there's a 20 per cent VAT charge levied upon the sale. Will there be any other charges that I should be aware of when transporting the car to the UK?

Bill (London)

Mar 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Bill,

Just check when the car arrived in Northern Ireland first, and from where. If it was imported from the EU after Brexit then there may be consequences, but otherwise no.


VRT on a 2007 Porsche 911 imported?

Hi,

How much would VRT on a 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 with 100,000 miles on the clock be?

Guy Eddies (Roscommon )

Mar 2025 Filed under: VRT

Expert answer

Hi Guy,

It’s never easy to estimate the VRT on rare cars such as this, primarily because the calculation relies on what Revenue deems the car to be worth registered in Ireland. That’s referred to as the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price), and it’s very difficult to predict what value it will place on a rare model such as that Porsche. Let’s take it to be €50,000 for our calculations, but you need to be prepared for a drastically different number from Revenue.

That car’s high CO2 emissions will place it in the highest band for VRT, at 41 per cent of the OMSP, so that works out as €20,500.


How much is the new KGM Actyon in Ireland?

How much is the new KGM Actyon in Ireland?

Sean Farrell (Athlone )

Mar 2025 Filed under: new car ordering

Expert answer

Hi Sean,

I'm afraid we don't yet have any pricing information on the car in Ireland. KGM has confirmed that the regular petrol model we tested will not be offered for sale on the Irish market due to high CO2 emissions and the resultant high price.

However, a hybrid version of the Acyton is planned and that should go on sale in Ireland in early 2026. We do not have prices for it as yet. 


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

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.


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