VRT on importing a 2001 Mercedes CL 500?
Hi there,
Just wondering if you have any idea of how much the VRT would be on a 2001 Mercedes CL 500? Price is £1,500 in the UK.
Karl (Dublin)Aug 2025 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Karl,
It'll be in the top VRT band for a start, at 41 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). That, unfortunately, is not the price you pay for the car in the UK, but the value Revenue believes the car to be worth after registration in Ireland. It's not easy to estimate for an older and rare car such as yours, but for example, if we guessed at €7,500, then the VRT would be €3,075.
Can I buy my cousin's car from the North without VAT and duty?
My cousin moved to Northern Ireland from Scotland six months ago. I am now thinking of buying the car from him; can I then import it into the Republic without being charged duty and VAT?
Ian Ockenden (Dublin)Jul 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Ian,
Our understanding is that, if you can prove that your cousin used the car for those six months in the North, then no VAT or import duty will be payable in importation south of the border.
I urge you to check the details of this with Revenue before committing.
With this dealer paperwork from NI, will I pay VAT?
I am purchasing a car from Northern Ireland to import into the Republic of Ireland. The dealership in NI purchased this car on 18.06.2025 and has the customs documentation from mainland GB. The V5C is also available. Will I be liable for VAT if I purchase this car?
Lisa Comer (Galway)Jul 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Lisa,
It does not sound like the dealer imported the car according to the Windsor Framework (do ask them) and it does not sound like the car was used for "a reasonable amount of time" after importation into the North so going on the little information above, we'd have to assume that yes, you would be liable for VAT on importing that car, plus import duty, VRT and the NOx levy.
Read our Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland for more
Is there a Jaecoo agency in Ireland?
Is there a Jaecoo agency in Ireland?
Breda Hughes (Roscommon)Jul 2025 Filed under: future cars
Expert answer
Not yet, Breda, but we would be very surprised if it doesn't arrive here as a brand in 2026 as there appears to be huge interest in it.
Can I avail of the Transfer of Residence process?
Hi,
I'm moving back to Ireland after five years living in the UK and want to avail of the Transfer of Residency VRT exemption.
I am also registered in Ireland as a sole trader in the motor trade and complete Irish VAT and income tax returns annually. The Irish work is mostly vehicle repairs which I sub out to a third party and occasionally fly home myself to complete the work.
Do you think this will impact my chances and should I put all the vehicles (three of them) into my partner's name who has no affiliation with Irish tax system or the motor trade?
Appreciate any advice you may have as it's not clearly laid out by Revenue.
Thank you
Patrick (London)Jul 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Patrick,
This is quite a unique situation so I'd suggest the best thing to do is talk to Revenue. My feeling is that you should be fine so long as your permanent place of residence has been the UK, regardless of your business interests in Ireland. You'll just need paperwork to show that.
The complication with transferring the vehicles to your partner is that they must be owned for at least six months before the move, so if you're not moving back for a while it's a possible option. Make sure you read all the rules carefully though.
Are Lotus, Morgan and GWM still on sale in Ireland?
Hi,
Just wondering if Lotus, Morgan and Great Wall are still available new on the Irish market or have they withdrawn. No new sales for Lotus or GWM this year yet and only one for Morgan.
Thank you
Mark (Laois)Jul 2025 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
All three are represented here still.
Lotus Dublin is run by the Joe Duffy Group and it's based in Airside Motor Park in Dublin.
GWM only has the Ora brand here at the minute, with plenty of dealers listed on the GWM Ora Ireland website.
Morgans are distributed by Edgewood Automotive in Cork.
Looking at a 2025 car to import from the North...
Hi,
I'm looking at importing a car from Northern Ireland. It has an NI registration from new, was registered in February 2025, and has done 6,500 miles. As far as I can tell, the dealership never sold the car to a private buyer, but it was used as a demo, and by garage staff, etc. Can you tell me whether this car would be liable for VAT and customs duty, as well as VRT?
Thanks,
John
John Sheehan (Dublin)Jul 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi John,
As the car is less than six months old, VAT will be due on it. If you can wait a while, it won't be. No customs duty will be applicable, however, regardless. VRT will of course be payable at the appropriate rate.
Can I avoid VRT and VAT importing a Toyota Hilux?
Hi,
I am considering importing a 211 Toyota Hilux from Northern Ireland. I am not VAT-registered. My wife is originally from the North and her parents still live there. I have previously imported a car from the UK in 2019 and paid VRT, and last year we were successful in importing my wife's car from the North without paying VRT, as she met the criteria.
Just wondering is there any way for me to avoid VRT or VAT, or both somehow? Maybe using her parents, some way.
Any thoughts or ideas would be great.
Thanks
Derek (Kildare )Jul 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Derek,
Based on the information you've given us, I do not believe there is any way you can avoid the VRT in this case.
It is quite possible that no VAT will be payable on the Hilux, however, regardless of your status. If the Hilux has been registered and used in the North for “a reasonable amount of time” (according to Revenue) then no VAT or import duty will be payable. Essentially, so long as a car dealer in the North didn't just import it there to sell it on to someone south of the border it should be fine.
You'll need paperwork to prove it has been used in Northern Ireland of course.
Do I pay VAT on importing a car from Northern Ireland?
Hi,
I would like to know if I have to pay VAT if I import a used vehicle from Northern Ireland into the Republic.
Do I need to pay extra tax due to Brexit?
Christine (Tralee)Jul 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Christine,
It sounds like you're new to this, so it may be worth reading our Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland feature.
In summary, whether you have to pay VAT and import duty depends entirely on the circumstances of the car in question. If the car was registered new in NI and used there (and is now over six months old) then no VAT etc payable.
Same thing for a car imported from the rest of the UK to the North, registered and used there for "a reasonable amount of time" according to Revenue.
The ones to watch out for are cars brought in by a dealer in the North purely to be sold on, without properly importing it first.
The dealers in the North should know what paperwork you need to show Revenue, but always check for yourself.
And finally, no matter what, you will be liable for VRT and the NOx levy.
What paperwork is needed to import a car from the North?
Hi,
I recently bought a car in NI. Registered in my name, just waiting on papers. But I live in Republic of Ireland and want to register there. How does this work? What papers will I need?
Thanks
Erika (Navan)Jul 2025 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Erika,
You will need to go through the standard importation procedure for all cars being brought into Ireland. Keep all documentation relating to the purchase and the car's original importation into Northern Ireland. Hopefully it's exempt from VAT and import duty, though you will have to pay VRT and the NOx levy regardless.
Be aware that you must make a reservation with the NCTS within seven days of the car arriving south of the border, with a view to completing the process in 30 days.
I highly recommend you read our guides on the subject: